Everyday ordinary extraordinary men: Ben

Meet Ben Raya.After 30 years of being the classic western disembodied head on a stick, Ben has dedicated the last 7 years to practices of embodiment, somatic and awakening into real human presence.The call came for him with the birth of his second child, a perfect mirror for all his disowned parts of himself, which launched him into the internal work he needed to step into the person that was necessary to raise her. This being the greatest gift he has ever received.His primary tradition has been the study of classical tantra, with extensive time practicing modern Tantra, as well. Beyond those, Ben finds continued embodiment practice through Thai Massage, West African Drum and Dance, and Brazilian Zouk. Music has been in his veins since he was a child and even pursued in it in University. His mastery of working within the energetics of the rhythm of life to inspire and move the body is tantric in itself.When he is not facilitating, coaching or with his children he is still working within his embodiment practice as a Lumberjack, where finding connection to nature, the body and the Dark Masculine, a rich and fruitful tantric practice in and of itself.Ben is passionate about guiding others into new realms of embodiment, pleasure and connection. You can find him on FB at: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100089669513426 and on www.AuthenticEssence.coYou can find out more about your hosts here: www.linktr.ee/martinacaviezel or www.linktr.ee/christinasweeny.Context:Most humans have a lot of preconceived notions and stereotypes about gender. Ex: Men are tough, silent, forceful; women are chatty, manipulative, emotional. In doing that we put people in a box and often forget to see beyond those labels. And if someone is not fitting the mold we might call them tomboy or sissy. Those and similar labels often cause discord.What would a world look like, where we go beyond our preconceived notions and understand that we are much more than our gender, that we humans are strong and soft and gentle, deep and powerful, tough, fierce and open, that qualities are not specific to a gender, that we all have all qualities available to express? What would a world look like where we all are free to be who we choose to be and express all our emotions?When we allow ourselves to express the so-called masculine and feminine qualities within ourselves, we set ourselves free. When we allow others to do the same, when we accept all of them, we create synergy, peace and harmony.You can find out more about your hosts here: www.linktr.ee/martinacaviezel or www.linktr.ee/christinasweeny.