Guide to the Tantra Festival Scene
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The Tantra Festival Scene has been a growing trend across Europe, with a few offshoots in Asia. These are extremely popular with those who are new to Tantra…a safe space to dip the toes in! But they also attract seasoned tantrics who enjoy to explore different teachers and to hang out in the tantric social scene.
There are some similarities found across the board at most festies, and then each festival has it’s own unique flavour. One defining difference is the boundaries around intimacy from festival to festival, which you can check with each one. |
Estonia Tantra Festival
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What should I expect to find at a Tantra Festival?
Here are some things you will find at most of the festivals:
Required Participation
Unlike many more casual festivals, Tantra festivals generally require that you come at the start and stay for the duration. This is to help hold space for the journey, that each person feels safe to open up, without too much coming and going.
Morning Gathering
These start with a uplifting dance session and announcements for the day’s workshops. Often they are the one time of day that all participants are required to join, and help build a strong unified energy field.
Workshops
These will be offered all day by different teachers. Some are open to individual, others to couples. At a festival, you are not required to be an intimate couple, just willing to partner with one another in the tantric meditations.
Sharing Circles
Most of the festival have adopted this practices of daily sharing circles. This is when 5 or 6 participants form a “sharing family” and meet together to share one by one what they are experiencing and going through at the festival. This is a great support for all of the challenges and transformations that you encounter, as well as giving you a core group of people to connect to amidst the crowds. You meet with the same “family” each day, and thus form deepening relationships.
Tantric Healing Sessions
Most festivals will offer one-on-one sessions alongside the workshops. This is ideal if you have a specific issue that you wish to explore in more depth wit the guide of an experienced practitioner. Sessions often include bodywork, therapy, tantric massage, sensual massage and energy activation.
Entertainment
In the evenings everyone can relax or party, depending on the energy of the evening. Each festival offers its own program and may include live music, parties, open mic, sauna etc.
Love Lounge Areas
A boon at many tantra festivals is the intimacy areas. It is understood in tantric circles that between meeting someone and sharing a bed together there is a whole vast range of levels of connection available! This includes sharing a cuddle, offering a massage, exploring the art of the kiss or feeding someone chocolates! Spaces are generally offered for sensual connection with on or more other people. Each area in each festival has its own set of boundaries and guidelines to make it fun and safe for everyone.
Osho (his presence found at some of the festivals!)
Many of the festivals are inspired by the teaching of Osho. Thus you will frequently find teachers who are Sannyasins, and Osho meditations being led as part of the program. Osho was a big part of the re-awakening of Tantra and it being brought to the Western world. Not all festivals are inspired by his teachings, but many are.
Here are some things you will find at most of the festivals:
Required Participation
Unlike many more casual festivals, Tantra festivals generally require that you come at the start and stay for the duration. This is to help hold space for the journey, that each person feels safe to open up, without too much coming and going.
Morning Gathering
These start with a uplifting dance session and announcements for the day’s workshops. Often they are the one time of day that all participants are required to join, and help build a strong unified energy field.
Workshops
These will be offered all day by different teachers. Some are open to individual, others to couples. At a festival, you are not required to be an intimate couple, just willing to partner with one another in the tantric meditations.
Sharing Circles
Most of the festival have adopted this practices of daily sharing circles. This is when 5 or 6 participants form a “sharing family” and meet together to share one by one what they are experiencing and going through at the festival. This is a great support for all of the challenges and transformations that you encounter, as well as giving you a core group of people to connect to amidst the crowds. You meet with the same “family” each day, and thus form deepening relationships.
Tantric Healing Sessions
Most festivals will offer one-on-one sessions alongside the workshops. This is ideal if you have a specific issue that you wish to explore in more depth wit the guide of an experienced practitioner. Sessions often include bodywork, therapy, tantric massage, sensual massage and energy activation.
Entertainment
In the evenings everyone can relax or party, depending on the energy of the evening. Each festival offers its own program and may include live music, parties, open mic, sauna etc.
Love Lounge Areas
A boon at many tantra festivals is the intimacy areas. It is understood in tantric circles that between meeting someone and sharing a bed together there is a whole vast range of levels of connection available! This includes sharing a cuddle, offering a massage, exploring the art of the kiss or feeding someone chocolates! Spaces are generally offered for sensual connection with on or more other people. Each area in each festival has its own set of boundaries and guidelines to make it fun and safe for everyone.
Osho (his presence found at some of the festivals!)
Many of the festivals are inspired by the teaching of Osho. Thus you will frequently find teachers who are Sannyasins, and Osho meditations being led as part of the program. Osho was a big part of the re-awakening of Tantra and it being brought to the Western world. Not all festivals are inspired by his teachings, but many are.
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How can I choose which ones to attend?
Below is a guide to a few of the festivals on the scene. It is by no means comprehensive, but gives an idea of what to expect. Osho Leela Tantra Festival, UK Osho Leela, a stunning Osho centre in Dorset, was very much the spark that lit the flame in the Tantra festival scene! Leela is a community that practices daily Osho meditations and is well-known for its juicy social scene. The festival is usually between 150-200 participants, who can book private rooms (a few), dorms or bring tents. Trademark feature: feeling of belonging, being part of a community. Also known for its sexy but light hearted dance parties. Downside: a tent in a cold field is not always so sexy!! (Those in the know bring a bell tent, futon mattress and full glamping-style fittings!) Key words: juicy, sexy, intimate and friendly Leela also run a Conscious Sexuality festival as well as smaller tantra festivals throughout the year. Angsbacka Tantra Festival, Sweden Another community, Osho-esque but also its own unique flavour, in the heart of the Swedish countryside. Stunning location to explore tantra. This festival has a great mixture of workshops and music events. Well-organised with a useful info area. The café space with its healthfoods and mugs of tea is a fabulous feature in the cooler evenings. Not to mention the very spacious sauna! Trademark feature: a strong heart-centered vibration at this community and magical forests to explore. Downside: accommodation can be a long walk from the main area. A bicycle can be a great boon! Keywords: heartful, fun, expansive Sexsibility, Sweden This festival does not define or limit itself to Tantra, but includes a large section of tantric offerings. Known by its open minded attitude to sexuality this is a space to feel free in your body, your sexuality and your expression. Workshops to support you in exploring various areas of sexuality with sensitivity. It is part of a coaching training called by the same name. Trademark feature: Open-mindedness…medicine for the soul! Free yourself from self-judgments or judgments you have on others. Downside: Keeps moving venues so a slight shift in vibe each time, but the essence remains! Keywords: open, explorative, connected Berlin UnitedBliss Festival Located within one of Europe's most funky and creative cities, this festival is all about honouring the unique within us all. United through bliss, tantra and sacred sexuality allow us to find ways to bring opposites together. That's what this festival offers. A very open-minded attitude to sexuality, this is a festival to explore your edge and discover where your bliss lies. Trademark feature: Diversity. This festival embraces it all! Downside: not in an isolated location, as are many festivals. However, Berlin is an amazing city! Keywords: open, exploring, unique. Estonia Tantra Festival One of the larger festivals, this hosts 600-1000 participants! Created by a dedicated tantra yoga school, Bhairava, this festival is an opportunity to explore different aspects of Tantra, tantric yoga, rituals and massage. This festival is closely aligned with ore classical tantra and thus has a more spiritual vibe, whilst still being fun and loving. Trademark feature: you will really find out what Tantra means, where it comes from and how the modern day experiences relate to the ancient lineages. Downside: only a weekend long! Keywords: spiritual, expanding, deep. French Tantra Festival (Le Festival de Tantra) Everyone knows that the French are renowned lovers! Combine French sensuality with ancient tantra at the French tantra festival. Held at an impressive chateaux in stunning French countryside, workshops are offered with translations from English to French to suit all. A slighter older, more refined clientele are attracted to this festival. Trademark feature: held at a chateaux for added wow factor! Downside: a little more expensive than most, but also a little more stylish! Keywords: amour, profond, affectueux! Ibiza Tantra festival This festival is new on the scene for 2014. However, Ibiza is known for having a lively party scene and upcoming yoga trends, so Tantra is the obvious next step! Organised by well-established tantra teachers it will be following the usual protocol with a unique Ibiza-twist! Trademark Feature: Ibiza is a magical destination Downside: the booking system is not so smooth...however this has not prevented the festival being nearly completely booked out months in advance! Keywords: fun, transformative, celebration India Tantra Festival This was a new festival to arrive in 2013, bringing tantra back to its motherland. It was a huge success. A more intimate sized festival held in a private Osho Eco-center in Delhi, yet far from the madding crowds. Trademark feature: what makes this festival stand apart is the live Indian music each night. Drawing from ancient tantric lineages, the evening entertainment consistently lifts the crowd to elevated levels of ecstasy! The Love Lounge was also one of the best, like a scene from the Kama Sutra! Downside: India is not everyone's cup of tea! But the location is a safe haven! Keywords: divine, cultural, ecstatic. For bookings and inquiries to festivals that Shashi will be teaching at, please click here |
Some of the festivals of the past:
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