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Tantra and Shibari have gained popularity in the recent years in the west. Tantra is an ancient spiritual yogic practice that originated in India, which works with the polarities of the shiva (masculine energy) and shakti (feminine energy). Shibari on the other hand, is the Japanese art, that involves tying intricate and beautiful knots around a person's body. While at the first glance, the practices seem to differ a lot, there are many similarities between the two that are worth exploring.
Focus on the present moment: Both practices emphasize being fully present in the moment and tuning into one's bodily sensations, emotions and energies.
Energetic connection: Both practices aim to cultivate a deep energetic connection between partners, whether through breathwork, touch or other means.
Exploration of pleasure: Both practices view pleasure as a valuable and transformative experience and aim to cultivate and expand intimacy.
Embodiment: Both emphasize physical sensations and encourage participants to consciously use movement, breath and sound to come more into the body and out of the mind.
Personal growth & therapy: Both offer possibilities to discover patterns and limiting believes. In sessions, practitioners get mirrors to work on themselves. Traumas can be looked at in a guided container and new positive experiences can be made. The safe space promotes emotions to emerge.
Vulnerability: Both Shibari and tantra encourage participants to expose their vulnerability, which deepens the connection.
Consent: Both Shibari and tantra focus on consent to enable participants to feel safe and encouraged to speak up for their boundaries. Conscious communication is key.
Spiritual dimensions: Both practices can have spiritual or transcendent dimensions, whether through connecting with a higher power, exploring the divine within oneself or one's partner or experiencing altered states of consciousness.
Ritual and intention: Both practices often involve ritualized actions and a clear intention or purpose, whether for healing, transformation or personal growth.
Relationship dynamics: Both practices emphasize the dynamics of relationships, whether through cultivating trust, communication, surrender or power exchange.
Trust & surrender: Both Shibari and tantra require a base of safety and trust, that practitioners can let go and experience the full range of sensations and emotions. It is a great learning field to release control and trust life.
While there are certainly differences between Shibari and tantra, such as the specific techniques and traditions used
in each practice, the similarities suggest that they can complement and enhance each other, offering new and profound ways to explore intimacy, connection and personal transformation.
