Feminism is...
spirit
Spirit: TANTRA
NAME: MARIA STRUTZ
SPIRITUAL PATH: TANTRA
What got you into this?
When I was sixteen I had a very strong vision of Shiva and Shakti; I won't go into it as visions are famously difficult to put into words but it was very exciting. My boyfried was into tantra when I met him but it was meeting a friend of his who had initiated him - and he was one of the nicest and kindest people I've ever met in my life, a person where I got a strong sense of not having to pretend to be somebody I was not. Meeting him inspired me and made me think there might really be something to this practice.
In a nutshell, what's it all about?
I think I'd like to point out that it's NOT about sacred sex as most people think when they hear the word 'tantra'. That's usually the 'western tantra' path involving lots of chakras and kundalini experiences. For me tantra is about becoming aware of the here and now, being or attempting to be more awake in everyday situations and not getting lost in internal dialogue. Being excited by the beauty of life, the interconnectedness and not getting bogged down by boredom. It's also about learning to accept who I am and gentle change.
What attracted you in the first place?
Very evocative language, beautiful imagery in descriptions of deities and meditations. Goddesses floating in oceans of wine, you becoming the goddess, the goddess becoming you…
Do you have to study long and hard and go through all sorts of initiations and rituals to get accepted into a like-minded spiritual group?
I got initiated 11 years ago but only in the last 5 years or so I've suddenly become really interested and engaged with tantra, tantric symbolism, tantric art. Before that I simply didn't 'get it' somehow and the whole symbolism of yantras, mantras, tantras didn't make that much sense at the time and I found it quite boring listening to people go on about it to be truthful. For me it was making the connection between the 'system' and my artwork which created a bridge of understanding. I think the key is for everybody to find their own 'access code' for it to suddenly make sense or become magical. I would not say that 'lots of hard work' is involved but getting immersed in the 'material' and finding somebody, a mentor or guru to open up the symbols to become meaningful is nearly essential as there is so much material out there. I think for being accepted into a likeminded group it is important to somewhat know what you want to get out of your practice and for the group to have similar views.
Would you say it's a religion or a personal spiritual philosophy?
Personal spiritual philosophy.
Are you part of a group or a sole spiritual warrior?
I'm part of a discussion group (London Tantra Discussion Group) and we meet every two weeks and discuss various aspects of tantra, from personal practice to discussing texts and our discussions tend to be experience-based. We sometimes do puja (worship/meditaion/ritual) together, a few times a year only. I mainly practice on my own.
Do you believe in reincarnation?
Not sure. But I absolutely hate it when people tell me what they think what I used to be in a previous life or why reincarnation explains the death of somebody close to me or explains somebody's misfortune and makes it okay all of a suddenly or if they use previous life experiences as excuses not to get on with their lives.
Do you believe in karma?
Again a tricky one. But recently I've started seeing karma as something that is carried on in people, nearly like conditioning accepted by or imposed on one during childhood, but it's not just childhood stuff but generation stuff. I started seeing in myself that some stuff has been going on for generations in my family, behaviours, people being pushed into roles, and for me it's about recognizing that and finding an alternative route, finding a path of freedom or at least choice.
Do you believe in magick?
Yup. Often when I'm on a really magical beach and when the most amazing synchronicities happen, picking up a stone which shape/imagery answers a question I was not even aware of consciously asking.
Highlights: Great insights, visions, artwork.
Downside: People going on about chakras and assuming that tantra is all about sex.
What other sorts of people do you meet along this spiritual path?
Absolutely all sorts. From wankers to lovely people.
Dressing up factor?
Up to you really. In theory it's in the nudd but I think people in our group simply got bored (or too cold) for that. Street clothes mostly. You can dress up for puja if you wish, favourite colours of the deity, jewellery etc, can be quite theatrical.
Any nice young men on the scene?
Not sure about scene, but in our group it's mostly men. They're pretty cool. We could do with some more women actually.
What do your mates think of it all? I'm not sure…
What's your spiritual motto for life? Don't forget to breathe…
What advice would you give young women who are interested in this spiritual path?
Make sure you know what you want to get out of joining a group. Discuss this when first meeting potential groups. There are so many different definitions of spiritual paths around that it's easy to imagine that people are into the same things as you are just by using the same terminology.
Can you recommend any enlightening books on the subject?
Tantra Magick, an Amookos Manual, Mandrake Press (unfortunately it's out of print, I believe, but you can pick up the odd copy in 2nd hand shops…)
www.shivashakti.com is amazing but very confusing at the same time as there is just too much material on it.
