Urban Tantra: Sacred Sex for the Twenty-First Century Paperback – April 1, 2007

I've been familiar with Tantra for over a decade mow, both as a philosopher and a practitioner, and as a cultural analyst too. I've greatly enjoyed reading this book and I'd like to share what I found very valuable. Sooooo many people out there still think of Tantra as one of those esoteric schools where, if you're a 'person with a penis' you learn to 'last longer' so that a 'person with a pussy' will want to have sex with you again, and if you're a 'person with a pussy,' you want to take your mate so he can figure out how not to leave you high and dry in the middle of things. This seems a caricature, yet, when you exit the circle of the initiated, it it not too far from the truth. So, many people approach Tantra as a small luxury, the treat you can give yourself when you've been really good. Others don't get near it at all, lest it feel altogether tooooooo good. All think it's a sort of mainstream luxury, like shining up your car with bees wax. Very few really know that Tantra is and always has been a countercultural tradition: a vein that runs parallel to the mainstream ideology of things, in its original cultures where Hinduism prevails. The many become one in Vendanta Hinduism, the one becomes many in Tantra. At least, this is how I put it in Gaia and the New Politics of Love, an ecosexual theory book. Barbara Carrellas is one who understands this only too well. And has written a book that transfers Tantra into a Western cultural context without betraying its original countercultural attitude, without reducing it to a soporific way to get your typical hets happier in their ideologically-correct married bliss. Yes, Tantra is countercultural to begin with. Can you imagine in caste-ridden Hinduism, claiming that when the one goes to the many and not vice-versa, this is good? Like making religion democratic, making the sacred run its erotic energy into the fabric of life as it is! Woooooooooow! That's heretical, the Pope would say if he were a Hindu guru! And that's why Carrellas is so skillful and successful too in showing what Tantra can do for all the queers, the bis, the gender-queers, the singles, the polys, the BDSM people who also seek sex as a way to access the sacred and not quite sure how to get there yet. To use a metaphor from the theater, one might say that her adaptation of Tantra to the urban landscapes of our post-modern world is what Brecht would have called 'political theater.' A period piece is a show where all the characteristics of the original setting are reproduced seamlessly, yet the essence of what's relevant about the piece to the new viewers can be lost in the process, and often is. A Brechtian adaptation re-situates the piece in the experiential present of those who view it. This process of re-situation the real re-vitalizes the piece with what's relevant to them. As in, for example, a Romeo and Juliet where we see a picture perfect Medieval Balcony Scene, and a West Side Story adaptation where we see the ethnic strife that crushes their passion in. And the most interesting part is that Carrellas's book doesn't even try to engage the terrain of critical theory, or even be literary. It is just presented as a manual (a very effective one at that) of orgasmic breathing techniques for those who wish to put their sexual energy to good use for a more balanced, more holistic and healthier way to be related to our surroundings and those who accompany us in life's journeys. That's where the deconstruction of what we take for granted begins. For example, in teaching Erotic Awakening Massage techniques, she refuses to divide humans as 'men' and 'women,' and opts for the neologisms 'persons with penises,' and 'persons with pussies' I have also adopted in the opening of this. This deconstruction aligned with practical teaching is exactly what we need. It is very important to re-sacralize all forms and agents of erotic expression in our age if we want to muster the creativity, the respect, and the sensitivity to the needs of the ecosystems we are embedded with and without whose generous hosting we can easily become just another extinct species. Tantra is just a way to bring ritual, spirit (in the Romnance language sense of air/breath/soul), ceremony, and magic into the way we choose to actualize the already always existing relatedness that runs among all of the living. Obviously, bis, polys, queers, gender-queers, BDSMs, swingers, and people in other practices and communities are integral parts of today's erotic landscapes. Urban Tantra embraces the complexity, the diversity of this landscape, and presents tantra as a pervasive element of it, with practices that emphasize the ritualistic aspects of eroticism with its elements of balance, safety, kindness, beauty, peace, sacredness, and community. When we get to Tantra as a countercultural tradition, we can't be too surprised that it applies so well to practices of love that emphasize participation and inclusiveness. Thanks Barbara, for this. My practice of Tantra arose spontaneously from being sexual with consciously loving out-of-the-box people. But I always asked myself, 'is this queer enough for me?' Now I can learn Tantra formally (maybe in one of your workshops) without feeling at risk of being 'cured.' As you revisit the past to invent a new future, you create a Tantra that is post-modern and pre-modern too! Gaia and the New Politics of Love: Notes for a Poly Planet

There are much better books out there on this subject, I can’t understand all the glowing reviews this book got. I found it to be all over the place and not really focused on tantra as it’s meant to be practiced.

Got just what I expected for a good price and shipped fast. No complaints. As for the contents of the book...It's not really tantra but that didn't bother me. I like the lighter and more adventurous take that the author has...There are good things to think about and sex should be fun and this offers that if you are willing to be open minded.

I just read all the negative reviews for this book, and I totally understand the fundamental reason behind the unfavorable perspective on this beautiful piece of art, Urban Tantra. It is simply that these people can't see themselves being open to the experience, let go and even picture themselves in such against - society's norms "acts." The way Barbara perceives sex and its aspect of all sexes and genders being able to share the love freely with no attachments and only all the love in the world for each other, could be looked as totally out of this world concept of hippies.I personally love the book and it is changing my life on a really quick pace. She is truly a beautiful woman, who's message to the people does mainly one thing - she's trying to open people's mind to let go of the old ways we perceive sexuality and face it the way it truly is, the way it runs naturally in the depths of our DNA. She tried to help the human psyche let go in the moment, live fully in it. If you are into spirituality, if you familiarize with Buddhism, hinduism, Taoism, and are exploring deeper into the world of love and interconnection of all there is, look no further, because Tantra guides you the way to it through ecstasy, through the vessels of your own body. Barbara is the perfect projectionist/translator of the ancient Asian philosophy to the Western masses of the 21 Century. If you are open minded or are curious in exploring deeper into your psyche and soul through you body. Buy It now!!! I'd pay 100$ for this book. After successfully having the craziest orgasm I've ever had from merely breathing (from the second try ever), I can't stop but rave about this book and the author endlessly. I want everyone to truly experience ecstasy at its best.Thank You Barbara. Can't wait for your workshop in New York in the Winter.

Barbara Carrellas provides a wonderfully practical and readable introduction to how to integrate kundalini energy into your health and sex life. She is careful to stress the core of tradition, providing an in-depth look at what chakras are and how they work, while intentionally targeting a 21st century audience. Carrellas’ book is especially valuable in its inclusion of queer and nonbinary people into what is traditionally a two-gendered area of spirituality, as well as including BDSM and group tantra. Best of all, this is not just a theoretical book but a practical one chock full of exercises and instructions. Carellas includes guides to breathing and meditation; awakening your chakras and your kundalini energy; tantric rituals for yourself, for you and a partner, and even ritual sex ideas for healing various ailments and blocks in your life. Having just had a recent (and unexpected!) kundalini awakening, I was eager to find more information on how to implement this new spirituality into every area of my life. This book was the perfect introduction.

Bought for me and the girlfriend. Very down to earth read. Enjoyed it so much that we purchased it for a friend too. She thoroughly enjoys it in her relationship too. Thanks!

This is the perfect beginner's guide for those who are interested in tantra. It has been written really well and easy to digest.

An absolutely amazing read. I consider it one of the best books on the subject along with the material by Samantha Mandala (https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B09BGLZ6F2/)

This is also part of Kundalini activities.

This is a lovely and thought-provoking book which contains many helpful hints and tips. As an energy worker, the sections devoted to the chakras and how to re-energise them were very insightful. This is an entertaining read - one can dip in and out of this book to their heart's content!

Easier to read if u are not looking to get specific ancient knwledge but something more updated pov. Although I do feel there is a lot of personal references that sometimes made me skip a lot of pages.Overall good book.