How to Have Conscious Sex; Exploring Tantra and Intimacy with Diana Richardson

Diana Richardson, author of The Heart of Tantric Sex; A Unique Guide to Love and Sexual Fulfilment (2003), is known as the pioneer of the Slow Sex movement. In 1979, she became a disciple of the Indian mystic Osho and her interest in meditation, touch and healing initiated an exploration into Tantra, an ancient body of knowledge originating in India. In this eye-opening episode we discuss Diana’s personal journey and how she navigated tantric sex traditions, including the influences of teachers Osho and Barry Long. Diana shares the fundamentals of conscious sex, emphasizing the importance of awareness, non-doing and presence. She discusses how tantric sex creates an expansion of energy and consciousness, in contrast to traditional sex which is goal-oriented and orgasm-led. We consider the burdens of sexual conditioning carried by both men and women, such as performance anxiety and the desire to please. Demystifying the strategies of tantric sex and revealing the importance of receptivity, Diana shares how tantra is a practice of moving inward which naturally brings about healing and self-realization. She discusses how an erection is not a necessary part of conscious sex, and how tantric practice isn’t limited to heterosexual couples, but is available to all sexual orientations and partners. We cover the theory of the positive and negative poles of the body which circulate the magnetic energies, and how tantric sex is grounded “in the basement” of the body, the genitals and pelvis – thus creating change in the rest of the system above. Diana joyfully shares how becoming conscious of and broadening our relationship with sex can lead to all types of greater enjoyment and fulfilment in life. Other titles authored by Diana include Tantric Orgasm for Women, Slow Sex, and the co-authored Tantric Sex for Men with her partner Michael Richardson. Together, they are based in Switzerland, where they guide couples in the art of conscious sex in their highly successful Making Love retreats. Diana has been a speaker on TEDx, sharing her insights about how sex can be much more than our mainstream culture relates to it. Ultimately, Diana shows us how sex can be a genuine method for self-exploration and spiritual development.

TEDx talk by Diana Richardson
The Power of Mindful Sex (2018, Linz, Austria)

livinglove.com