quote:
Is it possible to "tantra" with a cat? The energies that comes are clearly sexual.
Well, sure - if you want to risk 5-to-10 in your local minimum security prison, and the wrath of everyone from your veterinarian to the Humane Society!
'Course Sweden is pretty darned open-minded .....
But seriously - short answer: Yes!
("In my humble opinion", etc. etc.)
Essentially, while not all tantric practice is literally sexual (by a long shot - there are many lineages of Tantric monks, in both Buddhism and the Sanatana Dharma (Hinduism) that are celibate) ...
.... all tantric practice
is about intimacy.
In fact, much of the work that many tantrikas (practitioners of tantra) engage in - specifically with a partner, but also within themselves, and in terms of (desired) connection with anyone or anything -- is the preliminary energetic work -- removing energetic barriers -- which will allow tantric intimacy to even be possible.
However, one of the few relationships in many people's lives, where genuine intimacy is a natural and daily reality - is the relationship with our animal companions.
(And based on what you've described, I'd say that you "tantra" with your cat, already ... though I understand your question may be about doing so more "formally"?)
Tantric practice is usually about establishing presence and intimacy (which it sounds like you have with your cat already!
) - and then removing energetic blocks by "partnering" to enhance the flow of life energy (aka kundalini aka shakti) - which dissolves those energetic blocks.
(And there are other permutations, for instance "sex magic", where the enhanced life-energy flow is then directed toward a shared objective of some kind.)
Directing, or simply mutually benefiting from this enhanced energy flow often has to do with a kind of harmonizing - for instance, generating sexual energy - and then bringing it into the higher chakras through visualization and breathing (a lot like spinal breathing) - and then sharing that energy at a higher chakric level through "sounding" or "toning" (fifth chakra), eye-gazing (sixth chakra), or deep kissing (combination of fifth and sixth).
Unless you and your cat both have talents and inclinations well outside the norm ...
... I would think that your regular physical connections (holding, cuddling, petting, etc.) - combined with presence and eye-gazing (if your cat is "in the mood" - in my experience, a cat's willingness to do or not do any given thing - except possibly engaging in their part of the core activity for which the Universe was created (providing food to cats -- upon demand*) is subject to change. Period.
*Yes. I have spent most of my life around cats.
So .... "in conclusion" - (and being that you may well be a "pioneer" in this endeavor .....
) - I would suggest simply getting present and intimate with your cat .... and playing around with the energy (i.e. if you feel sexual energy arising, maybe try to communicate it to your cat in a way that your cat can understand, and which is physically possible - and which (presumably
) does not violate any of laws of biology, sociology, common decency and/or the great nation of Sweden --- for instance, maybe allow the energy to flow out through your hands, and/or your eyes - and/or your voice.
I actually know some female body-workers (massage therapists, cranial sacral therapists, reiki-type practitioners, etc.) - who generate sexual energy in various ways (pranayama, self-stimulation, fantasy, etc.) - and then take it into their (non-sexual) session with their client, in completely serious / therapeutic ways.
(Meaning: sexual energy is ultimately nothing more or less than the energy of life itself -- so these healers generate sexual energy - but then use it in "transmuted" ways - meaning that when they are using that life energy to heal, including just giving a massage -- there is nothing traditionally "sexual" being communicated via that energy - solely and purely unconditionally loving healing energy.)
I'm very sensitive to energy, and actually "called" a couple of female body-workers on this -- and they "confessed" that they were indeed doing this (they knew they could trust me with the information, on every level) -- and they mentioned that they don't openly disclose the practice, for obvious reasons. In further conversations (with the two women to whom I'm referring, and other female body-workers, and mixed-gender groups of energy healers, where we were talking openly) - I learned that this is kind of an "open secret" among body-workers and energy healers.
Makes complete sense to me, energetically; and it's too bad most of society can't handle the truth, in terms of this practice.
Also (back to the "cat thing") - since you presumably have more capacity to direct energy with intention than your cat does (though far be it from me to state this as an absolute fact ---- I actually have no idea if this is so, or not) --- maybe try to "pull" the energy from your cat (if you get sexual and/or "life energy" vibes from him (no, you smart-alecks in the back row .... not
that kind of "pull"!) - and/or otherwise see if you can create an energy "circuit" (a flow or "stream" of the enhanced life energy circulating between you and your cat -- this is what human tantric partners often do.)
I hope this helps .... I was about 80% finished with this part of my post when I realized you may have been pretty much joking.
If so ...... "nevermind"!
(But if not, I truly hope this helps -- and will be interested to hear what you experience!)
quote:
One of my friends had a cat called Yoni
You do know that this is the Sanskrit term for female genitalia?
(And on the off chance you don't --- I'm not kidding, in any way shape or form.)
And, as you likely know, there is a standard slang term in English for female genitalia, which has all but superseded its former slang meaning - which was to identify beings of a feline persuasion --- hence (I would guess) - the suitability (in your friend's mind, apparently) - of "Yoni" as a name for a cat -- specifically a female cat.
The male counterpart, if anyone is curious, is "Lingam".
(If you ever take a Tantra class, learning these terms is usually part of the first ten minutes or so of formal instruction ....)
quote:
As if he said "Phew, finally you get to understand me! Now we're talkin'..."
I know what you mean ... several years ago (1999) I was trying to explain the value of the retreat to someone, and we were also discussing dogs - and I made the comment, "My dog doesn't need this retreat!"
(Because he - Said dog - an Australian Shephard who tutored calculus in his spare time - already "got" everything about the essential, sum-total of universal spiritual truth ("Be Here Now" & "Don't Worry, Be Happy"
)
quote:
Anyone know anything more about animals and their souls?
Only a little quote from Conversations with God, which I'll pass along ....
Neale -Author of Conversations with God, conversing with God - asked God, "Do animals have souls?"
She replied, "Anyone who has ever looked into the eyes of an animal knows the answer to that question."
... and in the words of the esteemed sage Forrest Gump, "That's all I'm gonna say about that ....!"
Peace, Namaste & Jai Narasimha,
Kirtanman
(Narasimha is the incarnation of Vishnu who is half man, half lion - seemed fitting, per the _cat_egory of discussion ....
)