Path of a Modern Tantrika

Path of a Modern Tantrika

• Cultivating permanent inner silence through deep meditation. 
• Opening the subtle nerves through pranayama (breath control). 
• Stimulating divine energy through advanced physical postures and maneuvers. 
• Cultivating divine desire and conduct. 
• Cultivating sexual energy to a new purpose. 
• Cultivating silent inner awareness outward in powerful ways.

So much has occurred since moving to Virginia. It has been quite a ride to say the least. I have ventured down many a spiritual path, looking for what speaks to soul. A spiritual teacher once told me, "Nirvani, you are a spiritual seeker, not a pilgrim." This cut me deeply, it revealed to me much that I had struggled to face in myself. I am always seeking, but too afraid to embrace. So after many hours, weeks, and months of research and soul search, I eventually came back to that which spoke to me from the beginning. Tantra.

I will be sharing my practices and experiences here with you. Above is a sort of spiritual mission statement for my life. Tantra really is more of a spiritual technology that can be adapted to any spiritual path. I refer to myself as a Tantrika as I am a practitioner of Tantra and a devotee of Shakti. The Tantric tradition embodies everything in the Universe as Sacred, as Pure Consciousness. The material cannot be ignored. The physical and the spiritual are connected in all ways. I hope to share even a little bit of wisdom here to help inspire others to seek spiritual well being. 

Om Shanti and Jai Maa!

Nirvani

Wisdom of the Guru

Journey of the Heart: An Anthology of Spiritual Poetry by Women Release Date!

Journey of The Heart: An Anthology of Spiritual Poetry by Women, edited by Catherine Ghosh and to be published this summer by Balboa Press, a division of Hay House, has woven together the voices of over 70 women of diverse ethnicities, nationalities and traditions. In meditative and insightful poems they offer us revealing glimpses of their sensitive souls engaged in meaningful dialogue with the world, others, themselves and divinity.

This spiritual poetry draws from the timeless wisdom, power and beauty residing deeply within the hearts of all women. Emerging within archetypal themes that deliver valuable messages, the inspiring and uninhibited chorus of voices beckons us to journey along with them into the wild, mysterious and uncharted territory of a woman’s heart.

This book emerged from an online project created by Catherine Ghosh, dedicated to encouraging and facilitating women to freely share their hearts, as they learned to express themselves through poetry. It is dedicated to the spirit of really listening to, and honoring, all women’s voices.

Journey of the Heart

So thrilled to announce the arrival of this beautiful anthology of women's spiritual poetry, of which I am proud and honored to be a part of, along with a group of amazing and beautifully talented women from all over the world! Official release date: August 10th

Below is the book trailer just released:

Om shanti shanti shanti,

Nirvani

Bija Mantras (Hrim)

     

     After Om and Aim, Hrim (pronounced 'hreem') is probably the most commonly used bija mantra. It is composed of the sound-Ha, which indicates prana, space and light, with the sound-Ra, which indicates fire, light and dharma, and the sound-I, which indicates energy, focus and motivation.

     Hrim is the prime mantra of the Goddess in all of her three main powers of creation, preservation and destruction, and so is the main Shakti mantra, with a more specific application than Aim. It is said to be the Shakti bija and to be equivalent to Om for the Goddess. More specifically, it relates to Parvati or Shakti, the consort of Shiva, who is the destroyer/transformer among the trinity of deities.

     Hrim is a mantra of magical force, captivation and empowerment. It can be used relative to any deity or object whose presence we wish to access at the level of the heart. It brings about joy, ecstasy and bliss. Hrim both purifies and exalts us in our inner quest, humbling us before the Divine power so that it can enter into our hearts.

     Hrim is a specific mantra for the heart (hridaya in Sanskrit) on all levels, whether the spiritual heart, the heart chakra, the emotional heart or the heart as a physical organ. It energizes the heart, provides warmth, and allows for both deep feeling and deep thought.

     In terms of Ayurveda, Hrim can be used to counter heart disease of all types, aiding in longevity and rejuvenation. More specifically, it helps promote the pranic and functional aspects of the heart with it the power of circulation of the blood, the lungs and the nervous system. It has generally Pitta (fiery) energy but some Vata (air) energy as well, stimulating the higher pranas and emotions. In terms of Vedic astrology, Hrim relates to the Sun, the planet of the heart, and helps promote solar energy, expression and charisma.

     Hrim is usually a soft mantra but can also be harsh. As a soft mantra, it increases the finer energies of the heart. As a harsh mantra, it can be used to hypnotize or captivate, to dissolve or carry away.



~Dr. David Frawley
Mantra Yoga and Primal Sound
(Secrets of Seed Bija Mantras)

Checking in....

O Divine Mother, I Am Thine,

For Thou Art Eternally Mine

     I lay garlands of my devotion, strung with many-hued flowers 

of lofty inspiration, at Thy lotus feet.

     I beheld Thee dancing in the twinkling stars. I glimpsed Thy

scintillating magic in the aurora borealis. I heard the dance of

Thy beating feet in crashing ocean waves as they rushed toward

earth's shores. I marveled at Thy leaps and pirouettes portraying,

on the great stage of time, evolution's fantastic upward sweep. And

I thrill to see, everywhere, excitement and activity in Thy great

drama of all life.

     Alas, Divine Mother! I have yet to behold Thy bliss-faced

 peeping from behind what I now know to be only veils! The thick

clouds of outward appearances are offset by little, teasing hints of

Thy smile, reflected in my breeze-rippled, flickering thoughts.

     How long I have yearned to behold Thee! My yearning burns

with a million tongues of flame. They leap high, and light the vast

firmament of my consciousness. The force that holds together the 

planets binds together also into a heavy ball the burden of my 

self-recognition, holding me to earth. Yet the twinkling stars of my

soul-aspiration spin high overhead, and form a mighty whirlwind

which draws me upward. Their light beams down upon me, 

banishing my shadows of ignorance and dissolving, one by one, all

the crusted limitations that cover my soul. Light transforms the gray

pebbles of my desires into shining crystals reflecting Thy joy.

     By my light of concentrated aspiration, all falseness has been

consumed. Ah, but, Divine Mother, where art Thou? A great void

around me mocked my very yearning.

     "Why?" I asked. And my tears fell--dewdrops of shining light 

from my firmament above. Then at last Thy sweet voice came, 

tender with compassion; I heard Thee say: "Thy very light by which

thou seekest Me is, already, Myself! Thou hast sought Me else-

where than in thyself; yet I am thou! Thou art I! There can never

be aught but thine own Self. I come to thee through thyself.

Worship me as separate, if you like, but know who I am: thy very

own Self! O eternally beloved child, we are one!"

     Mother, how can I thank Thee! I will ever be Thine, for Thou

art eternally mine. Still, I love to behold Thee through my window

of self-understanding as if dancing outside me also; to see Thee

smiling with tantalizing sweetness! Yet I know the dance takes 

place, in truth, only here in my heart. 

~Paramahansa Yogananda


    So sorry I have not been around these last few months. Family concerns and various health issues and, well, life in general has keep me very busy as of late. I hope to be blogging more often as I miss it greatly:) I hope all is well for my fellow kindred spirits out there. Goddess Bless Always!

Jai Maa,
Nirvani

You are Goddess

I just love this quote from Osho! Every woman is a Goddess whether she believes herself to be or not. No two women are alike. We are all different and unique in our own beautiful way. Many of you have still to tap into the amazing Divine potential within. Yes you have divine potential. You are like the budding rose waiting to blossom or the lotus waiting to flower into a thousand petals. Like a flower that has yet to open you have many layers to yourself that are hidden. Part of your divine mission in life is to open yourself completely to all that life has in store for you. Stop doubting yourself, and surrender.

It does not matter how old you are, it is never too late to discover your true nature. The key to discovery is learning to love yourself first, without validation from another human being. No one need validate what already exists within you. You are Goddess!

Look at yourself in the mirror every single day, several times a day, and repeat, “I am Goddess! I am love!” I chant a sanskrit mantra every single day ‘aham prema’ I am Divine Love! Say it, believe it!

Jai Maa,

Nirvani

Letting Go...

   

Today, I am really struggling to keep myself together. My youngest son Benjamin, who has always been my baby boy is leaving home next Thursday for good. He will be heading to Navy Basic Training where he will follow in his father's footsteps. On one side, I am so very proud of him and excited for all the new changes that are taking place for him, but on the other side I am truly struggling with letting him go. I know that I have no choice in the matter and even if I did would I stand in the way of my own child's progress just to ease my own suffering? Resoundingly no! Every mother must face these bittersweet moments and I am no different.
   
  Deep in my heart, I know this is just as much a growing experience for me as it is for him. Change is the guiding factor in this thing called life. It is the catalyst for all spiritual growth. If everything stayed the same there would be no challenge and thus we would all become stagnant. I must now cut the apron strings, and allow my son to spread his wings and fly...yes he may hit some turbulence along the way, but the moments of struggle will be what molds and shapes him into the man he is meant to become.
   
 As his mother I will send him out into the world with a Mother's blessing and my tears upon his cheek...for it is through those tears that he will always find his way back home and will never doubt that he is loved. May the Goddess bless his every step along the way and may she bless me to endure the pain of letting go.


Om shanti shanti shanti,
Nirvani