By Bhairav Thomas English Kuṇḍalinī is one of those words that moves through spiritual circles with great frequency and very little precision. It is spoken of in yoga studios, referenced in books on awakening, woven into the language of modern wellness — and yet, for most people who use it, its actual meaning remains elusive. What is this energy, really? Where does it come from? What happens when it awakens? And perhaps most importantly: what does it ask of us? These are not

There are probably as many types of meditation within tantra as there are practitioners and this, far from being a limitation, is one of the tradition's great strengths. Tantra is flexible. It meets each practitioner where they are, adapting to the particular disposition, karma, and readiness of the individual. What holds it together across this diversity is a set of underlying principles — orientations of practice that show up, in different forms, across the full range of t

Most of us have some relationship with the word tantra — even if what we carry is more myth than understanding. It moves through popular culture as something exotic or transgressive, rarely landing close to what the tradition actually is: a complete science of consciousness, a living map of the inner world, a path that does not ask you to leave ordinary life behind but to wake up within it. Meditation is at the centre of this path. Of all the tantrik tools, it is the most imp

Navaratri is a lunar festival whose timing is based on the tithi — the phases of the Moon — rather than fixed solar calendar dates. Because tithis are determined by the Moon’s changing position relative to the Sun, the shape of the festival shifts year to year. This impacts when certain milestones occur, including the Navaratri feast day that concludes the season for many traditions. The Lunar Context of Navaratri Navaratri literally means “nine nights” in Sanskrit, and i

Artemis Emily Doyle Most descriptions of Navaratri will list nine days of celebration and dates on a calendar, but the true basis of Navaratri is lunar phase — specifically, the sequence of tithis , or lunar days, that unfold as the Moon waxes toward fullness. This is why the festival changes on the Gregorian calendar each year and why rigid date lists can mislead; the lunar field is always shifting. What Is a Tithi ? A tithi is a lunar day : the time it takes for the Moon

Artemis Emily Doyle In the broad sweep of South Asian religious history, the Dāśa Mahāvidyā occupies a distinctive place at the intersection of Śākta tantra, goddess theology, and devotional practice. The term itself— Dāśa meaning “ten” and Mahāvidyā meaning “great wisdoms” —points to a constellation of ten goddesses who are at once metaphysical principles, psychological archetypes, and objects of ritual veneration within Tantra. The Mahāvidyās are ten facets of Mahādevī

Artemis Emily Doyle Ritual can often become a checklist of actions carried out because “that’s how it’s always been done.” What transforms a ritual into a teaching is the remembrance it brings. There is a ritual called Kanya Kumari Puja and when done with presence it can remind us of the divinity that is potently present in the eyes and being of young children. Kanya Kumari Puja is a Hindu ritual observed most commonly during the festival of Navratri, where young girls a

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On this Truth and Reconciliation Day, we honor the painful legacy of the residential school system, where Indigenous children were...

In the realm of Tantra and yoga, true teachings are a rarity. Bhairav Thomas English stands as a beacon of authentic practice and deep...

We want to share with you some significant changes that are unfolding for our family, our school, and most importantly, our beloved ashram.

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