Dear friends,

It is certainly not possible to be understood by everyone all the time... but we can certainly try. Maybe the best we can hope for is to be understood by some of the people some of the time! So here I go.

This message concerns some allegations that Miten and I discriminate against same-sex couples by offering our Tantra~Mantra programs for heterosexual couples only. Naturally, because of it, some same–sex couples have feel hurt and excluded.

To make things clear I would like to first give you some background on how the idea of Tantra~Mantra arose.

Rafia (our co-leader for Tantra~Mantra), Miten and I have been leading holiday seminars since the year 2000 and share a deep friendship. In those past seminars Rafia led meditations and explorations into the inner world with the help of an ancient Sufi system called the Lataif.

Around 6 or 7 years ago we happened upon the rhyme Tantra~Mantra and although it was a joke at first, we realized that it indicated something of the beauty that is experienced when sacred love making is coupled with the chanting of mantras and sacred sound vibrations. It became clear to us that we had the tools to create a unique and nourishing retreat.

Rafia has had many, many years of experience in working with heterosexual couples through his seminars and trainings of Inner Man Inner Woman work, as well as leading courses on intimacy and relationship. Since he is heterosexual himself he can navigate the dynamics and mysterious ways of the male/female paradigm with all sincerity and with the utmost loving care.

His work on this subject focuses directly on balancing the energetic polarity between the Man and Woman and indicates how an unbalanced polarity often affects the attraction, magnetism and flow of energy between Yin and Yang – which tends to result in misunderstandings and unnecessary suffering within a hetero-sexual relationship.

He uses physicality as a doorway to access that polarity, and as a result, has divised beautiful, deep meditations and structures to help people create a healthy and loving balance in their relationship. In these meditations the women usually work together to cultivate the Feminine Essence and the men work together to cultivate the Masculine Essence.

He also made it clear that he was slightly uneasy about calling the program 'Tantra~Mantra' due to the numerous misconceptions and misuse of the word 'tantra'. Perhaps we should have listened to him! Maybe the group should be called "Exploration into the dynamics of Man - Woman relating". Somehow, it just doesn't sound as much fun as Tantra~Mantra!

Someone wrote to us saying that we shouldn't offer Tantra~Mantra if same – sex couples are not able to participate.

The thing is, over the years, we have witnessed hundreds of profound transformations in the participants – and as such, would not, could not, deprive heterosexual couples of this very healing and uplifting experience. It is way too precious.

However, due to the four complaints we received, the seed for a Tantra group which will welcome our gay friends has now been planted and we are looking for ways to make that a reality.

Meanwhile, if you are in a same – sex relationship, we encourage you to please consider attending one of our other vacation/meditation/chant programs. They are equally deep and nourishing and can only enhance the love and affection you have for each other simply through the process we all enter, as a sacred, blissful and spiritual family, chanting and singing our gratitude and delight, to the Great Spirit.

Dear friends, I do hope this has gone some way in making our position clearer and more understandable. There is absolutely nothing in Miten, Rafia or myself that wants to cause you – or anyone else - any hurt, harm, disrespect or discomfort.

Namaste.

With deep love and respect,

Deva