Today I am so pleased to welcome Eli Easton to Joyfully Jay. Eli has come to talk to us about her latest release, The Redemption Of River (which I enjoyed and reviewed here). She has also brought along a great giveaway. Please join me in giving Eli a big welcome!
A Newbie’s Dive into Tantric Sex
Happy June! I hope you are all enjoying a warm and safe summer so far. Thanks to Joyfully Jay for having me on to talk about my new book, The Redemption of River.
The character of River Larsen in the book was a such a treat to research and write. He’s a sex surrogate who specializes in tantric sex and sexual healing. Having to get into River’s headspace was definitely a challenge! But fortunately, I wasn’t starting from zero.
I came across tantric sex in a documentary six or so years ago. Being in the romance genre, I was immediate interested. I dug into it, watching videos and reading some books. I knew eventually I would write about it. I found it fascinating!
First, what is tantra? It’s a very old tradition, though it seems to have grown/evolved from its original purpose. It started, centuries ago, with the ancient Hindus, who believed that retaining semen during sex leads to longer life and health in men. It was, of course, much broader in scope than that. There’s a group of religious texts in Sanskrit called “Tantra,” from which the practice derived. Its practitioners were considered out of the mainstream of Buddhism and Hinduism, sort of “those weird guys over there” – like a lot of original thinkers!
The Tantra texts aren’t just about sex. Tantra is really about how to use concentration and focus to unleash spiritual energy inside the body to reach higher states of consciousness. This can be done in a number of ways including meditation, yoga—and sex.
The way River explains and uses tantra in the book is sexual but also very spiritual. He sees sexual energy as a kind of electric current. When two people engage in mindful union—that in, focusing all their attention fully on the other person and the sensations, not just going through the motions, they increase the flow of that current more and more, until their bodies are humming with it. “Tantric breath”–heavy, deep, loud breathing–is one tool used to excite and spread this internal energy.
This truly can lead, as it does for Brent in the book, to an altered state of consciousness, a kind of natural high. It reminds me of demonstrations I’ve seen of BDSM where the person who is undergoing paddling or rope binding enters an altered state. You get “blissed out”.
Another unusual aspect of tantric sex is that practitioners are trained to internalize orgasm. This is true for both men and women. Instead of allowing that peak moment (and ejaculation), you stop just immediately before it and use tantric breath to move that pleasure energy up throughout the body. Again, this can lead to a sense of euphoria. It also has the advantage of meaning there is no “end” to sex. You can just keep going and going! Tantra is somewhat famous for 8, 10, 12 hour sexual sessions. (Sting and his wife Trudy have talked about their practice.)
Beyond these aspects, I think the main thing that I appreciate about tantra is that it is really about establishing and maintain an “in the now” connection with your partner through eye gazing and touch. In our world, everything is so accelerated, and we’re in a hurry to get things done, including sex. Taking a time out to really be with your partner without the “goal” of orgasm is important.
I hope you’ll give The Redemption of River a try to see how River and Brent use tantric sex as they are falling in love. Or you can check out more information at the links below. I’ve read both books and can recommend!
Resources:
- BUSTLE.COM – “What is tantric sex?”
- BOOK – “Lingam Massage: Awakening Male Sexual Energy”
- BOOK – “The Heart of Tantric Sex” by Diana Richardson
Eli Easton
Blurb
River Larsen is a world traveler, truth-seeker, and tantric healer. He’s a master of loving all—and no one. Both his past and his spiritual path warn him against attachment. When he falls for his surrogacy client and coffee magnate, Brent McKay, River tells himself it’s a temporary idyll, a beautiful encounter they’ll both enjoy and move on from like mature adults. Only his heart misses that memo.
Brent McKay hasn’t been interested in sex since his wife died two years ago. When he goes to Expanded Horizons sex clinic in Seattle for help, he meets River Larsen, a sex surrogate specializing in reiki massage and tantric sex therapy. Brent never expected to be interested in a man, but River’s light-filled spirit, inner peace, and electric touch bring him back to life. Brent’s loyal heart is ready to commit again. But how can he convince River that love can last forever—if you just have faith?
The Redemption of River features a widower who surprises himself, a gorgeous hippy who thinks he’s a dandelion puff, an age gap, midlife discovery of bisexuality, foodie Seattle, a houseboat, dogs, a trip to Mumbai, and tantric secrets. (You know, the ones that let you have sex for hours. Those secrets.)
The Redemption of River takes place in part at the Expanded Horizons sex clinic and is thus book #4 of the Sex in Seattle series. It features a brand new couple and can be read as a stand-alone.
Bio
Having been, at various times and under different names, a minister’s daughter, a computer programmer, a game designer, the author of paranormal mysteries, a fan fiction writer, and organic farmer, Eli has been a m/m romance author since 2013. She has over 30 books published.
Eli has loved romance since her teens and she particular admires writers who can combine literary merit, genuine humor, melting hotness, and eye-dabbing sweetness into one story. She promises to strive to achieve most of that most of the time. She currently lives on a farm in Pennsylvania with her husband, bulldogs, cows, a cat, and lots of groundhogs.
In romance, Eli is best known for her Christmas stories because she’s a total Christmas sap. These include “Blame it on the Mistletoe”, “Unwrapping Hank” and “Merry Christmas, Mr. Miggles”. Her “Howl at the Moon” series of paranormal romances featuring the town of Mad Creek and its dog shifters has been popular with readers. And her series of Amish-themed romances, Men of Lancaster County, has won genre awards.
Her website is www.elieaston.com
You can email her at eli@elieaston.com
Giveaway
Eli has brought a $20 Amazon gift card to give away to one lucky reader on her tour. Follow the Rafflecopter below to enter.
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