TANTRA
The Art of Sacred Sensuality and Communication
Discover yourself through tantra:
Discover yourself; discover each other. Learn valuable tools for your couple. Receive support from
professional, trained teachers
in a safe environment. Learn how tantra can be helpful to you. For more, see
Tantra at a Glance.
Next events:
Sunday, February 12th, 1pm-7 pm : Valentine playshop for couples and singles in La Jolla
Saturday, February 25th. 7pm-11pm : Advanced Brazilian Puja in Point Loma
To register, see the
Calendar of events.
About us:
Francoise and Mitchell Ginsberg have
studied and worked in the fields of psychology, psychotherapy, sex
therapy, and tantra for several decades. For more, see
About Us.
Classes:
We offer private classes, lessons, and practicas in tantra. For more, see
Private Classes.
We also offer group classes, workshops, puja days and evenings.
For more, see
Group Classes (Calendar of Events).
The name Tantra comes from the Sanskrit, in which
tantra
is literally an
instrument (-tra) for expanding
(tan-).
Understood psychologically or psychospiritually, a tantra could be a practice for expanding our consciousness, or a text containing such descriptions.
Typically, these practices involve guided imagery and various bodily postures and movements. These aim at creating a greater intensity of experience and
a profound appreciation of the divine or sacred nature of existence
which is other than and beyond our conditioned life and our personal
histories. We acknowledge this dimension in the traditional Indic
greeting, Namas-te.
A
puja
is literally (in Sanskrit) a treating with respect or reverence, a mutual honoring, a receiving hospitably, an acknowledging.
Tantra (which could be a solo practice), when in the structure of a
puja, is an interactive practice. One form it may take is a circle of
practitioners who meet in a directed fashion following clear
instructions that maintain full respect and help us to rediscover the
divine in all of us.
For example, we may follow a series of
structured exercises lasting from 3-7 minutes with various partners,
including eye gazing, light touch, verbal sharing, and contact
dancing... the entire series being designed to have us become more
aware of this sacred dimension present in all of us, and in the West,
to practice the art of loving.
FRANCOISE and MITCHELL GINSBERG have
been married for 30 years. They have raised a daughter and a son
who are now young adults in their twenties. Francoise and Mitchell have
taught about the principles and practices of tantra to individuals and
couples since the early 1990s.
FRANCOISE GINSBERG (tantra.francoise@gmail.com)
received her doctorate from the University of Paris, where she worked
as a woman's counselor. She has been leading puja rituals
ongoingly for different organizations since 1994. Francoise offers
private consultations for women and men. She is President of the
San Diego Tantra Connection.
MITCHELL GINSBERG (mitchell.ginsberg@gmail.com)
received his Ph.D. from the U. of Michigan and has also taught at Yale, the American Institute of Buddhist Studies,
IUPS, and elsewhere.
As a licensed
psychotherapist
and expert on the subject of emotional traumas, he offers
private consultations
for individuals and couples. He has been a teacher in the Thai-Buddhist
Vipassana Meditation Tradition since 1975, and is the author of several
texts in psychology and psycho-spirituality, such as The Far Shore, The Inner Palace, and
Calm, Clear, and Loving.
The Far Shore (1980; 4th edition, 2009) contains many
illustrations of the application of mindfulness or self-awareness to
the many emotional states that we go through, clarifying this path to
clear and compassionate interaction with our world and those most dear
to us. For more, see the
reviews
and other files listed at The Far Shore directory.
The Inner Palace (2002; 6th ed., 2010; eBook, 2011) is an in-depth
examination of the roots of the world's major spiritual and religious
traditions, in their various understandings of our path to wholeness
(or awakening, spirituality, purity, divinity, wisdom-compassion,
bodhisattvahood, or by still-other names). For more, see the
reviews
and other files listed at The Inner Palace directory.
Calm, Clear, and Loving: Soothing the Distressed Mind, Healing the Wounded Heart
is now in print in both softcover (paperback) and hardcover (hardback) editions. More information is available at web sites
listed at the Calm, Clear, and Loving directory.
Psychotherapy or Mindfulness Training with Mitchell
Psychotherapy or Mindfulness Training (Self-awareness practice) for individuals and couples
$120 for 60-minute session (longer sessions can be arranged).
For more information on my orientation, inspiration, and focus of work,
along with more general discussions about the field of psychotherapy,
see
Health and the Mind and
Professional Links,
and the many further links given at those two web pages.
Our signature workshop with a special Valentine theme, offered to couples and singles!
First-timers are very welcome.
Not only will you celebrate Valentine's symbol of love and hear the tale of Eros and Psyche...,
but you also will get plenty of valuable information and homework about the philosophy and the practice of tantra.
Couples will stay together, singles will rotate partners.
You will sample a wide range of possibilities Tantra has to offer.
You will share nurturing touch, learn about the 5 modalities of touch, listen to an advanced tantric ritual,
and enter the magic of a tantra puja including the art of kissing such as the neck kiss, the musical kiss, the butterfly kiss, the hollywood kiss and of course the tantric kiss!
You will practice the 5 langages of love including eye gazing, words of appreciation, the art of gifts, and acts of service,
No sexuality, no nudity in the class.
This well polished workshop has introduced a thousand of people to tantra in the last 19 years...
and it got a new facelift with the theme of Valentine!
$120 per couple
$70 per single
includes 3 snacks and hands out
To reserve your space
send check to F. G, 6425 La Jolla Scenic Drive South, La Jolla, 92037,
or pay by credit card:
Click on the relevant line below:
Saturday, February 25th, 7 pm - 11 pm in Point Loma.
Brazilian Mardi gras Puja
For advanced tantrikas, not for first-timers, beginners need to interview first
Be ready for a feast of the senses. Wear a mask, feathers, boas...and pasties on your nipples!
We will share nurturing touch, talk, laugh and embrace each other in sensual dances.
We will start with a soft approach, and progress to more erotic expressions.
We will celebrate our erotic innocence playfully emerging.
It is a festive puja with joyful and contagious rythm. You do not need to be a Sambista to attend but you need to know about conscious touch and puja etiquette. You need to gracefully redirect any touch which is not comfortable to you...for instance, if you are dissatisfied with a partner, instead of numbing out or saying "NO", practice moving your body and verbally communicating what you would prefer.
For men and women who started their tantric journey recently, consider a private session before the puja , it will propel you up to the next level and build your confidence. Book your appointment by calling Francoise: 858 531 1028 or
email Francoise at:
Tantra.Francoise@gmail.com. You will be glad you did!
It is a gender balance event;
save you space now by emailing Jacquie at
J@Jlowell.com.
To have your questions answered live, call Jacquie afternoons at 858 581 0050
Cost : $70 per couple
Single man : $50
Single woman : $30
Payable at the door
Puja for Singles
totally experiential open to new participants
Theme : India : cradle of tantric civilisation
India is rich in tales with pearls of wisdom.
In this Puja, you will be inspired to awaken qualities seen in Indian Deities through heart-felt, sensual experiences based on tantric principles.
You will practice the art form of touch and Namaste.
All exercises are respectful, playful and educational.
They will include dance moves, eye gazing, modalities of touch, story telling, hugging, sharing, and cuddling. No sexual/genital contact.
Everything is orchestrated with refinement and attention to details.
Participants usually gain a renewed sense of self esteem, appreciation for others and hope for humanity.
You will partner up with 15 different participants of the opposite gender.
$45 per person,
This is a gender balance event. Advanced registration is essential.
