School Journal
8th October 2007
It has taken some time, but finally I have been able to post a plan for workshops & retreats for 2008 on the Workshop Schedule page. This is extremely exciting for me and I cannot wait to begin. The workshops will offer you an immersing into the path of Tantra as not been offered in South Africa as yet. Having lived in Germany for 28 years, I have an excellent knowledge of the development of and within a large tantric community there, the way the German schools have developed, what they offer, what has worked and what has not worked - so my plan is based on a similar structure.
I am hoping that South Africans will take to the idea of the Year Group - a closed group that works together over the period of a year in a series of retreats. This is the ideal way to immerse yourself into the ways and practice of Tantra in order not only to enhance your sexuality, but in order to grow emotionally and spiritually. These Year Groups are the main focus of most of the schools in Germany, their individual workshops being a possibility to get to know the work before taking the plunge into such a group. The work is able to go deeper as the participants get to know each other over a series of weekends. Lasting friendships are possible to be formed and as the group grows an atmosphere of trust, so can the work go deeper than is possible on an individual weekend.
The venue is important. It has been my desire to be close to nature and to be able to do some of the work in nature. I personally find that being in the open, close to the elements is a wonderful way of deepening our sense of self. Nature supports us in this. The open space, the wind, even the rain etc. can enhance our sense of being in the moment, our ability to meditate, to connect to ourselves and others in a very natural way. We South Africans are an outdoors people, what with all the sporting activities going on as well as our culture of getting together for a braai! This will however be a different connecting to the outdoors, a meditative, sensual experience within the other work we will be doing on the weekends. Have you ever noticed how quiet it becomes in the mountains? Or how time seems to stand still in a vast open space? Or how the wind caresses your cheeks? Or the sun warms not only your skin but also your heart? We will take time to experience this as well as other wonderfully sensual and creative activities that will be part of the workshops.
I have found a couple of wonderful venues for our work - one on the KZN south coast, two in the Northern Drakensberg and one close to the southern Kruger National Park. I still have to explore the Cape area for venues and will do this in time to come. In the mean time, Capetonians wishing to attend will be able to fly to Durban and from there be picked up and taken to the retreat venue. I will be organising a shuffle service from Durban. For the Northern Drakensberg venue, it will also be a possibility to fly to Bloemfontein and take a rented car from there.... and I will always also assist you with getting lifts with others attending the workshop.
Presently, I am busy getting all the details for each workshop and retreat to paper and will post these here as soon as I can. In the mean time, if you have any questions or would like to pre-register for the details of any workshop or the year group, please feel free to email me: leandra@durgatantraschool.co.za.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Namaste
Leandra