March 2010
Being Men: Cultivating the Inner Essence ~ 17&31 March, 14 April
Evolving Men ~ Thursdays in March & April
April 2010
| Being Men: Cultivating the Inner Essence ~ 17&31 March, 14 April Men's foundational sexual practices for personal development |
OVERVIEW:
Rediscover the art and science of awakening your natural essence through simple and powerful energy cultivation and circulation practices, supported by personal-development exercises. The physical & energetic practices can transform how you show up in the world, in sexual connection and everywhere in between. They are drawn primarily from the wisdom of Taoist Qi Gong and Tantric techniques that transform the primal energies into a powerful clarity of being. The self-development work is designed to begin revealing and resolving emotional and psychological restrictions to living fully and consciously.
You will learn basic practices to clear and cultivate your sexual energy for healing and pleasure. With a little persistence and dedication, your love life (which is actually your whole life), and your relationship with yourself and others will look completely different in a very short space of time.
This is a foundational journey, suitable for beginners and ongoing explorers - each segment being a dynamic evening but a manageable one. We get right down to the basics, stripping away all the complications that so much of this work can often be wrapped in - so that you build a physical practice from the ground up and solidly embody it. We'll be encouraging you to make the time to integrate and learn the techniques by developing a regular practice for the duration of the course - and reporting back for ongoing coaching.
PRACTICALITIES:
Groups are limited to a max of 14 participants. This introductory series runs as three evenings - fortnightly over six weeks. There will also be a simple workbook to support your practice between sessions. Facilitation commences at 7.30 so attendees are asked to arrive by 7.20, so we can do admin and begin on time. We typically finish the facilitated section around 9.40 and then have some optional chill-out time for those who can stay on.
Dates: Thursdays - 17th & 31st March & 14th April
Location: CERES in Brunswick, details on registration
Time: 7:30 - 9:40
The first evening costs $30 and must be booked and paid in advance. (No exceptions unless arranged specifically with us.) If you then choose to sign on for the series of three the full cost is $80. To sign on you need to bring $50 to pay us at the end of the first night, or to Paypal that amount no later than the Friday morning after the group. If you book with us but then can't attend on an evening, we request 24 hours notice of cancellation.
Whilst we welcome men to evaluate the first night, there will not normally be the opportunity to 'drop in' to another night. IE if you want to do the 3rd night, you must do the first two. The work builds from night to night, one evening laying the foundation for the next. A lot of information is imparted and there's a whole new physical and energetic language to learn.
To reserve you place, you must make at least a deposit for the first night, you can do that below. Just select which option you want from the drop down menu, and then select 'Add to Cart':
The first evening will be open to a few more than our maximum regular capacity, because this is also a trial for those who want to check out the work before signing on. If a large number then want to sign on for the whole series, we will accept those who expressed interest first for the initial night (so long as their payment is received by the Friday morning). We will be running this series ongoingly in batches of three, and if interest merits, expanding into a second concurrent class, so if interest is sufficient everyone will have a chance to attend.
No nudity or sexual contact is part of this work.
WHO IS THIS WORK FOR?
This work presents practical opportunities to explore embodied masculine identity and empowerment. It is for men who would describe themselves as wanting to explore living more 'consciously' and courageously. You might be someone for whom the word 'spiritual' presents no problems, whatever your personal definition, someone who has some understanding of a functional definition of the path of 'Tantra', or someone who is fed-up with the pressure to be a 'nice guy' all the time. Though to experience all of these is not essential to be able to attend.
If you feel that something strong and edgy is missing from your spiritual, sexual and personal life, if you feel controlled by your mind and disconnected from your physicality & instincts, if your woman is powering up and you are feeling left behind, or if you want to relate sexually and to your purpose and presence in the world from a stronger, more grounded place of self-knowing, these groups could be for you. Currently the workshops are geared towards those 27 or older. Attendees will need to have a basic reasonable level of health and fitness.
The facilitators run the work from a heterosexual perspective, as that is our primary experience. However, the work at core is suitable for men of any sexual orientation - as it's at core about our relationship to ourselves. Anyone expressing intentional discrimination on whatever grounds in the training space will be asked to leave. Unintentional discrimination will be addressed.
WHO IS THIS WORK NOT FOR?
If your only interest in this work is to apply it to what you do in the bedroom, or to how well you can impress potential sexual partners, then this is not the class for you. Taoist & Tantric practice stem from deep spiritual traditions, and though we do not teach that side of things directly in this course it informs and infuses the work. Plus, the facilitators are deliberately incorporating exercises that call for courageously authentic self-awareness, and an evolution of responsibility and respect for the feminine.
If you have a heart condition, severe physical injury that prevents you standing up for some exercises or from breathing strongly for periods of time, or have a psychiatric illness that is severe and/or requires medication, then these groups are not for you. We also hold a drug and alcohol-free space, and anyone arriving under the influence will be asked to leave.
We also reserve the right to refuse attendance (and return any money paid for evenings not completed) to anyone for whatever reasons present themselves as congruent to us. We are committed to holding a safe, supportive, conscious and respectful space.
WHO WE ARE:
Jared Osborne is a Certified Ipsalu Tantra Teacher Level 1 and an Ipsalu Tantra Teaching Faculty Apprentice. He has trained in Tai Ji Quan and Kung Fu intensively for 8 years, has been practicing Qi Gong, magic ritual, meditation and yoga for over 16 years and has nearly 20 years experience in facilitation and group work. He runs regular Tantra workshops and private sessions with a focus on developing emotional intelligence and opening the energy body. He is currently studying the links between Tantra, Taoism and Hermetic Magical Practices.
Arven Alexander has a BSc (Hons) in Human Ecology, and is trained in Somatic Breathwork, NLP (Master Prac), Arts Therapy (Expressive & Transpersonal), & Shamanic Tantra (Lvl 1). He has also followed the paths of Neo-Tantra and Ecstatic Dance for the last decade. He has devised & run workshops in Breathwork and Improvisation Games, held Ecstatic Dance space, created & held ritual Somatic Tantra events, assisted in the design & facilitation of Medicine Wheel rituals and is a regular at the SOTEMS sweatlodge.
| Evolving Men ~ Thursdays in March & April Investigating the Authentic Masculine |
Experiential, supportive and non-judgmental personal development evenings for men. Explore and rediscover authentic wisdom, strength & sensitivity beyond the limiting social definitions and permissions. Framed within the four directions of the Medicine Wheel, grounded in Tibetan Yoga & Qi Gong exercises and Transpersonal perspectives, and influenced by various other sources including David Deida, the Authentic Man Program, & Shamanic Practice. Activities include: witnessing/sharing dyads & circle, presencing exercises, dynamic & guided meditations, breathwork, and more.
This is a foundational journey, suitable for beginners and for ongoing explorers - a full evening but not at some crazy pace. The evenings will be collaborative, with each of us holding space for the others. The facilitators are involved as coaches and key participants - providing frameworks & arenas for men's personal journeys to be individually and uniquely discovered - rather than teaching specific 'truths' or 'definitions' from some position of 'knowing it all'.
PRACTICALITIES:
Groups are limited to a maximum of 14 or so participants. They run as a series of four evenings, usually over four weeks, but occasionally with a break of one week in the middle, and will typically have a sweat lodge as an optional evening in the middle or at the end. The facilitated part starts 7.30 so attendees are asked to arrive before then so we can do admin and begin on time. We typically finish the facilitated section between 9.30-9.45 and then have some optional chill out time for those who can stay on. It is a basic indoor venue in a natural setting, and we occasionally do some of the work outside.
Dates: Four Thursdays - 18/25 March & 08/15 April
Location: CERES in East Brunswick
Time: 7:30 - 9:40pm
Cost is $25 per evening if you book and pay no later than the Sunday before the group, otherwise $30. If you choose to do all four, the cost is $80 for the whole of this short series. To obtain this discount you can pay the remaining $55 at the end of the first evening or by Paypal before the second evening). If you book with us but then can't make it, we require 24 hours notice of cancellation. If any evening is not full it may be possible to attend casually, but always check before doing so.
To reserve you place, you must make at least a deposit for the first night, you can do that below. Just select which option you want from the drop down menu, and then select 'Add to Cart':
WHO IS THIS WORK FOR?
This work presents practical opportunities to explore masculine identity and empowerment. It is for men who would describe themselves as wanting to live more 'consciously' and courageously. You might be someone for whom the word 'spiritual' presents no problems, whatever your personal definition, who has some understanding of a functional definition of the path of 'Tantra', and who is fed-up with the pressure to be a 'nice guy' all the time. But to be all of these is not essential to attend.
If you feel that something strong and edgy is missing from your spiritual life, if you feel controlled by your mind and disconnected from your physicality & instincts, if your woman is powering up and you are feeling left behind, or if you want to relate to women and to your purpose and presence in the world from a stronger, more grounded place of self-knowing, these groups could be for you. Currently the workshops are geared towards those 27 or older. Attendees will need to have a basic reasonable level of health and fitness.
WHO IS THIS WORK NOT FOR?
If you are seeking a talking-focussed 'men's group' in the classic style we are not offering such a space, though we do incorporate sharing and discussion. Nor is this a substitute for therapy or any twelve-step programme, though if can work very well alongside such things if you have already made significant progress in coming to know yourself and being able to deal with your own feelings and sense of worth. If you have a heart condition, severe physical injury that prevents you standing up for some exercises or from breathing strongly for periods of time, or have a psychiatric illness that is severe and/or requires medication, then these groups are not for you. We also hold a drug and alcohol-free space, and anyone arriving under the influence will be asked to leave.
OUR PHILOSOPHY:
Being fully human means being on a continual journey of self-realisation. Without that journey people can become starved for meaning, and subject to social and psychological dissatisfaction and even illness. Whilst being a 'provider' and behaving with respect are both valid aspects of male identity, they are only two parts of many.
Other aspects are often forgotten or devalued. These include courage, wildness, forthrightness, raw honesty, empathy, asking for what we want & need, embodiment, holding space, honoring the feminine, direction, ambition, wisdom, owning our anger without aggression, and accepting & more deeply understanding our sexuality (in a culture where male desire is misunderstood, misrepresented and demonised).
This work is designed to open up possibilities of becoming more assertive, more proud and confident of who we are, and more congruent to express our needs in functional ways. As well as becoming more empathic to others - which is a companion journey alongside authentic self-discovery.
WHO WE ARE:
Arven Alexander has a BSc (Hons) in Human Ecology, and is trained in Somatic Breathwork, NLP (Master Prac), Arts Therapy (Expressive & Transpersonal), & Shamanic Tantra (Lvl 1). He has also followed the paths of Neo-Tantra and Ecstatic Dance for the last decade. He has devised & run workshops in Breathwork and Improvisation Games, held Ecstatic Dance space, created & held ritual Somatic Tantra events, assisted in the design & facilitation of Medicine Wheel rituals and is a regular at the SOTEMS sweatlodge.
Jared Osborne is a Certified Ipsalu Tantra Teacher Level 1 and an Ipsalu Tantra Teaching Faculty Apprentice. He has trained in Tai Ji Quan and Kung Fu intensively for 8 years, has been practicing Qi Gong, magic ritual, meditation and yoga for over 16 years and has nearly 20 years experience in facilitation and group work. He runs regular Tantra workshops with a focus on developing emotional intelligence and opening the energy body. He is currently studying the links between Tantra, Taoism and Hermetic Magical Practices.
| Satsang ~ Fri 26th March Cobra Breath Community Gathering |
Join Jared in celebrating and cultivating the path of Ipslau Tantra Kriya Yoga at Satsang. Satsang means "to gather in truth" or to share spiritual practice in community.
This Satsang is an evening for anyone who has received any level of Kriya Yoga Cobra Breath.
Satsung is a great opportunity to connect and share with others in the community in an open, heartfelt space. It is also a chance to discuss the practice, ask questions and to review techniques.
The evening begins at 6:30pm with our practice commencing at 6:45 pm (sharp!) and finishing at 8pm, followed by a pot luck dinner. We invite you to bring a plate of food to share. I look forward to reconnecting with everyone.
Location: 9 Hooper Rd Wonga Park
Friday 13th November
6:30 - 9:30pm
RSVP essential.
Please contact Jared (0430 172 660) or
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| Confest ~ 2nd to 5th April |
Every morning from 10am - 12pm explore the bliss of body centred open hearted awareness. There will also be workshops on intimacy and sexual transmutation for couples and singles and mingles.
A great community of Tantrikas will be there this Easter, come and join us in exploring and awakening a deeper connection with heart, sex and consciousness.
Whether experienced or inexperienced at the art of tantra you will learn practices that support you to move from the chatter of your mind into a state of blissful energetic presence through exploring the simple yet powerful Ipsalu Tantra Formula with us.
There will be no explicit sexual activity in the programs. Singles and couples are welcome, all sexual orientations.
Location: Click here for ConFest details