3rd to the 5th of December, 2010

2010 Presenters:

Stephen Norval

Baba Dez Nichols

Andrew Barnes

Dr. Shakti Malan

Uta Demontis

Wendy Brown

Zo Hoka Dashati

Shekina Moondancer

Sw. A Rahasya

Aunkh Khem S-Maã

Shima Opening Lotus

Marina Green

Natalia Baker

Denisa Paleckova and Richard Vojik

Bruce Lyon BSc, Dip Clin Hyp., MSE, PhDE

Stephen Tredrea

Kali van der Merwe

Stephen Norval, founder and co-creator of the truePoint Consciousness Development Foundation offers a highly experiential series of perspectives on emergence and conscious co-creation. In this series Stephen teaches, shares and reveals a perspective on life, and living, beyond awakening. He employs and imparts a method of enquiry that enables us to explore and verify our natural intelligence and engage the world through enlightened action. This enlightened action is, itself, the emergence of the true authentic Self.

Stephen has offered transformation and consciousness seminars for over 20 years, and has worked in Johannesburg, Cape Town, Durban and Pietermaritzburg in South Africa, as well as in London, Zimbabwe and Mauritius. He will be presenting in India, Holland and USA during 2011. Stephen is relentlessly committed to teaching, sharing and revealing consciousness beyond awakening, and inspiring awareness and conscious co-creation in the world. In service and devotion to this, he recently co-founded trueSex with his life-partner, Samadhi.

The essential requirement of the emergence that is currently occurring in the world is that we release identification, at every level, and make ourselves available to existence as conscious co-creators, leaning into the mystery of an uncreated future. We know who and what we are. Who and what we become is entirely in our own hands. There are no blueprints, only the irrepressible urge of the true authentic human being to emerge. Whatever that may be and however that may look, it begins in our most fundamental creative action - sex.

Spirituality is consciousness in action. Sexuality is the spirituality of the body. Our responsibility is not to spiritualize our sexuality, but rather to sexualize our spirituality. As such, true sexuality is true spirituality. Our accountability in this regard is expressed in, as and through our sexual practice. Ultimately, our spirituality is not true unless our sexuality, and therefore our sexing, is true. The fundamental requirement for the emergence of a true human being has to be true sex.

To know the pulse, flow and glow of true sex we need to allow that we are each an expression of One, living as a mutuality of two – the duality of Masculine and Feminine. The old separation of spirituality and sexuality has wounded our capacity to live as love, to engage and relate with Life and each other as whole. It separated the Masculine (Father, Sky, Formlessness, God) from the Feminine (Mother, Earth, Form, Goddess) and fostered in us an identification with one or the other as what we are.

The intention of trueSex is to bridge the gap between mainstream sexuality and sacred sexuality by offering a way of re-languaging ourselves as males and females in the world, so that we may engage and relate in the awareness of who and what we truly are, for the sake of the Whole.

BABA DEZ NICHOLS is an Internationally renowned speaker and teacher, Daka, author, singer-songwriter, and transformational guide, trained in the Sacred Temple Arts to share, inspire, and support others in their integration of the divine masculine and feminine (Shiva/Shakti) energies within.

He is the founder of the Sedona Temple and School of Temple Arts and the Annual Daka-Dakini Conferences for sacred sexual healers, Tantra teachers and practitioners.

He has studied, assisted, and been blessed with the presence and wisdom of many masters around the world for over 30 years. His path is to travel worldwide and help others deepen in their truth and power, find healing & enjoyment in transformation, and manifest grounded results.

He is currently on tour promoting the release of his documentary Sex Magic, his book Sacred Sexual Healing: The Shaman Method of Sex Magic and his music CD Thank the Moon.

It seems for myself and many I know, it is ever more challenging to relate to Self, fellow humans, and the world as wounded. In our wholeness how do we open to be more full and expressive channels of creation? How beautiful, magical, abundant, and delicious can life on Mother Earth be?

You will not want to miss Baba Dez for his talk describing the incredible journey on his latest World Tour and unfolding his vision for next year's tour. Embracing Arousal... in 5 countries... Personal Growth and Planetary Union. Learn how each culture views sexuality and integration of mind-heart-emotion and embodiment of the divine self. Meet some of the presenters from South Africa, Europe and New Zealand to hear first hand accounts of the awakening that occurred in each country.

Andrew Barnes is an internationally acclaimed Tantric relationship, sexuality and orgasm coach, author, speaker and Daka, who specialises in educating individuals/couples about new concepts in life, intimacy and sexuality to awaken personal revelation and vibrational transformation.

Yvonne Lumsden is a Tantric relationship and sexuality coach. She is also a traditional Reiki Master, teacher and practitioner from the Usui lineage, as well as a bodyworker and aromatherapist, and talented artist and photographer.
Yvonne has trained as a mental health nurse specialising in drug and alcohol counselling and has a Postgraduate Diploma in Addictive Behaviour. For more information you can go to www.heartoftheflower.com and www.onelove.net.au

Andrew and Yvonne are the creators of Heart of the Flower – the book of yonis. The book addresses female genital self-esteem and social issues.

This presentation is not just about sexual performance, but actually addresses a much more significant subject, that of women reclaiming their sexuality and sexual knowledge/wisdom.

• An overview of female sexuality from the Victorian era to now.
• Women’s sexual and genital self-esteem, what’s going on?
• Why do up to 30% of women live their whole life never having had an orgasm?
• Why the huge rise in labioplasty’s worldwide.
• The anatomy and physiology of the clitoris, the G spot, and the female prostate gland.
• Demystifying the G spot and female prostrate gland.
• Full body energetic orgasms for women: moving the energy.

Shakti Malan is a dakini and member of the Advait Tantra School. She has a strong and well established practice based in Cape Town and runs retreats across the country. Her work includes individual and couple sessions, in-depth courses, workshops and longer retreats on the practice of Tantra; see http://shakti.co.za. Two specific areas of focus in her practice are female sexuality and blissdance, an expression of Tantra in dance
and movement.

Shakti's first immersion into meditation practice came through the Christian Mystical tradition, for which she has
deep appreciation. Tai Chi and yoga taught her the beauty of presence in the body, and how to follow the wisdom
of the body-mind. Dancing, and particularly Biodanza, really opened her to the passion that flows through our cells,
and that enables such deep creativity.

Life also brought Shakti significant work with Shamanism (Native American, Celtic and African traditions), which opened her eyes to the multi-dimensionality of our world, and the worlds beyond.

At the end of 2001 Shakti had a series of experiences that made clear to her that her life is about only one thing: awareness, awakening – and that catapulted her into my path as a Tantrika. Through visions she was told that her real name is Shakti, and that this name carried the direction of her work in the world. Then followed four years of deep immersion in spiritual practice. Like the old Christian desert fathers, Shakti went to live in the desert for a while, and went through a significant dissolving of self. Here her Tantra practice started. In 2003, Shakti met Leslie Temple Thurston, an Advaita teacher whose processing and meditation techniques have radically changed her life. A few years later, she met Rahasya, director of the Advait Tantraschool who initiated her into the work of the dakini. His extroadinary guidance opened her to the radical, experiential wisdom of Tantra as a path of awakening.

Shakti has a Ph.D. in Social Anthropology, practice also as a social sustainability specialist, and is a trained teacher and process work psychology facilitator.

The modern western mind is trapped in duality, constantly assessing and judging states and experiences as being either good or evil, right or wrong, successful or a failure. One side of each duality is acceptable to us and the other unacceptable. We are attracted to what we see as good, right and successful, and we are repulsed by what we judge as evil, wrong or resulting in failure. These lattter experiences are seen as our shadow that should be overcome, transcended, suppressed or excorcised. Thus, we aim with all our might to avoid at least half of the experiences life has to offer us.

In no area of our living do these dualities express as intensely as in our sexuality. Our sexual lives get loaded with expectations, associations, taboos and repressions of both a personal and collective nature. We shun the shadow and thus escape our own darkly delicious depths.

Tantra as a mystery tradition recognizes that our sexuality therefore, paradoxically, is the most potent gateway to consciousness. How to reach the most expanded state of orgasm in your being? Dive right in, and dare to live in non-duality. Explore what the dark underbelly of the unconscious has to gift you, and thus reclaim the whole of life's experience as your orgasmic playground.

In this presentation, I explore how I use the conscious accessing and embodying of shadow states as a way to guide clients towards their liberation. In embracing what has been shunned, we find the gift in states such as shame, anger, emptiness, terror, contraction, desire and suppressed power. My work also encourages people embody the disavowed aspects of self, such as the predator, the whore and the trickster.

I will use case studies to illustrate how the reclaiming of shadow states enables people to open to the full potency of their sexual flow and delight.

About Shakti Malan

Shakti is a Dakini (teacher of the mystery traditions of Tantra) and member of the Advait Tantraschool (tantraschool.co.za). She has a busy practice involving sessions, workshops, courses and retreats. Shakti is based in Cape Town and has been teaching internationally in the UK and the US. Her central approach is to enter the totality of experience as a gateway to awakening. Shakti believes that sexuality is the field which most powerfully directs us to this gateway. For more on her work, see shakti.co.za and totalitytherapy.com

Shakti is a woman who has always had a deep sense of calling, which first she explored in the development field working with township communities all across South Africa. Through this work she attained a Ph.D. in Social Anthropology, a discipline that teaches the practitioner to listen to the reality of groups and individuals from an insider perspective, through immersion in the texture of their lives.

Following from many years of devotion to meditation, tai chi, yoga and shamanic work, Shakti had a sudden and profound redirection of her energy into the field of Tantra. This started at the age of 33 with 18 months of death processing in the wilderness, and then a long period of intense work with the Advaita tradition of non-duality, as well as deep personal emotional processing.

Her style of teaching is influenced by Advaita teachings in general and specifically Advait Tantra, shamanism (most poignantly African shamanic traditions), systemic and processwork psychology, her intellectual training as a Social Anthropologist and also her work as a dance and movement teacher.

The focus of Uta’s work is sacred sexuality and sacred sexual healing. She helps men, women and couples who want to enhance their sex life, overcome sexual difficulties and bring the Sacred into their sex life.

She blends a variety of effective methods including bodywork, energy work, qi gong, internal alchemy meditations and NLP.

Her background is in Taoism, Shiatsu and NLP. She holds a Certificate in Sex Education from the IASHS (Institute for Advanced Study of Human Sexuality) and is in on-going training with teachers of sacred sexuality as well as continues deepening her knowledge of modern western approaches to sexual healing.

The Jade Egg is a key tool for women in awakening and cultivating sexual energy. These ancient Taoist practices not only increase sexual energy but they also reconnect women with their feminine essence.

The Jade Egg ritual and practice is deeply healing on all levels. It serves as a tool for women to reconnect with their whole Self and honour and appreciate their sexuality and themselves as sexual beings. It brings sacredness and love into the relationships with Self and partner.

The practices help to improve a woman’s health on all levels as the exercises focus on the area of the body which contains the sexual energy. The Jade Egg practice tones the muscles of the pelvic floor AND has an effect on a woman’s whole being - physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually.

Taoist practice and principles:
Their application to daily life – and life-changing events.

After spending her 20’s studying Shiatsu and Taoist practice, Zo admits it took the sacred blessing of becoming pregnant at 30, for much of the practices to be more deeply and profoundly assimilated on all levels.

During her training, Zo guided women through these practices in London, Thailand and along South Africa’s very own Garden Route.

Now nestled back in Cape Town with baby boy Phoenix, she continues to facilitate women’s circles while fuelling her interest in writing and voice projects.

Messages from the Womb - Opening the Heart – Inner Smile: Pregnancy

Pregnancy provides a time for inner reflection; daily on the journey toward giving birth, the inner miracle of foetal development can be felt at the deepest level of a woman’s consciousness, often giving rise to shifts in awareness which can be wonderful, even unsettling – The Inner Smile assists in balancing our inner worlds.

Fluid Intention - Perception of What Is - Healing Sounds: Labour

The image of labour being difficult is seared into us from a young age, from the subliminal messages in conversations overheard to various news media. Also, our cellular memory derived from the experiences of our ancestors suggests that our own death and/or that of our baby is a very possible outcome. Whatever our experience of labour, the Healing Sounds avail to us the opportunity of resonating with the moment.

Depth – Insight - Integration: Motherhood

Day to day, many things can be occurring simultaneously on one level, while deeply impacting us in ways we only later realise. At a time when women juggle old with new, huge spotlights are shone on our beliefs and ideals and our new role in relating.

Demonstrating the uses of the practices by walking participants through some of my experience since becoming pregnant. As well as guiding both men and women through a meditation combining these techniques – expect to need no more than 30mins.

Born in Klerksdorp, raised in Johannesburg, South Africa, I see my life as a series of initiations and immersions into different states of being. I was a teenager when I became aware of the way in which all experiences seemed to be necessary, each with its own lessons, and each leading to the next. Without understanding it, it dawned on me that every small thing was perfect in its own way and time.

For some time I referred to myself as a “Working Witch”, learning a great deal in my study and practice as a solitary. During this time my interest in the use of essential oils grew and today it is an integral part of my work. “Moondancer” came as my magickal name after several years of practice.

I work strongly with the energy of universal, unconditional love and it is this energy which initially moved me in the direction of Tantra. For some time I was not aware that I was working with Tantric principles and practices. It was after meeting Swami Rahasya and Wendy, and attending a course offered by the Advait Tantra School, that I began working consciously with Tantra. “Shekina” is the name that was given to me when I received my initiation, or energy transmission, as Dakini.

I am currently exploring Love Energy, working with it in sessions and using the material that I have gathered for a series of learning forums.

The beauty you see in life is a reflection of the beauty you see in yourself. The love you feel in life is a reflection of the love you feel in yourself.
Deepak Chopra

In search of the experience of ecstasy, the bliss of union with the Divine, what separates the profane from the profound? What is it that lifts the acts of sex from the mundane to the realm of spiritual ecstasy? In the Upanishads we find the statements that “In bliss and love these creatures are born. In bliss and love, they are sustained. To bliss they return.”

In this exploration of Love the following are considered: the concept of universal, or unconditional, love; the illusion and the real of romantic love; sex magick and love; Tantra, love and duality; the role of love in sacred sexuality; ecstatic love as an ultimate goal; the healing power of love; the seven stages of love (as described by Chopra); the use of love energy for exploration of self, inner journey and healing.

The discussion draws on the works of spiritual and practical teachers of Tantra, Tao, Wicca and Magick; considers psychological processes and archetypes; and teachings on energy fields, morphic resonance and the subtle or etheric body.

Rahasya started his exploration of tantra and related teachings in 1983. His first experience of tantra came from Osho’s community of tantra teachers. Much of his personal exploration of tantric practice happened during his marriage to Pashianti, who currently teaches tantra at the Osho multiversity.

From 2002, on his own completion of his own path, he started teaching tantra. Several of his students are now teachers of considerable experience.

He teaches groups and workshops, intensive retreats and in private individuals and couples sessions.

In Tantra, a Yogini Adept is an Initiate with personal awareness and experiential understanding that far exceeds that of the surrounding culture. From this perspective, she helps students with the development of their awareness.

Sensual massage practitioners, Intimacy coaches, sexual surrogates and others who work directly with sexuality have a lot in common with the Yogini Adept. Their work is also healing in intent and result. Their personal motivation is compassionate. Much of their own sexual repression is explored and addressed as a direct consequence of this work. Their lives are guided by the same archetypes.

Tantra's ancient history and depth of exploration of this archetype has valuable lessons for modern practitioners. Rahasya describes the archetype in modern terms and introduces a simple but helpful meditation technique.

Aunkh is the son of the Afurakan* soil. A consciousness-scientist from the Ancient-Kemetic [Egypt] spiritual tradition.

He directs the African Indigenous Knowledge Systems unit on Knowledge Development and Innovation

A Co-Founder and Consciousness Facilitator of the Amen-Ra Institute

Investigates and teaches the BaNTU science of consciousness and spiritual science

A Tantrika, whose work focuses mainly on Ancient Afurakan Sacred Sexuality Technologies and Conscious Relating Practices

*AFURAKA....Original name. Afu-Ra-Ka...Land of Creators

The world is yet to humbly appreciate the ageless wisdom that Afurakan* people shared among themselves and with them that visited their shores. An insignificant fraction of their wealth of knowledge culminated into the Metu Neter or Divine Writings of Beloved Kemet [so-called ancient Egypt]. Central to the Kemetic or Ba-Ntu world view is that man [male and female] is a primary functionary through which Consciousness or Ba or Ntu expresses Itself in the objective realm of the living and the dead.

Of the unlimited number of initiation systems and rites of passage, cultivation of the sexual or creative life-force [Ra of the Kemetian, Ncumu of the Ba-Ntu or Kundalini of Kush-Dravid], was primary. Various modalities like art, dance, music, meditation, sex rituals, breathing techniques, etc, were used under the principle of Ma’at or UbuNtu or Sacred Being-ness. Temples, pyramids, shrines, and social institutions were build base don the inspiration that initiates received from states of sexual ecstasy. The advent of colonialism, Christianity and apartheid in Afuraka demonized and labeled these ancient rites as diabolical and primitive. These drove what was openly practices and acceptable underground, to most of these rite declared sacred, and that which is sacred is secret and can only be shared with the initiates.

This paper seeks to demystify and yet unapologetically assert the role that Afuraka played in enriching the world with its views and ageless insights into sexuality and consciousness. Some of the Afurakan esoteric practices commonly known among the Tantric, Tao or Yoga traditions will be discussed in this conference. These include ukwevha or sacred self-pleasuring rituals, ukusoma or preservation of sexual energy sexual rites, udavhula or open relating or omni-amory, and unkuhlanga or the sacred sexual union during externalised consciousness or endlozini [in trance]. In conclusion, the journey of consciousness through the seven divisions of the spirit during the sexual act will be discussed. Appreciation of Afurakan arts and science will save sexuality from the two thousand years of bondage. The noble role that Afurakans can play in consciousness facilitation and Ubuntu [divines] of sexuality will also be restored among the wisdom keepers of this planet, whether oriental, shamanic or western.

Dakini Shima began her path of Tantra with the wish to teach healthy sexuality to the people of Earth. This wishing was followed swiftly by the question of “What is the true nature of sex and its expression?” This question began a profound journey of self, other and sex exploration. So began her quest which culminated in the body of the dakini arrived upon by the raft of Tantra.

Shima currently runs a Tantra practice in Johannesburg where she teaches private sessions and tantric lovemaking courses. She has entered into the realm of tantric film making which is slowly becoming her core expression of the dakini and the teaching of Tantra. Her first full length tantra exploration “ Lalla the Buddha “ will be released later this year.

Shima is a teacher of the Advait Tantra School and realised the dakini - lineage under the guruship of Swami Rahasya.

In lands, where the feminine is loved, the whore is embraced. In these places embodiment of whore is encouraged in those who have the calling. The sacred whore is the vehicle that returns one to the home of divine union.

The question is; what aspects of whore enable this journey and how does the whore sail the boat of Desire to bring one to the shore of wholeness?

What is the catalyst in lovemaking meditations that brings the seeker's awareness into the direct knowing of truth?

Dakini Shima will share some reflections of her return - journey to the sacred whore in the realisation of the dakini and the understanding revealed in this profound adventure.

Drawing on 9 years of experience writing and researching in the field of female sexuality, researcher, journalist and film editor Marina Green has become widely known as a champion of GLBT rights and women's empowerment, health, wellness and sexuality.

She is the owner of one of the most successful sexuality and sensuality brands in South Africa, which was inspired by woman positive spaces in Europe & the United States. Whet Sensuality Emporium is a boutique which stocks, premium quality pleasure toys, books and lingerie. Whet offers holistic counselling and promotes sacred sexuality.

Whet Personal Products produces locally manufactured lubricants, massage oils and sensual bath products, which are now carried by a large pharmaceutical distributer and a national grocery chain. Marina is the Sensuality Expert on Women24.com and was recently featured in a Carte Blanche special on “The thinking women’s sex shop”. She was also interviewed for the “Road to Pride” documentary, screened at the recent ‘Out in Africa’ film festival. Marina supplies the toys reviewed by Dorothy Black on ‘the dot spot’, aired on 5fm during Sasha Martinengo’s show.

Marina Green has become widely known as a champion of GLBT rights and women's empowerment, health, wellness and sexuality. She is the owner of one of the most successful sexuality and sensuality brands in South Africa, which was inspired by woman positive spaces in Europe & the United States. Whet Sensuality Emporium is a boutique which stocks, premium quality pleasure toys, books and lingerie. Whet offers holistic counselling and promotes sacred sexuality.

Whet Personal Products produces locally manufactured lubricants, massage oils and sensual bath products, which are now carried by a large pharmaceutical distributer and a national grocery chain. Marina is the Sensuality Expert on Women24.com and was recently featured in a Carte Blanche special on “The thinking women’s sex shop”. She was also interviewed for the “Road to Pride” documentary, screened at the recent ‘Out in Africa’ film festival. Marina supplies the toys reviewed by Dorothy Black on ‘the dot spot’, aired on 5fm during Sasha Martinengo’s show.

NATALIA BAKER's popular courses and inspirational talks are presented throughout this country, it's neighbours and overseas. She has been described as the doyen of meditation teaching in South Africa!

She was the resident book reviewer for SATV's weekly Free Spirit, which has also shown films on her life and work, and a Wisdom Keeper on SATV2's Journey to the Core. DSTV Health Channel has filmed her on meditation for a series entitled Naturally You.

She expresses ideas and concepts clearly and with delicious humour, is an experienced and inspired speaker with much wisdom and life experience. She was recently invited as a guest to study two courses at the Oneness University, Chennai, India where she qualified as a principle deeksha giver.

The structure and foundation of relationships are being thoroughly tested at this time and both intimate and casual relationships provide the crucible for our growth, preparing us for higher dimensions.

This talk will explain how we can either travel this path with anger and irritation, blame, criticism and disillusionment or with grace, love, ease and freedom by understanding the purpose of each relationship and the opportunity it is gifting us with. It is also about taking back our power so that relationships have depth and substance and are directed for the purpose of personal growth.

This talk aims to be practical, helpful and inspiring so those who attend are able to apply the insights and principles in their own lives.

Denisa Paleckova and Richard Vojik are internationally acclaimed teachers working in the field of intimacy, relationships, personal growth and transformation. Since 2002, they have been running personal development workshops focusing on partnership, life, healing, cultivating sexuality, groups for men and women and tantric massage. Their year-long training The School of Tantric Massage is not only a means to deeper intimacy in a couple, but also a vehicle for personal growth and healing in all areas of life. The 120hr training also prepares professionals for being confident and inspiring guides to their clients. Tantric massage can be experienced as a tool for increased life force, expanded consciousness, deeper intimacy, healing and love.

By also shedding light on the differences between the female and male, Denisa and Richard help to make those a resource both in intimate and daily life. Their teachings go far beyond learning techniques for increased pleasure, and inspire to see through all struggles and desires to rest in simple truth, joy and love. Under sensitive, playful and friendly guidance, accompanied by a loving kind of humor, participants can feel safe and open up. There is caring support and respect for the participants‘ needs.

While having taught in England, Belgium, Denmark, Croatia and Thailand, Denisa and Richard now focus on teaching mainly in Czech republic and some of their workshops are bilingual (Czech + English).

They have educated many professionals in tantric massage and teachers of tantric massage. They have created and run Tantra Spa Prague – a healing center for relaxation and education.

Tantric massage is a sensual ritual which includes elements of tantra, tao, classic massage, thai massage and energy work. It has firm structure but also leaves space for individual adjustments for the receiver: gentle vs firm, slow vs dynamic, for male vs female and so on. It may include the genital massage and mostly both the receiver and the giver are naked.

Tantric massage has profound effects on our bodies and minds and can help to heal, transform and inspire on many levels. Among others it:
- helps to heal physical disease, trauma, emotional blockages and depressions;
- heals shame and increases self acceptance;
- inspires and educates people about their and their partners sexuality.

And why? Shortly, this "miracles“ may happen thanks to:
- loving touch and full presence of the giver;
- methods for increasing life force.

In this Presentation, we will also:
- talk about the tantric buddhist tradition and teach you the "right attitude“ towards the receiver, that enables opening, healing and transformation;
- introduce you to methods that help to open the receiver (we will do a practical structure to experience this);
- differences between men and women with regard to tantric massage (their motivations and our practical approach to a male/female receiver)
- discuss modalities of working with tantric massage on personal and professional level.

Bruce is an international speaker and teacher based in New Zealand.

Founder of Shamballa School, he has also written many books on occultism, yoga, cosmology and poetry. He has been trained in many different traditions and combines the esoteric with a deeply experiential life path.

He is also and inevitably a liar, coward and cheat because the truth can't be spoken, he is often more afraid than he makes out , and, in the final analysis, he knows nothing.

This presentation looks at the global emergence of sacred sexuality, the redemption of the feminine principle, 2012, the galactic alignment, the awakening of planetary kundalini and the activation of the earth's chakra system as interlocking parts of a planet wide initiation. Through a series of experiential exercises, metaphors and archetypal images from the mystery traditions we will seek to align with the universal process and thus deepen our individual and group emergence. From black holes to our assholes, we will follow the thread of divine darkness flowing in to awaken the bliss body of earth.

As a facilitator and speaker on awareness and self-realisation, working with individuals, couples and groups, Stephen uses the spiritual teachings and practices of Tantra to catalyse practical experiences in life.

His special interest within this is the acknowledgement, integration and natural expression of sexuality, and how this connects to ideas of love and relationship.

He is engaged with the formation of various initiatives on the theme of sexuality.

There's was a time, reclined on a corporate throne bathed in florescent light, when my being felt commoditised and undermined. Not knowing what it meant to dance with chaos, something from the unknowable called me to jump into its depths. As a teacher of Tantra, my personal journey feels like in the awareness of each step my being expands such that, in the words of Josh Groban, "the one I will become will catch me". In this talk I reflect on my first two years as a daka: the experiences I've had and what they've taught me about being alive and available to myself.

Outline:

1. Becoming a Daka - background, fantasy and finding permission
2. Direction from the feminine - support, balance and reflection
3. The inner-soulmate - integration and expression
4. The first two years - what I've experienced and learnt
5. Modes of teaching - coffee shops, sessions and sanctuaries
6. Teaching the teacher - my own continual process in being available to another
7. Teaching men - vulnerability and self-love

Kali van der Merwe is an artist, photographer, filmmaker, graphic designer, skills trainer and soundscape creator, currently based in Cape Town, South Africa.

She graduated, with distinction, in Fine Arts at the School of Michaelis, University of Cape Town, majoring in sculpture. Kali’s career and creativity has followed a rich and diverse trajectory.

In a fifteen-year career as a documentary filmmaker, Kali’s films have been highly praised and won numerous prestigious awards both locally and internationally. Her films have explored: dispossession of land, social injustice, corporate ethics, musical journeys and sexuality in the film 'Doing It!', where four brave young women intimately examine their sexual histories and reflect on their experiences.

Digging under the skin of society, Kali’s delves into the hidden and taboo, mining and undermining fears in short experimental films. There is much sacredness hidden in the world of the forbidden. ‘W-hole’ an ode to the male arsehole, uncovers male constructs around identity, sexuality and the ownership society creates around the body. It was officially screened at the 2008 Out of Africa Gay and Lesbian Film Festival. ‘L’Origine du Monde’ pays homage to the fecundity of menstrual blood and honours the origination of the word menses – derivative words have links to astronomy, mathematics, measurement, spirit and mind. Language has recorded the central role women’s monthly cycles have played in the development of human consciousness and civilization.

In sensual photographic explorations taking place in the medium of water, Kali seeks to honour and celebrate the body, presence, energy and essence. Humans are creatures deeply dependent on water: to create new life, to love, to feel, to cry, to metabolise and to survive. Water is a transformative element, which requires immersed surrender. Between the delicate balance of agency and submission, is where the exquisite mystery takes place. Intended as a journey of self-discovery and healing, the project is an exploration in sensuality and eroticism, in touch with the elements, the deepest part of the self and the divine.

Coming more powerfully into the incarnation as the mighty Indian goddess of creation and destruction she named herself after, over 18 years ago, Kali is presently exploring, in photographic series, the diverse faces of female essence embodied and reflected in her own form. Tapping into a dream space: archetypal forms, mythological beings and a world of spirit energies emerge. It is from deep in the recesses of the sub-conscious and unconscious mind that these images come to life. The images speak the language of deeper realities hidden beneath the external forms of perception. Here there is no absolute truth but shifting, naked bodyscapes of multiple truths in conversation with each other, moving between the light and the dark. Beauty and ecstasy co-exist with death, immolation and destruction.

Kali will be presenting:

'Below the Surface' - intimate underwater explorations,

‘Kunt Kisses’ – lipstick yoni prints
and
‘Dark Matter’ – language of the soul.

Most of the work will have the first public exposure at the conference.