Long before Tantra or Bhakti Yoga there were many things ancients probably learned from intercourse, even more than most people do today. Today we have drugs like Viagra to enhance longevity of sexual encounter. The Mayans have natural drug for this. There are so many things which keep us busy or deflect us from spiritual insight as is noted in many Eastern systems which refer to ‘busy-mind’ or samsara and illusion of Maya.

Second degree Wiccan students who have advanced through a rigorous training in esoteric knowledge begin a quest that many would regard as perverse pursuit of pleasure and self-gratification. The partners are often involved in other committed relationships. When a man and a woman who are interested in spiritual growth combine to experience Tantric or Bhakti (Yoga) or ritualistic growth potential to free more than just their personal self or ego to reach heights of spiritual or psychic possibilities; who can say what is real and what is imagined. This effort to commune with spirit is termed ‘working partners’ and allies or guides is who they really seek to merge or work with. The imagination is undoubtedly a part of dynamic. It isn't necessary for them to care for each other in way lovers do. I have not done this ‘work’.

Many people talk about 'soulmates' or 'dual flames' and words become mere shadows of real potential. At same time sex is a dirty 'word', and act, in much of society.

What can a writer say to convey essence of all these things?

If I absolve myself from challenge of integrating these concepts, rituals and soulful realities I would simply say trust your soul and know that wherever you may go you will find something more than whatever you thought was real to begin with.

If I talk about 'la petite mort' or empathic attunements with soul of partner that allows self to disintegrate and become part of something larger than one person; and almost dissolve in vastness of spirit - it will only seem like prose and poetry. The phrase ‘la petite mort’ or ‘the little death’ can in fact lead to a Kundalini type experience which can cause death.

Of course, one can wax eloquent and carry on at length about any of their hopes and desires. The essence of a great working partner most probably has little to do with these aspirations and more to do with way soul interpenetrates all people. The glimpses of insight gained through empathy and love with those who shared my needs are special to me and will forever stay in part of my soul (if there is such a part) that cherishes all we were and hungers for what we could have been.

To deprecate witch who 'draws down moon' into their partner on path to worship of things no one can fully know is stuff of fearful and insecure people. That kind of bigotry without actual experience is rampant in all areas of society. It is truly just tip of proverbial iceberg when one contemplates all ways mankind has developed to separate himself from what we are collectively and what god truly wishes for us to realize. No amount of constant seeking or obsession with these pursuits will ever get a man any closer to his soul than what he was while in his mother's womb.

The joy and creativity of challenge to know is as great a gift as our maker can give us - except perhaps acquiescence to soul within loved one you are blessed to have chance to know and share your life with. In moment of creation each day as we grow and learn to be, we are forever drawn by some force that seeks greater harmony and purpose for all energy.

Many (if not most) people think 24 hour orgasm is like alien abductions but EEG and other ways of measuring physical responses would convince them otherwise. A similar number of people find misuse of Tantric Yoga by likes of Crowley and Hubbard is tantamount to whatever is evil in man. I say they are right, but that is not fault of Tantric Yoga. These techniques are very seductive and in some ways participants would choose to have experience even if they knew a great deal about it because it is a sad truism that Masters and Johnson or Kinsey are right. They say a full third of women never have an orgasm through intercourse.

Many people seldom enjoy sex and some significant number of rest of us are in varying stages of poor to decent ability and openness to what great learning sex can provide. It could be said that our sexual relations are a good barometer of state of society. I favour sex education and all opportunities and responsibilities that go with natural and soulful functions of act. It is easy to understand why some people are hesitant to have strangers teach their loved ones about sex. But Father Leo Booth is right when he notes that parents who repress their children or foist suppressive behavior upon them are just as guilty of abuse.

1) Rudolph Ballentine, M. D., Radical Healing, Harmony Books, New York, 1999, pgs. 75-6, we have Dorothy Shepherd, The Action of Minimum Dose, pg. 13. 2) Ibid. 3) http://www.suppressedscience.net/physics.html 4) Bob Gottfried Ph. D., Shortcut to Spirituality: mastering art of Inner Peace, Deeper Dimension Publishing, North York, Ontario, 2004, pgs. 53-4.

Card 20 is 'Judgment'. On Judgment day, all are judged, and way in which this judgment is metered out says as much about judge as judged. This card alerts you to need to choose - if you face a question or choice, now is time to make up your mind. The right minded way of course is to judge without condemning, or leaving no possibility of parole (future opportunity and choice). It may also alert you that you yourself are being judged somehow, and test is actually in how you respond to judgment, not whether you are guilty or not. Above all, Judgment means that renewal and change is at hand, and with change comes opportunity.

Finally we have World. Associated with happiness, World is that feeling of totality we get when 'everything is ok'. This feeling is transitory - life's challenges always see to that, but when they come, they must be embraced without fear. Like Sun, World is a positive card, and puts you on notice that your desires are indeed fulfill-able, BUT... you will need to work for them. To take World, we must also give ourselves over into its service.

And together with card 0, Fool, that makes 22 major arcana cards. Next time, we will explore methods of using cards and patterns most suitable for fast reliable readings.