Jack Painter, PhD offering workshops in Atlanta and Cincinnati

Jack Painter is something of a legend in the area of somatic body work, tantra and somatic psychology. He pioneered massage in and around the genitals and anus in the 70’s. His work is much more complex and sophisticated than simple Sacred Spot massage. Quite a bit of current offerings in the tantra community are based in large part on his profound work. He is will be offering his Heart In Sexuality 5-Day Intensive in Atlanta August 31st through September 4th and again in Cincinnati September 6th through 10th for $995. Download the Atlanta flyer in PDF format. Download the Cincinnati flyer in PDF format. I interviewed him about why tantrikas are drawn to his work. Register, or read on:

Heart In Sexuality (previously Pelvic-Heart Integration) integrates deep tissue massage with breathwork, energy work, trauma release, Gestalt, and psychodrama. Take advantage of this opportunity to learn directly from Jack Painter, creator of this incredibly powerful work. The focus is on restoring the integrity of the natural flow of orgasmic energy between the heart and the genitals. Part of this process involves learning to recognize how we cut off this flow, how our gender identities support or undermine our sexual relationships, and how our past and current relationship patterns are linked to our sexual blocks. These things are not merely discussed, but are felt in every cell of the body as participants are supported to make major breakthroughs. The healing process even extends backward into time, as old family dynamics are transformed.

This Five Day training is slightly different each time, leading some people to repeat it more than once. Level 1 focuses more on learning the elements of a pelvic heart session and Level 2 focuses more on the developmental psychosexual life cycle, but there is some overlap. You do not have to take Level 1 before Level 2 if you have some relevant background. Both Levels begin with some playful warm up exercises which also teach about the energy meridians and the balancing of yin and yang. Both include the giving and receiving of a full HIS session and include work on untangling the ancestral lines of sexual/spiritual transmission.

Jack demonstrates, participants practice on each other, and then share about what they experienced. This cycle is repeated over and over throughout the training as building blocks for a Pelvic Heart Integration session are taught and practiced. The theory behind the work is introduced only after the work itself has been experienced.In both Level 1 and Level 2 you have an opportunity both to do your own work and to begin acquiring skills as a practitioner. You will learn:

• How your body holds both masculine and feminine energy and how to embrace both sides
• How to use the breath to access new levels of excitement with or without a partner
• How to identify characteristic patterns and blocks to the free flow of orgasmic energy and how these blocks relate to body and personality types
• How to identify the origin of these sexual blocks and how to release them on physical, energetic, and emotional levels
• How to free yourself from old, dysfunctional patterns and become a mature, self-validating individual
• How to use pelvic bodywork to release trauma and to increase orgasmic pleasure

This extraordinarily powerful five day training is designed for people who already have some background in tantra, sexual healing, psychotherapy, or bodywork and who are comfortable with nudity and group work. The pace is at once leisurely and breathtakingly fast. The group bonds quickly and creates a safe container where deep work is expertly guided.

Jack Painter, Ph.D. is one of those rare beings who is equally good at practicing and teaching his method of Heart In Sexuality (HIS). Prior to creating HIS, Jack developed a style of bodywork called Postural Integration (PI) which is now used by hundreds of practitioners worldwide. He is something of a living legend in the field of bodywork, and at the age of 71, he has spent a lifetime refining his art. Jack is now living in Italy so USA trainings are infrequent.

Predisposition for Polyamory

I think people come to polyamory (or run from it) for a variety of reasons, based partly on predisposition, partly on life experience and partly on conclusions drawn from experience.

Taking my own life as an example, I can take note of my predisposition. Looking back on my childhood, I can see that I engaged in erotic play with other little girls and boys in a state of sexual innocence. At the earliest stages I was predisposed to bisexuality. When I reached puberty I experienced molestation at the hands of my abusive stepfather, and this experience turned me off to men. Later, when the classic triangle of girlfriend and best friend happened, I felt horrible until all 3 of us went to bed together.

I draw the conclusion that I am polyamorous because I seek to re-create the experience of triads. I am less drawn by the notion of myself as a Casanova, and more drawn by the desire to experience intimacy with more than one person at a time.

In seeking a primary partner, I feel it is important to have compatible predispositions and the ability to draw a variety of conclusions from experiences. I have seen that often people stick to their conclusions whatever they may be, and this serves to narrow their possibilities for relationship. Some people may be predisposed to polyamory and run as I did for years, because I concluded it was a source of suffering. (Later I saw that the source of my suffering had much more to do with being untrue to myself.)

I have found that through Tantra and in particular, the use of non-judgmental witness consciousness has allowed me to become much clearer about this.

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Hot Tantra in Egypt

I don't think the Middle East is quite ready for Tantra yet, although Egypt seems like it would be the closest. The range of ancient and modern existing side by side is quite dramatic. Farmers wearing Galibeyas driving donkey carts laden with vegetables side-by-side with quasi-European yuppies in Mercedes' talking on cell phones.

The disparity is just as apparent in relationship styles. Quite a bit is the way I imagined it, where independent women are frowned upon, especially if they do not keep their head and shoulders covered. But then there is the sexy Euro-Egyptian connection. Young sophisticates come to Egypt to make their Euros go farther and to have a little fun in the sun. Of course the more worldly of the young Egyptian men love this state of affairs.

There are some that say that Tantra originated in Egypt and was originally called 'shetau sema' or 'sacred mysterious union.' However, it seems that an essential component needed for modern tantra is missing, and that is the recognition of the Goddess and with it, the empowerment of women.