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The Art of Sexual Ecstasy
This landmark book on human sexuality makes the sacred lovemaking techniques of the East fully comprehensible to Western readers. Elegantly illustrated, it helps the reader acquire new attitudes and broaden his or her range of experience, to revitalize and strengthen relationships.
This book opens the way to a new stage of fulfillment and bliss, making the sacred lovemaking techniques of the east available to western readers and extending sensual experience for everyone.
"The most comprehensive and clearly written work on contemporary Tantric sex. An exceptional detailed program for both the beginner and the advanced practitioner."
—Herbert A. Otto, author of “Total Sex”.
This book opens the way to a new stage of fulfillment and bliss, making the sacred lovemaking techniques of the east available to western readers and extending sensual experience for everyone.
"The most comprehensive and clearly written work on contemporary Tantric sex. An exceptional detailed program for both the beginner and the advanced practitioner."
—Herbert A. Otto, author of “Total Sex”.
464 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1981
98 people are currently reading
1923 people want to read
About the author
Margot Anand
28 books66 followersMargot Anand is a French author, teacher, seminar leader and public speaker. She has written numerous books including The Art of Sexual Ecstasy; The Art of Everyday Ecstasy; and The Art of Sexual Magic.
Margot (or "Margo") Anand (Sanskrit "Ananda"=Bliss) received her degree from the Sorbonne in Paris. She began her writing career as a journalist covering the American pop culture scene for French magazines, after which she retreated from public life for an extended period to study Tantra and related disciplines. Having visited the Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh ashram in Pune in the late 1970s and begun to teach tantra there, she subsequently became notable as one of the first teachers to introduce Tantra and Neotantra to a broad public in Europe and America, and has been the subject of numerous articles and interviews. She designed a practice called "SkyDancing Tantra" that is promoted as a tantric practice. Institutes teaching her methods exist in England, France, Switzerland, Germany, The Netherlands, Sweden, Canada and the United States.
Margot (or "Margo") Anand (Sanskrit "Ananda"=Bliss) received her degree from the Sorbonne in Paris. She began her writing career as a journalist covering the American pop culture scene for French magazines, after which she retreated from public life for an extended period to study Tantra and related disciplines. Having visited the Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh ashram in Pune in the late 1970s and begun to teach tantra there, she subsequently became notable as one of the first teachers to introduce Tantra and Neotantra to a broad public in Europe and America, and has been the subject of numerous articles and interviews. She designed a practice called "SkyDancing Tantra" that is promoted as a tantric practice. Institutes teaching her methods exist in England, France, Switzerland, Germany, The Netherlands, Sweden, Canada and the United States.
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Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
August 23, 2007
A full review of the ancient texts on tantric sex, as well as tangible ways to practice in modern sexual encounters. Topics include: prolonging pleasure, more fulfilling orgasm, healing in the sexual experience, positive touch, etc. A must-read in the field of sexuality and sex therapy.
March 2, 2009
This book is simply great. If you really want to understand not only your sexuality, but you also want to recognize yourself as a beeng with capability to reach the divine through your body, this book it's going to change your life. It has excersices for you and your partenier. Exclente book.
December 31, 2012
Quaint! I added this book because I thought it was a decent write for "Eternal Lovers" seeking to take their deep love and passion far beyond the commercial decadence of what sexuality and it's power and blessings can actually be. Margot is an excellent writer and researcher on this subject. It's a great introduction for the western mind. If more of us would really read this material we would philander less and the honesty of our hearts would simply draw our "soul mates" to us.. But, you will not get that path through the teachings in "Cosmopolitan"! (that includes the magazine too.) There are more in-depth material than this collection, but it give it 3 stars because it is the best one yet for the western mindset!
April 7, 2008
This book is rife with cultural co-optation- beware!
But the exercises are really helpful and challenging. It's a nice relief from the 'give your boyfriend a coupon for oral sex' approach to expanding sexuality.
But the exercises are really helpful and challenging. It's a nice relief from the 'give your boyfriend a coupon for oral sex' approach to expanding sexuality.
November 1, 2008
A good place to start. . . more after this. . .
May 18, 2010
By now (2010) this is an old book, where the author doesn't have any confidence that the readers have an own creativity as well. There is written in a long-winded way about what all to do, which CD to play and so forth. It can get boring for someone who knows that the own body has many living cells, 5 senses - last not least - an incredible own wisdom.
March 20, 2020
This book offered some useful insights into mindful "high" sex practises, however not a book I am wanting to refer back to. The bits that engaged me the most were the sections on anatomy, orgasm and yoni healing and I believed there wasn't enough on this and I will be needing to look elsewhere. Also my book was used and had a page from the yoni healing section removed.
August 24, 2008
I love books on sexuality, hers are the best!
Want to read
April 9, 2010Hmmm...yes. Ride the tiger indeed. (see TOC. :)
March 10, 2011
Margot Anand is one of the most compassionate teachers of tantra and sexuality.
June 14, 2012
I debated about listing this one. But I did read it — years ago. This was actually part of a course I took on yoga. A very spiritual book, with insight into chakra centers, body energy, and healing.
November 30, 2014
It works.
September 12, 2017
This book covers using Kundalini energy during intimate relations.
December 28, 2019
Couldn't do it. Does not pass the cultural appropriation sniff test.
May 30, 2023
A PSYCHOLOGIST PRESENTS HER YEAR-LONG COURSE
Author Margo Anand wrote in the Introduction to this 1989 book, “As a psychologist specializing in enhancing sexuality, I have worked with thousands of people around the world who have come to me because they want more out of their love lives. Most either have had peak experiences through sex or feel intuitively that they are achievable. Because we know such moments are possible, each time we enter into lovemaking, we secretly hope that this time we will enjoy them again. We hold the vision of a deeply fulfilling and joyful embrace, in which the vibrant pleasure of the body encompasses the delight of the heart, the meeting of minds, and the mutual recognition of kindred spirits… Such peak moments leave unforgettable memories, and most of us yearn to find this ecstatic sense of flow again. Yet normally we are unable to do so because we lack the cultural context in which to understand it and the personal skills with which to cultivate.” (Pg. 1-2)
She continues, “High Sex is a simple, step-by-step process that is accessible to anyone who wants to find a gentle and conscious way of bringing the spirit back into sex, or honoring sexual union as a bridge between body and soul. High Sex takes the experience of orgasm to a new dimension… in which genital orgasm is only the beginning.” (Pg. 3)
She recounts, “In 1974, I met … Oscar Ichazo and joined the spiritual school that he founded... During this time I discovered Tantra, an ancient Eastern science of spiritual enlightenment. I felt intrigued immediately because unlike most mystical paths, Tantra included sexuality as a doorway to ecstasy and enlightenment. Tantra was born in India around 5000 B.C. … Tantra originally developed as a rebellion against the repressive, moralistic codes of organized religions and the ascetic practices of the … Hindu priesthood---particularly against the widespread belief that sexuality had to be denied in order to attain enlightenment… Always a rebellious and nonconformist approach that challenged taboos and belief systems… The great mystics of the Tantric tradition scandalized mainstream society and were often condemned and persecuted.” (Pg. 5-6)
She continues, “In 1973, I started teaching seminars in Europe and the U.S., focusing on integrating physical, mental, and emotional balance… Out of these seminars I created a year-long training called ‘The Love and Ecstasy Training,’ to guide people step-by-step toward sexual ecstasy… This book presents the practices that I offer in the one-year course… I feel that many of the techniques are not relevant to the needs of the contemporary Western lover. For example, I see no need for the repetition of long Sanskrit mantras, the prolonged use of uncomfortable postures of meditation… or the strict ritualization of lovemaking… I’ve developed new approaches to make this experience accessible \to people today… The methods I propose in this book are not, therefore, the heritage of any one specific Tantric tradition, school, or scripture… It is for this reason that I choose to call my training High Sex, not Tantra… The training offered in this book … is compatible with any view of the world that includes a positive response to the sexual experience.” (Pg. 6-8)
She concludes, “I would like you to join me in creating a new context for sexual loving, by giving back to sexuality the sacredness that it enjoyed in the ancient Taoist and Tantric traditions. To do so, we have to start in the simplest way, in our daily lives, cultivating what we enjoy and sharing it with others.” (Pg. 426)
She adds in an Appendix, “One of the reasons why the High Sex approach to lovemaking is so appropriate for our times is that it inspires a new awareness of sexual attitudes and relationships that offers the best possible protection against sexually transmitted diseases (STDs)… The sexual training in this book calls for a very clear understanding of the current situation concerning the AIDS epidemic and other STDs…” (Pg. 429)
This book will be of keen interest to those seeking an introduction this this subject.
Author Margo Anand wrote in the Introduction to this 1989 book, “As a psychologist specializing in enhancing sexuality, I have worked with thousands of people around the world who have come to me because they want more out of their love lives. Most either have had peak experiences through sex or feel intuitively that they are achievable. Because we know such moments are possible, each time we enter into lovemaking, we secretly hope that this time we will enjoy them again. We hold the vision of a deeply fulfilling and joyful embrace, in which the vibrant pleasure of the body encompasses the delight of the heart, the meeting of minds, and the mutual recognition of kindred spirits… Such peak moments leave unforgettable memories, and most of us yearn to find this ecstatic sense of flow again. Yet normally we are unable to do so because we lack the cultural context in which to understand it and the personal skills with which to cultivate.” (Pg. 1-2)
She continues, “High Sex is a simple, step-by-step process that is accessible to anyone who wants to find a gentle and conscious way of bringing the spirit back into sex, or honoring sexual union as a bridge between body and soul. High Sex takes the experience of orgasm to a new dimension… in which genital orgasm is only the beginning.” (Pg. 3)
She recounts, “In 1974, I met … Oscar Ichazo and joined the spiritual school that he founded... During this time I discovered Tantra, an ancient Eastern science of spiritual enlightenment. I felt intrigued immediately because unlike most mystical paths, Tantra included sexuality as a doorway to ecstasy and enlightenment. Tantra was born in India around 5000 B.C. … Tantra originally developed as a rebellion against the repressive, moralistic codes of organized religions and the ascetic practices of the … Hindu priesthood---particularly against the widespread belief that sexuality had to be denied in order to attain enlightenment… Always a rebellious and nonconformist approach that challenged taboos and belief systems… The great mystics of the Tantric tradition scandalized mainstream society and were often condemned and persecuted.” (Pg. 5-6)
She continues, “In 1973, I started teaching seminars in Europe and the U.S., focusing on integrating physical, mental, and emotional balance… Out of these seminars I created a year-long training called ‘The Love and Ecstasy Training,’ to guide people step-by-step toward sexual ecstasy… This book presents the practices that I offer in the one-year course… I feel that many of the techniques are not relevant to the needs of the contemporary Western lover. For example, I see no need for the repetition of long Sanskrit mantras, the prolonged use of uncomfortable postures of meditation… or the strict ritualization of lovemaking… I’ve developed new approaches to make this experience accessible \to people today… The methods I propose in this book are not, therefore, the heritage of any one specific Tantric tradition, school, or scripture… It is for this reason that I choose to call my training High Sex, not Tantra… The training offered in this book … is compatible with any view of the world that includes a positive response to the sexual experience.” (Pg. 6-8)
She concludes, “I would like you to join me in creating a new context for sexual loving, by giving back to sexuality the sacredness that it enjoyed in the ancient Taoist and Tantric traditions. To do so, we have to start in the simplest way, in our daily lives, cultivating what we enjoy and sharing it with others.” (Pg. 426)
She adds in an Appendix, “One of the reasons why the High Sex approach to lovemaking is so appropriate for our times is that it inspires a new awareness of sexual attitudes and relationships that offers the best possible protection against sexually transmitted diseases (STDs)… The sexual training in this book calls for a very clear understanding of the current situation concerning the AIDS epidemic and other STDs…” (Pg. 429)
This book will be of keen interest to those seeking an introduction this this subject.
October 14, 2019
This is one of my favorite Neo Tantra books on the market. Margot has a wealth of experience and shares generously Neo -Tantric exercises and personal stories. I call it the “Tantric Bible” and I have been studying Tantra for several years but it’s probably best for experienced practitioners rather than beginners.
March 2, 2018
I loved this book! Great practices! It's a must-have!
April 14, 2019
Wonderful book adapting Eastern Tantra with Western Psychology to create a step by step guide to building an intimate relationship with yourself and a partner.
Want to read
December 14, 2020Goof
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 29, 2021
Absolutely Amazing!!! I love Margot's work. She is amazing.
August 15, 2021
Good starting point, but it's now a little out of date
March 22, 2024
Gifted by my Turkish Tantrika friends ... an inspiring read, very helpful ;)
September 14, 2021
I have had this book on my shelf for years -- unsure of what to do with it or what role it should have in my life. The concept of "tantra" is, by and large, a neologism in our culture that combines a select (and often prurient) array of concepts without regard for any single tradition. Even Margot Anand's surname is an Indian word meaning "bliss."
A self-proclaimed expert in tantrism - Margot Anand has made a life and a career out of helping people find ecstasy through heterosexual partner sex or individual meditation. She gets an extra star for creating a life and career out of providing a safe and nurturing place for people to learn how to be happy. She's solidly in the "New Age" category, with a conference/education center in Marin.
I first got a copy of this book in 2004 or 2005 at the recommendation of a friend who raved about it. I read it years ago and today decided to pick it up and revisit it.
First, the quality of the images is excellent - the drawings are simple black and white line drawings of men and women. The male partner is a balding man with a beard - and the woman looks a bit like Margot in the late 80s.
Second, the quality of the writing is really excellent. The descriptions of the concepts and processes are really well done, clear and you can hear the warmth in the words.
The criticisms that I have are around the cultural appropriation and the very distinct white, CIS-gender, heteronormative approach. The book also fails to discuss normal biological processes - such as aging or depression - that impact one's libido, needs or ability to respond to stimuli. This book represents a very narrow band of optimal conditions for participants.
I'm happy that Margot has been able to fashion a life out of this and hope that she is happy with her success. I just wonder why we are all so obsessed with sex that even a search of the now 77 year old Anand doesn't turn up any articles or interviews talking about her teachings against the inevitable aging we all have to face.
While I'd be interested in seeing a revision that is more inclusive and covers many of these issues, frankly, as a perimenopausal CIS-woman, I don't have enough libido to care.
A self-proclaimed expert in tantrism - Margot Anand has made a life and a career out of helping people find ecstasy through heterosexual partner sex or individual meditation. She gets an extra star for creating a life and career out of providing a safe and nurturing place for people to learn how to be happy. She's solidly in the "New Age" category, with a conference/education center in Marin.
I first got a copy of this book in 2004 or 2005 at the recommendation of a friend who raved about it. I read it years ago and today decided to pick it up and revisit it.
First, the quality of the images is excellent - the drawings are simple black and white line drawings of men and women. The male partner is a balding man with a beard - and the woman looks a bit like Margot in the late 80s.
Second, the quality of the writing is really excellent. The descriptions of the concepts and processes are really well done, clear and you can hear the warmth in the words.
The criticisms that I have are around the cultural appropriation and the very distinct white, CIS-gender, heteronormative approach. The book also fails to discuss normal biological processes - such as aging or depression - that impact one's libido, needs or ability to respond to stimuli. This book represents a very narrow band of optimal conditions for participants.
I'm happy that Margot has been able to fashion a life out of this and hope that she is happy with her success. I just wonder why we are all so obsessed with sex that even a search of the now 77 year old Anand doesn't turn up any articles or interviews talking about her teachings against the inevitable aging we all have to face.
While I'd be interested in seeing a revision that is more inclusive and covers many of these issues, frankly, as a perimenopausal CIS-woman, I don't have enough libido to care.
February 4, 2015
Meditation? Check.
Energy works? Check.
Healing sexuality that does not hurt personal laws of celibacy? Yup.
_______
I've had this book for about a year now. Haven't read it completely until today because I was looking for something to do after raising my inner flute's awareness. The inner flute is the author's terminology for the straight line between the chakras, from the Muladhara until the Sahasrara at the top of the head. And I was feeling meh a while before starting that meditation, but did not want to get out of it with a headache. Or a happy accident.
So there's this book hiding in my wardrobe. I have just come down from another Vipassana meditation, and I know that I can raise energy to my head from my genitals, if I needed to, without causing more energy havoc that might distract me from my writing projects.
So I did what was recommended in the book as far as opening the inner flute. And you can see the result to that: I'm writing you a review, aren't I? Yay.
Energy works? Check.
Healing sexuality that does not hurt personal laws of celibacy? Yup.
_______
I've had this book for about a year now. Haven't read it completely until today because I was looking for something to do after raising my inner flute's awareness. The inner flute is the author's terminology for the straight line between the chakras, from the Muladhara until the Sahasrara at the top of the head. And I was feeling meh a while before starting that meditation, but did not want to get out of it with a headache. Or a happy accident.
So there's this book hiding in my wardrobe. I have just come down from another Vipassana meditation, and I know that I can raise energy to my head from my genitals, if I needed to, without causing more energy havoc that might distract me from my writing projects.
So I did what was recommended in the book as far as opening the inner flute. And you can see the result to that: I'm writing you a review, aren't I? Yay.
May 25, 2015
Very informative and accessible.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Read
December 3, 2017I no think
Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews