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One of the ways to classify Tantric practices is that of using colors and shades. That is, a certain color or shade used as an adjective to the term “Tantra” designates the type of Tantra talked about or practiced.
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Hence, there are various “colors of Tantra,” like Red Tantra, Black Tantra, Dark Tantra, White Tantra, Grey Tantra, and Pink Tantra, and such. Now, in this post, we’ll discuss the difference between Dark Tantra and Black Tantra.
The term “dark” as used in a Tantric perspective is rather a shade, and refers to “the darkness inside of us,” the things that are not commonly exposed, or said otherwise — things in us that are hidden.
Typically, Dark Tantra moves into the sensual erotic and sexual sphere, but then accompanied with activities we find in BDSM, kink, and fetishism, such as bondage, sensory play, sensation play, and sadomasochistic practices.
The idea of applying Dark Tantric practices is to overcome suppressed or repressed sexuality, accepting and embracing our sexuality, our unusual desires and our “darker side,” while at the same time opening/unlocking our body and mind to circulate Vital Life Force — aka Kundalini Energy — through our body for physical, emotional/mental, and spiritual health benefits. In fact, in its highest form Dark Tantra is about transformation and healing.
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In practice, Dark Tantric activities use a blend of BDSM techniques, Tantric concepts, and Tantric Massage, creating an embodied experience that could be considered “forbidden and blissful” at the same time. When practiced together with a love-partner — as in Tantric Sex — it could heighten trust, bonding, and deepen one’s emotional connection.
Mind also that Dark Tantra can be practiced with a focus on dominance, or with a focus on submission, or when practiced as a “Tantric” couple it could simultaneously explore both dominant and submissive elements with a goal of transforming those in a higher divine union.
Some examples of contemporary Dark Tantric bodywork modalities are Dark Tantra Massage, Kinkassage® and Bondassage®, which are Neo-Tantric and Neo-Taoist blends mixing Tantra, Taoist Bodywork, kink, fetishism, bondage and massage therapy.
Just like Dark Tantra, Black Tantra likewise operates “under the hood” but rather uses esoteric practices, “dark material” and occult energies to realize the intentions and wishes of the practitioner. The practice doesn’t explicitly move into the BDSM, kink, or fetish domain, although it may use elements thereof.
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In fact, Black Tantra is about acquiring, mastering, and exercising magical powers, and one could compare it with what we know as Black Magic, the latter practice based on using supernatural powers for malevolent or selfish purposes.
At any rate, Black Tantra may use aroused sexual energy to visualize certain desires during sexual intercourse and orgasms, which then supposedly come true in actual life. Black Tantra may also use Tantric techniques, rituals and ceremonies to create alternative realities, or to manipulate and control other people.
Black Tantra tries to bring all our hidden wishes and desires into full consciousness, and moreover, it aims at explicitly realizing or materializing those no matter if they are considered “good” or “bad.” It makes Black Tantra a very explicit ego-based practice compared to the other “colors of Tantra.”
In the context of Black Tantra, you’ll also find so-called Grey Tantra, which is a combination of White Tantra and Black Tantra. The idea here is to acquire and exercise magical powers but with the explicit goal of spiritual development. Hence, Grey Tantra is in a much lesser degree focused on realizing all one’s desires, and will especially avoid hurting or using other people.
Nonetheless, the fundamental idea of Black Tantra is likewise still to embrace and subsequently surpass our ego. However, many consider Black Tantra a dangerous practice because the temptations of actual powers acquired to realize deep hidden desires may finally leave the practitioner trapped in “the dark” instead of casting off and transcending the material achievements for spiritual attainment.
Hence, although the adjectives “dark” and “black” may look similar, Dark Tantra and Black Tantra are quite different Tantric modalities, especially when we look at the tools and techniques they apply.
