Shunya Gates is a Center for Tantric Counseling and Education.

What is Tantra?

Tantra does not hold one definition and has often been misunderstood and misinterpreted, in part, due to its esoteric nature. Originating in ancient India, it includes a wide range of schools, lineages, and sects. Each tradition has its own practices and teachings. In the simplest form, it is an ancient wisdom lineage that invites you into a deeper relationship with all parts of life and offers keys to truly living well.

The core principles of Tantra are rooted in the pursuit of spiritual growth and a return to one’s true nature. While Tantra invites you into rich spiritual experiences, it does not hold the single goal or objective of enlightenment, per se. It is more about the integration and radical liberation of the spiritual-human Self, and embarking on a rich relationship with all facets—seen and unseen—of life.

Inside the Tantric wisdom lineages are thousands of yogic and meditative practices. These practices serve to awaken and harness the spiritual energy within the practitioner, and create space for new movements and rememberings. These ancient techniques involve the use of mantras (sacred chants or sounds), yantras (geometric symbols), mudras (hand gestures), meditations, and more. Each of these techniques has the potential to unlock, access and flow different energy and states of being.

Tantra is largely an oral tradition. This means the essence and invitation of Tantra has been shared and passed down over time through transmission; from teacher to student, and so on. The spiritual teacher serves as a guide and facilitator, helping the student remember the innate wisdom and gifts they carry, as well as their direct access to Source, Spirit and the incredible current of life itself. Tantra is an experiential system and is traditionally passed on through direct interaction between the teacher and student. It is not an academic pursuit, but rather a living relationship with spiritual wisdom and access.

By its nature, Tantra is a timeless celebration of the divine feminine. The divine feminine is often represented by numerous deities so that we may remember and engage the various energies that exist within and around ourselves. The polarity and nature of creation that exists between feminine and masculine energies are fully acknowledged and harmonized by the tantric practitioner.

Tantra is often thought of for it’s teachings around sacred sexuality. And yes, there is a rich invitation within Tantra to redefine and greatly expand one’s experience of these energies. This is one of the incredible aspects of Tantra - it embraces all facets of life, and holds keys that can open you to the incredible gifts that come with greater awareness, connection and access in so many areas - including sexuality!

Most importantly, Tantra is alive. It continues to evolve, and new texts and interpretations have emerged over the centuries within its various lineages. Tantra celebrates you as you are, and lives and breaths through the practioners that have chosen to walk the tantric path.

Jennifer Laurin

Jennifer Laurin is the founder of Shunya Gates and a Certified Tantric Counselor. Her work helps one live and move in accordance with their unique constitution and true nature. She offers one-on-one and couples counseling, individualized coaching, workshops, and ceremony facilitation.

Jennifer has deep roots in the Mahamudra Tantra and Shri Vidya lineages, and more than a decade of experience as a Tantric practitioner. She combines counseling, somatic awareness, esoteric practices and energetics to support deeper self-knowing, inner ease, personal freedom and Grace. Her capacities allow her to meet the Human and awaken the mystic.

Jennifer’s Approach

Sessions with me are about uncovering You: the brilliance inside you, and the life that is yours to live. So many of us have become disassociated from ourselves, disconnected from our innate wisdom, and mistrusting of our internal signals. At its foundation, Tantra is a wisdom path back to Self, and a deep relationship with who you truly are… an integrated spiritual human-being.

Together, we navigate your inner landscape, working to dispel outdated belief systems, defunct survival strategies, and the contortions of indoctrination. I offer esoteric techniques to unlock vital energy flow, spiritual understandings, and sustainable inner freedom.

The freedom I refer to is a greater personal freedom, where you have true autonomy to make choices that align with your values, desires, and aspirations. When matched with a grounded sense of personal responsibility, this freedom can lead to a more fulfilling and authentic life, rich with creativity, innovation, and evolution.