Kirkus Review
“In this guidebook for sexual awareness and enjoyment, the authors deliver narrative stories and explanations to help demystify sex and bring depth and meaning to readers’ sexual lives.
“Meuth and Weaver present compelling information about what it means to have sexual experiences that involve mental, emotional and physical engagement. Beginning with a foundation for sexual knowledge, the authors define sexual enlightenment as having two dimensions: The first revolves around “sexual life-force energy, which brings forth life in all that is alive”; The second “involves the human capacity to be self-reflective or aware of one’s own existence, particularly becoming aware and conscious of one’s life-force energy.” Sexual enlightenment also involves an integration of the mind and body, which produces an awareness of the self as it fits into the greater sexual force of the world. Written conversationally, the book dives into not only definitions of an enlightened sexual life but also ways to strive toward awareness, including meditation, conscious breathing and “energy awareness,” which involves becoming aware of the sexual energy that moves around and through us.
“The book also presents a variety of passages that offer historical context for sexuality, such as the rise of Tantric sexual discovery and the ways in which Puritanism, Hinduism and other ideological institutions have conceived of the sexual experience. Movement and physicality are deeply connected to our emotions, the authors say, which have been trained by experiences, both good and bad. In order to move the emotional body away from anger, victimhood and other negative emotions that stunt sexual energy and life force, the authors posit that one “can make a conscious decision to shift out of this auto-emotional state of reaction and actually invent other interpretations by calling on your ‘witness state.’
“For example, maybe that driver who cut you off was actually racing to be with his pregnant wife who has gone into labor; such reasoning (even if invented) should calm your senses, the authors say, and thus help return you to inner peace. Elsewhere, drawing from theories involving chakras and energy fields, the authors examine the physical body and the areas of the body that emanate sexual energy. Much like a touch from a lover can be arousing, a cool breeze or heat from the sun’s rays can excite the body, further encouraging the idea that creative, sexual energy comes from within, not from the validation and acknowledgment of others. These kinds of lessons and reinforcements make the book a valuable read for anyone seeking a deeper relationship with his or her sexual self.
“An informed, dynamic exploration of sexual history and energy.”
The book provides practical advice on how to:
- Access peace and joy anytime and anywhere by calming the unending chatter in your mind
- Circulate your life force energy within for achieving greater physical health, increased emotional well-being, and deeper spiritual connection
- Feel confident, grounded, and vital in yourself by accessing and training your love muscle
- Experience an instant love connection with your partner, avoiding debilitating fights and mutual accusations
- Come into balance of your yin and yang nature for creating the life and relationships you always wanted
- Release blocks from the past that no longer serve you and keep you from experiencing fulfillment in life, love, and intimacy
- Bring pleasure into your daily life by tapping into your creative life force energy
- Enjoy reawakening your feminine joyous self as a woman
- Cultivate sustaining your masculine pleasurable energy as a man
- Draw on your life-giving sexual energy to infuse your wishes and realize your dreams
Praise for Sexual Enlightenment
“Freddy Zental and Elsbeth are two of the most spiritually skillful people at bringing an untainted teaching and practice of the ancient art of Tantra to Western shores, showing us how informed sex supports not only our innate longing for union, but also our overall well-being.”
~ Dr. Michael Bernard Beckwith, Author of Life Visioning
“Sexual Enlightenment is an essential guidebook, beautifully written and grounded in the human need for attaining the greatest capacity for joy, love and mutual care. Elsbeth and Freddy Zental direct us into the kind of mindset that allows for being at choice in how to use our sexual energy, our greatest life force, to bring forth effective action in attaining true intimacy, not only with ourselves, but in creating our lives and relationships in authentic fulfillment.”
~ Jan Smith, Founder and President of Center for Authentic Leadership, Inc. – Creating and leading fulfilling lives from your unique gifts
“Freddy and Elsbeth are excellent teachers in the new age of sexual consciousness. Their book will enlighten you to the possibilities of transforming normal sex to a spiritual art form. Through wisdom, woven together with real life stories, you will learn about sexual energy, removing its blocks and discovering its ecstasy.”
~ Charles Muir, Director Source School of Tantra & Co-Author of Tantra: The Art of Conscious Loving
About the Authors
Dr. Elsbeth Meuth and Freddy Zental Weaver are the founders and directors of the TantraNova Institute in Chicago. They are internationally renowned workshop leaders, relationship and intimacy coaches, and certified Tantra Yoga teachers.
Their retreats and workshops have been offered throughout the USA, North America, and Australia. They are the producers of the bestselling DVD Series Creating Intimacy & Love. They were also featured on Showtime’s documentary series Sexual Healing and the Emmy Award-winning NBC show Starting Over.
Elsbeth and Freddy Zental have assisted more than ten-thousand couples and singles in rekindling and expanding their love and relationships. They are on the faculty at Esalen in Big Sur, California, and at Kripalu in Stockbridge, Massachusetts. They lead couples’ retreats for CEOs and their spouses through the Young Presidents Organization (YPO). And they also have received the highest recognition for their work.
Elsbeth and Freddy Zental are beloveds—life and business partners—residing in Chicago.