An Old Standard Made New: Missionary with Enhancements
When we talk about Tantric sexual practices, we frequently encounter the misconception that Tantra is a form of sexual Yoga, with Yoga meaning physical gymnastics, and hence that Tantric sex is all about positions. Tantra and Yoga are, in fact, closely related, so much so that certain texts are claimed by both traditions, and the term Tantric Yoga is used by some practitioners. Just as physical postures are only one part of Yoga, sexual activity is only one part of Tantra, and as we have explained, the only truly Tantric sexual positions are Shakti-superior positions. Medieval Indian culture produced an impressive body of instructional erotic material, most notably the Kama Sutra, the Koka Shastra, and the Ananga Ranga. These texts are comprehensive sex manuals that describe an array of techniques and positions, but they are not part of the Tantric tradition.
You can approach any activity with a Tantric mindset, and that includes any sexual encounter. Your state of mind is what really matters. If you are thinking energetically, even the most familiar and seemingly mundane positions can be the source of new and unexpected pleasures. One way to make this a reality is to bring other erogenous zones into play during penetrative sex. This introduces additional points of contact, resulting in a more complex energetic exchange.
Most people think of the missionary position as somewhat staid, bland, and boring, as the name suggests. Of course, sex should never be staid, bland, and boring, even with the lights off and your eyes closed (something we don’t recommend except as way of exploring sensory deprivation). The missionary position is part of our repertoire, and it’s no less enjoyable for being conventional. If you want to make the missionary position even more interesting, you can experiment with a number of variations and observe how they change your experience.
The thumbs and big toes are erogenous zones with distinctly phallic overtones, and sucking them can be extremely erotic for both giver and receiver. In the missionary position it is easy for Shakti to suck Shiva’s thumb. If you modify the position slightly, so that Shakti’s legs are elevated, Shiva can suck Shakti’s big toe. To complicate it in an even more delightful way, try doing each other simultaneously, so that Shiva sucks Shakti’s toe while Shakti sucks Shiva’s thumb.
The back of the knee is another erogenous zone that can be fairly readily accessible in the missionary position or a modified version thereof. The backs of the knees are a very sensitive and highly innervated part of the body, but they are not particularly sensitive as an erogenous zone until you are in a high state of arousal. Having them stroked when you are very turned on can be an interesting addition to missionary sex, if you can tune in to the subtle sensations this produces.
If you are embodying Shiva, press into Shakti’s palms with yours; the palms too are erogenous zones that are responsive during high states of arousal. They are also recognized as centers that are particularly important for sending and receiving energy, as many healing practitioners are aware. Pressing the palms together can also be a form of holding down and restraining your partner. Hence, it is a gentle way of infusing your interactions with elements of power and surrender, dominance and submission. These elements are present in every sexual encounter, and one does not have to become a hardcore participant in the BDSM (bondage, discipline, dominance, submission, sadism, masochism) scene to recognize this aspect of sex and to play with it from time to time. Engaging with your eyes, as you hold your lover down, is a way to make this exchange even more intense, since the eyes transmit and receive energy, too.
