Tao: the way to sexual fulfilment

Tao, which means ‘way’, is a spiritual practice handed down through the ages in Asia, which can also help you and your partner achieve sexual fulfilment.

A firmly contemporary version of the Tao practices puts men and women on the same page, each being an active partner in the quest for the orgasm and the ultimate union. Here, we interview author, Reichian analyst and Tao expert, Gerard Guasch.

The discovery of Tao and its contemporary vision of our sexuality can revolutionise sexual play. While these practices can reinforce vital energy, which lies at the heart of sexuality, they also enable access to a spiritual dimension and to pleasure at the same time, bringing the two partners into equal play in the same game.

All pretty good reasons to plunge into the eroticism of the much celebrated (and sometimes difficult to purchase…) Japanese “Shunga Pillow Book”.

Does sexuality play a particular role in Tao practices? If so, what?

Gérard Guasch: Sexual energy is an expression of your life energy, Qi. Tao’s pathway offers a dynamic representation of the world in which life energy, Qi, is the essence of everything, and manifests itself in two different parts (Yin/Yang). The man is the image of heaven or Yang, while the woman is represented as the image of earth, Yin. In this way, their sexual exchanges celebrate the notions of Heaven and Earth, allowing Yin and Yang to come together in harmony, in the reflection of a microcosm.

The discussion is too often focused solely on physical sexual acts. Could you enlighten us as to what role the whole body plays in Tao?

Gérard Guasch: The body is like an alchemist’s mixing bowl, the place of transformations, and fulfilment. This is why Taoist teaching invites us to take greater care of our bodies, and to cultivate good health and wellbeing. The quality of your sex life depends on it. To support and ensure your body’s energy flows properly, acupuncture is recommended along with herbal medicine, massage and a good diet. To supplement this, meditation should be practised your whole life, such as Qi Gong. This will give you real and long-lasting vitality.

In the ‘Shunga Pillow Book’ given to newlyweds, what kind of sexual practices can be found and what are their key principles?

Gérard Guasch: While the “Shunga Pillow Book” is the best known, it is not the only one! A really old bibliography (dating back to the Han dynasty, which means around 200 BCE) gives us a list of 8 works made up of a total of 191 scrolls, exploring the subject of the “bedroom” and is considered as classical literature (jing).

The main principle is to awaken sexual energy and make it dynamic, thus controlling ejaculation in men and menstruation in women. This economised energy can then be “recycled” through particular energy channels, which serves to “compensate” the body’s energy needs, keeping it in good health and encouraging longer lasting life.

So how are these Tao sexual practices relevant today?

Gérard Guasch: In ancient texts, the emphasis was placed on the conservation of energy. Delaying orgasm will work to reinforce energy capital as much for the man as for the woman. In modern Taoism, more emphasis is placed on the prolonging of intimate relations, the harmony of the couple, before arriving at orgasm together. The goal? To reach a level of energy sufficient to put the couple in touch with the cosmos... In modern times, such a practice presents the advantage of putting men and women on the same sexual page, each being an active partner in the quest for a perfect union. Today’s practices resolutely aim for the cultivation of Tao together as a couple.

Does Tao propose different ways to achieve this?

Gérard Guasch: The Tao does, of course offer a variety of sexual positions. But what matters most is the awakening of feminine sensitivity through, for example, a game of short and long penetrations, like repeated invitations to build up pleasure. The Taoist way concentrates on the importance of paying attention to the approach of the orgasm in your partner… something that's communicated through many signs.

Another key is learning to bring the energy of the sexual organs all the way up to your mind, so that you can achieve a total orgasm, bringing both your mind and body into play. More than merely techniques, this all works to make sexuality sacred again, by giving it a cosmic dimension, which can be found in Tantric tradition.

The multi-orgasmic man is at the heart of the Taoist sexual fantasy. However, questions also revolve around lack of libido or premature ejaculation. What does Taoist theory say about these?

Gérard Guasch: In the case of erectile dysfunction, Tao advises men to penetrate when half way erect… to relieve anxiety and any feelings of shame about “failure”. Supplementary acupuncture and moxibustion sessions can prove effective when it comes to libido, treating problems through addressing the body’s energy.

When it comes to premature ejaculation, the Tao practices of control through breathing, muscle tone in the pelvic area and interrupted penetration and re-penetration, can all bring good results. Numerous patients of mine have had very happy experiences using these methods.