Certified sexologist and Tantric healing expert Devi Ward Erickson is the founder of the first government-accredited school for tantric sexual healing, the Institute of Authentic Tantra Education (IATE).
IATE has now partnered with a globally accredited university that offers a master of Arts in Authentic Tantra’. In a world where government-accredited Tantra schools focused on sexual healing are scarce, it stands out as the most credible and accomplished institution in the field of comprehensive sexual well-being. This partnership is a testament to Devi’s commitment to providing top-notch education in Tantra and sexual healing.
Devi is also a certified meditation and Reiki practitioner and is internationally recognized for her work in the field of healing through lineage-based Tantra. According to her, recent research suggests that the roots of Tantra can be traced back 10 -12 thousand years ago in the Indus Valley, which is now located in Pakistan. This area was once home to a flourishing and mature civilization founded by people who had migrated from Ethiopia, Nubia, and Sudan. The people who cultivated and developed Tantra were called the Dravidians, the original inhabitants of the Indus Valley Civilization.
The core belief of animism, which was a prevalent spiritual philosophy of that time, was that all life is sacred. This philosophy was the fundamental belief system that Tantra grew out of. The Dravidians, who developed Tantra, originally worshiped the mother, the goddess, and women, the female divine, who govern and carry the life, force, and energy in the body and give birth to new humans.
It is believed that the roots of Tantra became interwoven with the Vedic tradition about 5000 years ago due to a series of migrations from the north into the area of the Indus Valley Civilization. The genetic, linguistic, and archaeological evidence confirms that Tantra is rooted in the traditions of the African people, specifically in Ethiopia, Nubia, and Sudan. This is an important finding, as it is not commonly discussed in most Tantric teachings but is essential to understanding the practices taught.
The Dravidians, people from the Eastern borders of the African continent, were the first to develop and cultivate “Tantra” as a spiritual philosophy. It is believed that this philosophy was later incorporated into the Vedas when the Aryans invaded their society about 5000 years ago.
In essence, Tantra is a spiritual philosophy that has roots in the African diaspora. It originated from the Dravidian culture, a part of the Indus Valley Civilization, and was based on a harmonious and matriarchal society. Because of this, the ethical practice of Tantra can help individuals cultivate a deep respect for all living beings.
For more information about Tantra and Devi Erickson’s work, follow her YouTube channel, Authentic Tantra Education, and visit her website.