Ceremony is presence
It is being
rather than doing or having
It is attentive awareness
Ceremony is purposeful spontaneity
It is flowing pattern
It is simple elegance

A ceremony is not
a mindless routine
though many ceremonial structures
have become this
A ceremony can be
in solitude
with another
or with many others
There is a conscious beginning and ending

In ceremony
there is a sense
of wholeness
of connection
of comm-union

In sensual ceremony
we embrace the senses
through presence
through ambiance
through touch
taste
fragrance
tone and timbre
color and form

A sensual ceremony is a special gift
It is a physical sharing
of warmth and caring
It is an expression of tenderness
Giving this gift of pleasure
we invite another
to be guided into the inner garden
here, in the quiet of sanctuary
we nourish each sense
here, the inner flower
awakens and blooms

Our softly spoken words
weave a meadow
In herbal waters
we bathe
Our fingers
squeeze drops of sweetness
from fresh fruit
Lullabying,
we embrace
Like island breezes
we caress with feathers
Glistening with oil
our hands dance
When each sense
is nurtured in gentleness
the heart is touched
and we experience joy
This is the underlying philosophy

from the book The Essential Tantra By Kenneth Ray Stubbs