Tantric Joy 2026 – Coming home
- Christina Oud
- Jun 25
- 3 min read
After Hieros Gamos, the next festival on my summer calendar that I was especially looking forward to was Tantric Joy. The festival where it all began for me. The festival where I was born as a festival child.
Some people feel at home in their living room. Others at the office. I feel at home among tents, morning circles, dusty paths, hugs, deep conversations, and people who truly look each other in the eyes.
Festival time feels like a parallel universe. A world where connection matters more than status, where people are curious about each other, and where depth is the most normal thing in the world.
A festival day starts early. The alarm goes off at 07:00. What takes twenty minutes at home can easily take two hours at a festival. With my toilet bucket strapped to my back and a carefully prepared bag under my arm, I make my way towards the shower building.
And that’s where it already begins.
Because at a tantra festival, you don’t wake up and step into a shower by yourself. No, your social radar switches on immediately. Before you know it, you’ve had three conversations, received two hugs, and gotten a spontaneous invitation for something you didn’t even know existed yesterday.
My favourite moment of the day remains the morning meeting.
Pitching.
With around 350 people in the room, you get one minute to present your workshop. I honestly never know beforehand exactly what I’m going to say. My only goal is to spark enthusiasm.
And secretly… I absolutely love it when the room responds.
That happened in abundance this year.
The interest in Vulva Power turned out to be so great that the original space quickly became too small. Eventually, the location was changed and the room was filled with beautiful women who went on a journey together towards greater body awareness, freedom, and connection with themselves.
What an energy.
Experiencing intimacy with yourself with 45 women in one circle. I was already an energetic millionaire, but the amount of energy I received in that circle is something Elon Musk could learn from.
Enjoying techniques, discoveries, and the freedom to fully feel without making excuses. The openness. The courage. The joy. The liberation that emerges when shame makes way for curiosity.
In my opinion, there is nothing more beautiful than that.
Those are the moments when I remember again why I do this work.
The next day, Vulva Power for couples was on the program.
And there I immediately received a valuable lesson.
Apparently, I still find it difficult to disappoint people.
The result?
A workshop space that became fuller than planned.
Next year we’re going to do it differently.
FULL = FULL.
Even when my heart says everyone is welcome.
S*x Yoga was also on the program again. An early morning session where participants awakened their bodies, let their energy flow, and stepped into the rest of the day with a big smile. It became juicy.
Mission accomplished.
The temple that I organised together with Anita, Lisa, and Ally also developed a beautiful dynamic. By truly listening during dishwashing conversations, walks, and encounters, we discovered what participants needed.
That might be the magic of festivals.
You create something together.
Not from a script.
But from presence.
From feeling what is needed.
And because of that, all kinds of beautiful moments, playful interactions, and unexpected connections emerged throughout the evening.
When I eventually returned home, I didn’t fall into as deep a hole as I did after Hieros Gamos.
The feeling of family stayed with me for surprisingly long.
I did notice that my system was still completely tuned into the festival frequency.
While grocery shopping, I looked people openly in the eyes, smiled at strangers, and connected as if I was still walking around the festival grounds.
Some people clearly didn’t appreciate that.
But even a visibly bitter old man couldn’t completely suppress a smile when our eyes met.
Those kinds of moments give me hope.
Because underneath all the layers of busyness, rushing, and protection, I believe we all want the same thing:
To be seen.
To be connected.
To be human.
Maybe that is also why I increasingly dream of a commune. A place where nobody has to hide. Where someone is always making tea. Where food simply appears at set times. Where connection matters more than possessions.
So…
Does anyone happen to have a little estate lying around that isn’t being used?
Tomorrow I’m already getting on a plane to Poland for the Tu i Teraz Tantra Festival. Smaller in scale, but undoubtedly filled with beautiful encounters, valuable lessons, and unforgettable moments.
The summer is far from over.
Maybe our paths will cross somewhere along the way.
I hope so.
See you soon on a festival field, in a workshop, or simply somewhere where people still truly meet each other.
Love,
Christina
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