Mukee Okan is a mentor and guide to those who are dedicated to accelerating their evolution and connecting to their sexual energy. Her training in sacred sexuality has encompassed three complementary streams — the yogic stream, the shamanic stream and the western medical model of surrogate partner therapy. Also, she is an artist, mother, yogic practitioner and instructor, sexual surrogate partner therapist, sacred sexuality teacher and oneness blessing giver. Originally from Australia, Mukee has trained and participated in many arenas of life experience.

Her earlier life in Australia included work as a sculptor, an Architecture degree, living in the bush for eight years, building her own house and becoming a mother. She was initiated into a traditional tantric lineage in 1984 through the Bihar School of Yoga. Mukee then lived for four years in intensive yogic and sannyas training in one of the Bihar ashrams in New Zealand. The goal of sannyas is to flow through life and experience the fullness of inner freedom, the essence of one’s beingness — to align with the cosmic mainstream and one’s true nature. (vs social, political, cultural, religious, economic conditioning).

In 1990 Mukee apprenticed to the Sweet Medicine SunDance Path of Turtle Island, a traditional matriarchal shamanic lineage. The Sweet Medicine teachings encompass alignment with the elements of creation through individual and collective alchemical ceremony.

We caught up with Mukee recently to find out what she’s up now…

So, what are you working on these days? What's next for Mukee Okan?

I’m pretty busy creating sexuality educational programs, and creating them in new formats that are available to more people. My next publication is a photographic work on different elemental genital anatomy types of women, and men. I intend for it to be published by January 1, 2010. And Tantra Art, a book of original art I’ve produced. Finally, I’m working on a multi media project called “Orgasm, the Gift.”

Wow, that’s impressive. And what’s the biggest and most audacious project you’re working on?

Creating a spiritual sexuality educational retreat center in Australia that will be a model for other centers throughout the world. Imagine a world where biological orgasmic ecstasy spontaneously arises effortlessly. This is connection, first of all to Self and then to life and then to others. Being connected is the source of contribution for all. Orgasm requires total surrender to the pleasure of your life-force, the pleasure of being alive in this physical body. Sex can be the most sophisticated, effective form of preventive medicine freely available to all. I’m now building an international team of people to create the center and participate in other projects.

What are the basic principles of your work?

My primary principle is that orgasm is first and foremost for your health and well-being. I love to inspire, support and encourage your full sexual expression, vitality and passion — guiding you in easy ways to enhance the quality of your sex life. It doesn’t matter what your current state is, with my simple practical approach you will experience immediate results.

Qi, ki, prana, chuluaqui are some of the words from different traditions for sexual energy, the life force energy – the energy of sex, the force of life. Energy-generating sex has been around for thousands of years on the planet in a variety of traditions and societies. Many traditions consider the sex act itself remains underrated, undervalued and underutilized.

Instead of enjoying the pleasure of aliveness as expressed through our orgasmic sexual energy, it can become a burden or a distraction that blocks our full creative expression. We have so much pent-up energy waiting to be expressed. We all have an unlimited capacity to express our brilliance and make our contribution to civilization.

Orgasm is the gift of the life force. It is the force of life expressed through you and me. The great news is the older we get the more pleasure is possible including the best sex of our lives. Pleasure stokes your life force. In the West there is a powerful conversation that sexual life and pleasure wanes with age.

Cultivating your sexual energy is your most sophisticated and effective form of creating outstanding health, happiness, intimacy and abundance in every arena of your life and your relationships. Every mature man and woman has a tremendous capacity to fully give and receive pleasure, and live a life of balance and beauty.

How did these principles come to you?

Based on my personal life experiences, beginning with initiation by Swami Satyananda Saraswati in 1984 into a traditional tantric lineage. During periods of intensive sadhana living as a swami fulltime in a Satyananda ashram for four years in New Zealand (daily spiritual practice in a spiritual community dedicated to a yogic lifestyle) various direct internal experiences changed my reality paradigm forever. My training as a swami encompassed a variety of techniques for direct experiences of awakening as well as teaching others. This is my foundation.

This led to my apprenticeship in the Sweet Medicine SunDance Path in 1990 and the Chuluaqui Quodoushka teachings — spiritual sexuality teachings from the shamanic (earth-based) traditions. Chuluaqui Quodoushka is practical earth based education that was originally taught to young people before, during and after Puberty Rites of Passage.

In 1995 I also trained with the International Professional Surrogates Association as a surrogate partner therapist. Everything I do is based on the foundation of my yogic practices, powerfully simple — utilizing also the shamanic wisdom and Western medical model of surrogacy.

Basically I love to share what works. Rather than theory or information downloading nothing beats a practical experience, your own experience. I facilitate programs, ranging from Quodoushka, private coaching sessions, phone consultations, evening seminars, one day programs, women’s programs, men’s programs, and intensives (focus on a specific aspect over a 2-3 day period). I am available for speaking engagements and introductory educational programs in your community.

Do you meditate? Tell me about your daily practice.

Yes, my personal practice includes pranayama (yogic practices to manipulate and control the flow of prana), spinal column awareness, asanas (postures), bandhas (energy locks) and kumbhaka (breath suspension.) Kriya yoga is my specific meditation practice. This incorporates spinal column awareness, chakra awareness, mantra and so on in a systematic scientific system of practice.

Tell me about a time someone told you a story that changed your life.

It was the first time I went to a talk by Swami Satyananda Saraswati. He spoke simply about ida, pingala and sushumna nadis. The nadis are subtle flows of vibrations covering the whole body, maintaining its activities and rhythms. Within this network, three are most important, regulating all the psychological and physiological processes. Ida, pingala and sushumna nadis begin in the pelvic floor. They meet again in the pineal gland in the center of the head.

I can remember him explaining that ida and pingala function alternately, not simultaneously. When you observe your nostril flow, one will be flowing stronger. When the left nostril is the dominant flow, ida nadi is flowing, activating the right brain hemisphere. When the right nostril flow is dominant, then pingala nadi is flowing, activating the left brain hemisphere. When ida and pingala flow simultaneously then both brain hemispheres function together.

It was so much more than an intellectual talk… it hit me deeply, at many levels. Many wonderful experiences followed immediately, so after this I was initiated into karma sannyas (householder disciple) as Swami Muktananda Saraswati. It was the turning point of my life and a spiritual awakening for me that altered the course of my life.

Tell me about a moment of such beauty that it took your breath away?

Giving birth to my son. This was the most beautiful experience of my life, in a shack on the side of the mountain in the bush near Wollumbin, the highest easterly point in Australia. As the deep intense contractions of second stage labor took me over I surrendered completely, Each wave swept over me and took me with it, every ounce of my being focused in the direction of birthing.

In between I fell into a dream space conserving every last drop of precious energy. In no time, the moment came. The midwife yells “stop pushing now” but my body was in command, and out shot my baby with a yell. The midwife laid my baby on my lap. It was the most profound moment of my life, looking into this wondrous being, a human being. A new life! Here. A miracle. It was five minutes later that I asked, “oh is it a boy or girl?” The thought had not entered into the space or into my mind. The midwife lifted up my baby’s leg, and exclaimed “it’s a boy!”

Where did it take you?

I fully experienced the power of the feminine and my body and how it is perfectly designed to birth and the miracle of creation. Took me to the moment of power that all women have experienced since always for always the moment a new baby is coming out of your body.

Now in the context of life how the masculine and feminine coming together can birth whatever they choose through their orgasmic energy.

Wow, that is amazing! And what has been your greatest sorrow?

It was the death of my father. My father was the best father ever, of course. He was a master mariner, captain of ships and lived his life on the sea. Strong and silent, he showered me and my sisters with special gifts he would make on the ship. My dad always sent postcards from his travels to me. It was always such a thrill when Dad was home! From a long line of Estonian ancestors, the cat people from some Northern Siberian tribe —wild, free, rebellious, guided by the elementals of nature. Yes, that’s my dad and my dad within me… wild, free, rebellious, guided by the elementals of nature.

Interesting. What else can you share about your childhood that explains who you are?

I have always loved to orgasm since I was a little girl, many times a day. I remember it now, my mum is hanging out washing on the washing line. I can see her through the window. I am laying on top of a pillow. It is between my legs. I’m squeezing my legs together, and relaxing and squeezing on top of the pillow. A wonderful feeling takes me over, I can feel it exploding through my body. It feels so good and wow, here it comes again and again. I love it!

What's your definition of tantra?

Tantra is expansion of consciousness and liberation of energy revealing the underlying structure of reality. Tantra accepts everything. Tantra shows us how daily life is a doorway to awakening in an infinite number of forms and experiences.