During the twentieth century, the word Tantra came to mean something quite different in the West from what it had historically meant in India.
What Changed?
Tantra increasingly became associated with:
– psychology; – sexuality; – self-development; – meditation; – bodywork; – the Human Potential Movement.
Especially during the second half of the twentieth century, new teachers and schools emerged that focused less on traditional ritual and initiation and more on relationships, embodiment, emotional openness, and personal growth.
This gradually gave rise to what is now often called Neo-Tantra.
Why Is This Important?
Modern Tantra may use terms such as chakra, energy, meditation, or Shiva and Shakti while placing them within an entirely new context.
This does not necessarily make modern practice invalid. Historically, however, it is important to distinguish it from traditional Tantric systems.
The twentieth century did not simply popularize Tantra in the West — it also played a major role in creating a new meaning for the word itself.