WildTantra Ethical Code of Conduct

WildTantra Ethical Code of Conduct

WildTantra Ethical Code of Conduct

Introduction

The WildTantra Ethical Code of Conduct serves as a guiding document to uphold the highest standards of integrity, respect, and responsibility within our community. It clarifies the core principles that all WildTantra facilitators, assistants, participants, and affiliates are expected to embody. These principles aim to foster a culture of trust, mutual respect, and ethical behaviour, ensuring our community remains a safe and nurturing space for personal and collective growth. By adhering to this Ethical Code of Conduct, we commit to maintaining the spiritual integrity of our practices and interactions.

The WildTantra Ethical Code of Conduct details the expected behaviours and actions of WildTantra facilitators, assistants, participants, and employees. It provides clear guidelines on acceptable and unacceptable conduct within the organisation and during related activities. The focus is on ensuring compliance and enforcement to maintain order and professionalism.

Concepts

WildTantra: It refers to the WildTantra teaching methods, which are rooted in Hindu and Buddhist spiritual traditions, as well as in inspired forms of neo-Tantra. Besides Tantra, this broad field also encompasses aspects of Yoga, psychology, shamanism, sexology, mindfulness, and more.
WildTantra facilitator: A person who guides WildTantra groups professionally based on WildTantra methods through workshops, courses, training, sessions, retreats, or online events.
Assistant (Team member): An individual who supports the WildTantra organisation and/or a WildTantra facilitator during group work, either practically or substantively, at events, but usually does not oversee specific parts unless she/he is skilled and trained in a particular type of teaching that adds to the group.
Participant: Someone who benefits from or intends to benefit from the services of a WildTantra facilitator during workshops or events, for a fee.
Workshop: A group event where WildTantra is offered. The term can refer to a workshop, course, training, retreat, festival, or (online) event.

Facilitator/Assistant-Participant Relationships

  • Responsibility: Boundaries are set through open, ongoing communication and a sense of responsibility. WildTantra facilitators, assistants, and participants work together to ensure everyone feels comfortable and respected during practices involving touch or nudity. We expect everyone to take responsibility for ensuring that any physical contact is always intentional, appropriate, respectful, sacred, and suited to the situation and the individual. This aims to support the participant’s growth. Before each practice, facilitators will clearly explain if touch, nudity, or even sexual elements are part of the experience.
  • Do not harm: WildTantra facilitators, assistants, and participants must avoid causing any physical, emotional, or verbal harm. They are required to take reasonable measures to prevent such harm. They must not intentionally or negligently harm others, including facilitators, assistants, participants, staff (such as kitchen, cleaning, and venue personnel), or the public.
  • Conflicts: When participants disagree and cannot resolve it between themselves, a WildTantra facilitator or assistant is available to mediate or suggest alternative solutions. If a conflict develops between a participant and a WildTantra facilitator or assistant and they cannot settle it themselves, a WildTantra facilitator or assistant, not involved in the conflict, will step in to mediate or explore alternative resolutions.
  • Peer pressure: The WildTantra facilitator and assistants understand group dynamics and the (implicit) peer pressure that participants may encounter. During a workshop, there are always opportunities for participants to express their boundaries or to indicate that they do not wish to take part in a particular practice.
  • Attendance: The WildTantra workshops are designed around practices that build on each other. Therefore, we ask participants to have a sense of discipline and commitment and not to miss practices. However, we understand that certain situations, such as illness, physical discomfort, or a practice being too far outside their comfort zone, may prevent a participant from attending. In such cases, the participant needs to communicate with the WildTantra facilitator and/or assistants to reach an agreement on whether it is appropriate to skip the session. If a participant chooses to miss practices without informing the facilitator and/or assistants, they may be asked to leave the workshop. Additionally, if the WildTantra facilitator and/or assistants believe that a participant has missed too many practices to continue, they may ask the participant to leave.
  • Power dynamic: The WildTantra facilitator and assistants are conscious of the natural power dynamic between them and the participants. They make a dedicated effort to prevent any misuse of this influence. Their commitment is to ensure that they do not fulfil their personal, emotional, or sexual needs through interactions with participants, maintaining a respectful environment for everyone.
  • Romantic and/or sexual relationships: WildTantra facilitators and assistants do not engage in a new romantic and/or sexual relationship with a participant during a workshop. If feelings develop, or if the parties mutually decide to proceed with a romantic and/or sexual relationship after a workshop and/or a year program (Path of Awakening), then a designated and appropriate cool-down period must be observed (minimum of 3 months from the workshop and/or program’s completion).

Sobriety

  • Drugs, alcohol, and plant medicines: WildTantra facilitators, assistants, and participants must not be under the influence of drugs, alcohol, or plant medicines during the workshop. The WildTantra facilitator and assistants do not allow participants who are intoxicated with these substances to take part in the workshops. In exceptional cases, if a legal plant medicine is included in the workshop program, the WildTantra facilitator ensures that participants are well-informed in advance that they always have the option not to take this plant medicine, and that they, as WildTantra facilitators, remain clear-headed and approachable.
  • Medications: Participants taking strong medications that could impact their awareness and physical vitality are required to inform the WildTantra facilitator before attending a workshop. If the WildTantra facilitator considers that the medication would interfere too much with the participant’s practice, they will ensure that the participant does not partake in certain practices or may not allow them in the workshop.

Suitability

  • Who is Welcome? The WildTantra facilitator does not refuse participants based on race, origin, belief, gender, sexual orientation, or any other factor that could be considered discriminatory. However, workshops may be adapted to specific target groups (men, women, couples, a particular age group, a certain level of Tantra experience and/or physical fitness, etc.).
  • Suitability: The WildTantra facilitator requests participants, before a workshop, to provide details about their physical and mental health (including any trauma) and their therapeutic and spiritual experiences through a registration form. Based on this information, the facilitator assesses whether the workshop’s content aligns with the participant’s abilities and needs.
  • Pregnancy: WildTantra welcomes pregnant women to attend workshops only if the content is gentle and requires minimal physical or emotional effort. For workshops involving more intense physical or emotional engagement, we kindly suggest waiting until after pregnancy, as this is a delicate time that requires dedicated care. Remember, pregnancy is a beautiful nine-month tantric journey!

Media

  • Video Recording and Photography: WildTantra facilitators, assistants, and participants must not photograph, record videos, or capture images in any medium without explicit consent from those involved. If WildTantra itself records video or takes photographs, it will do so only with the approval of the individuals appearing in the footage.
  • Audio Recording: WildTantra occasionally records audio of live teachings and sometimes shares these recordings only with its participants. By participating, you agree to your voice being used and shared within the WildTantra community. If you wish to have your voice removed, you must contact the WildTantra facilitator prior to the event.
  • Social Media: Each participant is solely responsible for their own content shared on social media or in any group managed by WildTantra. Participants must treat others with respect and are accountable for their actions, feelings, and emotions. Sharing any information, pictures, or videos of other participants without explicit consent is prohibited. WildTantra reserves the right to revoke access to communication groups and remove content it finds inappropriate, at its discretion.

Properties

  • WildTantra properties: Participants and assistants agree not to share, copy, reproduce, or sell any property offered by WildTantra without first obtaining written consent from the creator. Any property created by WildTantra is hereby claimed as its own.
  • Sharing knowledge: All individuals who utilise the knowledge gained from workshops, online events, or this website do so according to their personal capacity and assume full responsibility for implementing and sharing that knowledge.

Privacy

Compliance

  • Compliance for all: WildTantra facilitators, assistants, and participants agree to adhere to all WildTantra policies and procedures, including WildTantra’s Code of Ethics and Conduct.
  • Participant Compliance: Before attending a workshop, participants agree to WildTantra’s Ethical Code of Conduct and Cancellation Policies by completing and submitting a WildTantra Registration Form.

Changes

  • WildTantra reserves the right to amend its Code of Ethics and Conduct at its discretion. WildTantra will notify the relevant individuals of any alterations.