The Kashmiri Massage Through Light and Touch

Photography & text by Johnny Gustavsson

I step into rooms where silence has weight.
My camera listens more than it sees — to breath, to warmth, to the invisible rhythm between hands and skin.
This series is not about the act of massage itself, but about presence: the shared field of trust, surrender, and quiet energy that rises when touch becomes awareness.

Guided by Simone’s sensitivity and Alexandra’s openness, I was invited to observe a Kashmiri massage — to be the fly on the wall inside a moment where body and soul meet.

It was as if the world held its breath.
The warmth from the sauna mingled with soft sunlight through the window, the scent of wood with the sweet aroma of coconut oil gliding over skin. Simone guided Alexandra on a journey — not just a massage, but an encounter between bodies, souls, and energy.

“For me it’s never only about giving. I receive at the same time. We meet in love and surrender. It’s a spiritual journey, not a performance,” Simone said when describing the experience.

I stood there with my camera, yet felt more like a shadow — present, but invisible. I followed the hands that moved slowly, as if every touch was a word in a silent dialogue.

“I always create a bubble of light and love around us,” she explained. “I ask my guides and angels to keep us safe while the energy opens.”

Alexandra allowed herself to be carried by the flow. Her breath softened, her body surrendered, and something luminous seemed to rise within her. Simone gave and received at once — a dance of energy where the boundary between giving and receiving faded.

“For the receiver, it’s about truly letting go,” Simone said. “To allow yourself to receive without feeling you must give something back. Just be — that’s enough.”

The coconut oil spread its scent — warm, tender — and every motion became more than physical; it was an expression of trust, presence, and love.

When the session ended, I walked out onto the pier. The air was still. I sat down, placed the camera beside me, and cried — not from sadness, but from beauty. Something within me had witnessed more than images — something wordless, like light becoming breath.

“Afterwards my heart is wide open,” Simone said. “My whole system feels full of love and gratitude. It’s like giving and receiving at the same time.”

Fact Box: The Kashmiri Massage

Origin:
Rooted in the tantric tradition of Kashmir, where body, soul, and energy meet.

Purpose:
To invite relaxation, love, and inner balance through conscious giving and receiving.

Process:
Slow, warm, and intuitive — guided by breath, trust, and silence.

Atmosphere:
The scent of oil deepens presence; wood, warmth, and light create a cocoon of love and safety.

Simone’s words:

“It’s about deep connection and love — not about doing, but being. Every time, it feels like a gift.”