Rudolf Steiner presents the human soul dilemma, split into male and female attributes... but offers a path of development which will eventually lead to overcoming these - what Jung called 'individuation', a merging with the true self or true ego of the human being.' - from the IntroductionWe live in a sexualised society, surrounded by sexual imagery and content in almost every area of life. This presents us with many challenges, including an increasing blurring and confusion between love and sex; strife between men and women over their roles in society; and a consistent assault on the innocence of childhood. Despite the sensibilities of his time, Rudolf Steiner made a huge contribution to our understanding of the complex theme of sexuality. In this freshly-compiled anthology, Steiner describes the point in evolution at which human beings split from being androgynous and single-sexed to becoming male or female. He traces the changing roles of the sexes in society, from the matriarchal past to today's patriarchal dominance. The division of the sexes brings suffering, but also the possibility of achieving higher stages of love. In the distant future, humanity can evolve sexuality into a new form, with even the possibility of reproduction being metamorphosed. Refreshingly, Steiner is not judgmental and does not preach asceticism. He recognises the 'all-too-human' frailty people confront in their personal lives, even in the case of great individuals such as Goethe. Sex is a necessary stage of human evolution, and the split nature of the human being is a fact of our age. Its healing will be gradual but, like Amfortas in the Grail story - whose wounded groin was a metaphor for amorous misadventure - we can all be healed through love and compassion.

"Rudolf Steiner presents the human soul dilemma, split into male and female attributes...but offers a path of development that will eventually lead to overcoming these--what Jung called 'individuation, ' a merging with the true self or true ego of the human being." (from the introduction) We live in a sexualized society, surrounded by sexual imagery and content in almost every area of life. This condition presents us with many challenges. These include decreased clarity and increasing confusion about the distinction between love and sex; strife between men and women over their roles in society; and a persistent assault on childhood innocence. Despite the sensibilities of his time, Steiner made a huge contribution to our understanding of the complex theme of sexuality. In this freshly compiled anthology, Steiner describes the point in evolution at which human beings split from being androgynous, single-sexed beings to becoming beings of male and female genders. He traces the changing roles of the sexes in society, from the matriarchal past to today's patriarchal dominance. The division of the sexes brings suffering, but also the possibility of achieving higher stages of love. In the distant future, humanity can evolve sexuality into a new form, with the possibility that even the process of reproduction will be transformed. Steiner is refreshingly nonjudgmental and does not preach asceticism. He recognizes the all-too-human frailty with which people confront their personal lives, even in the case of such a great individual as Goethe. Sex is a necessary stage of human evolution, and the split nature of the human being is a fact of our time. Its healing will be gradual, but like Amfortas in the Grail story--whose wounded groin was a metaphor for amorous misadventure--we can all be healed through love and compassion.

Storyteller and ceremonialist Linda Sussman explores how to speak in a new way that is one that heals and transforms. She takes the epic story of the grail, as told by Wolfram von Eschenbach in "Parzival", as her guide. This tale weaves together Celtic, Oriental, Christian, Arthurian and alchemical sources. Linda Sussman sees "Parzival" as depicting the path of initiation to healing speech, to doing the truth in word and deed. First, she tells the story in a beautiful way, allowing the reader to reproduce within themselves the potent inner pictures of the text. Then she shows that it is not so much a path toward perfection, as the recovery of a right relationship to our imperfections. She shows, too that it is a path in which male and female aspects work together in the overcoming of evil.

Human love relationships are one of the most fertile grounds for growth and transformation. Also fraught with difficulty, frustration and pain, they dramatize for us our projections, addictions and wounds. Yet conscious use of relationships can be a fast track to spiritual and psychological transformation. In The Marriage of Sex and Spirit, thirty five of the most provocative and fresh voices of our generation give us the keys to transforming relationships from a source of grief and bondage to a celebration of self and other. Drawing together the most powerful wisdom of spiritual teachers, psychiatrists, anthropologists, educators, therapists, coaches, writers, artists, this ground breaking anthology presents the visions and ideas that form the gateway to transforming both spirituality and sexuality. This powerful collection of practical techniques and breakthrough insights offers the potential to utterly transform your experience of relationships into a source of joy, inspiration and fuel for your spiritual and emotional journey.

I am afflicted by an uncommon ailment - I let my heart decide what to love, and only then does my mind follow. - Love, Sex & Transcendence Romantic relationships are a vast source for spiritual growth but are often the first areas of our lives that succumb to deeply entrenched egoic beliefs. These false beliefs which we developed in childhood for the purpose of our physical survival - become the basis for how we view ourselves and our partners, keeping us stuck in repetitive patterns that prevent our ability to truly thrive, no matter how much effort we devote to other spiritual pursuits. In Love, Sex & Transcendence, Dr. Alam utilizes poetry coupled with short essays to help you re-connect to the ultimate source of love your inner self. Building on this connection, she guides you through the intensity of eroticism by exploring both the masculine and feminine aspects of sexuality. Finally, she takes you to the peak of transcendence itself, tying it all together to expose who you truly are: an exquisite spiritual being endowed with the potential to create a romantic partnership that is equally loving, passionate, and transformational.

When Dylan Fielding, celebrated contemporary visual artist, becomes Br. Thomas Augustine, novice at Our Lady of the Pines monastery, he finds delight not only in the shock his choice causes everyone around him but--to his own surprise--in the rhythms of the life itself. Shortly before he solidifies a lifelong commitment to the community, a traumatic encounter with an abusive priest plunges Thomas Augustine into terror and doubt. Reeling and uncertain, he reaches out to his friend, rival, and former lover, Angele Solomon, with hopes that she can help him to speak the difficult truth. As she attempts to advocate for her friend, Angele must ask how the scars left by their common past-as well as newer harms-can ever be healed or transcended. The wider inquiries demanded next will transfigure how both of them picture a range of human and divine things: time and memory; art and agency; trust and responsibility; and what it might mean to know real freedom.