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Document Details : Title: Sacred Sexuality Subtitle: From the Ancient Sumerians to Contemporary Esalen Author(s): GEELS, Antoon Journal: Studies in Spirituality Volume: 20 Date: 2010 Pages: 355-379 DOI: 10.2143/SIS.20.0.2061155 Abstract : The aim of this article is to show that ideas pertaining to sacred sexuality or sacred marriage are as old as Sumerian culture. While mainstrean Christianity developed an alternate view on sexuality, the Jewish Kabbalah transmitted similar ideas. In Asia, sacral sexuality has been an integrated dimension of Hinduism and Buddhism. All these spiritual traditions came together in 18th century London, where we also encounter new influences from the Moravian Church and the Swedish visionary Emanuel Swedenborg. London became a crucible for all traditions mentioned. The British artist and mystic William Blake came in touch with these ideas and he was heavily influenced by them. The article ends with a presentation of the contemporary Esalen Institute in California, USA, known for the human potential movement. At Esalen, sacred sexuality belongs to the main themes being discussed. |
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