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The Secret History of Western Sexual Mysticism: Sacred Practices and Spiritual Marriage — Mysticism

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The Secret History of Western Sexual Mysticism: Sacred Practices and Spiritual Marriage

Name: The Secret History of Western Sexual Mysticism: Sacred Practices and Spiritual Marriage
Price: 15.99 USD
Availability: InStock
Author: Versluis, Arthur
ISBN: 9781594772122

✍️ Versluis, Arthur

Reader Score

4.5

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📚 WHAT THE BOOK IS ABOUT

Delve into the concealed lineage of Western sexual mysticism, a profound path to divine union through sacred erotic practices. Arthur Versluis meticulously traces this often-suppressed tradition from ancient Greek mysteries and Gnostic rites through early Christianity, Kabbalah, and Hermetic alchemy. This groundbreaking work illuminates how individuals and esoteric sects pursued spiritual transcendence, much like Eastern Tantra, by integrating sexuality into their quest for the divine. It carefully differentiates authentic sexual mysticism from mere magical pursuits, revealing a persistent, hidden current within Western spirituality.

Versluis, Arthur

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Mysticism

Praise for this book

“. . . an insightful history of the role of human sexuality in the shaping of ideas and cultures.”

— Chard Currie, New Dawn, Sep/Oct 2008

🏛 Destiny Books 📅 2008 📖 176 pages 📔 Paperback 📐 Paperback ISBN: 9781594772122

Fun Fact

Versluis delivers an indispensable, meticulously researched exploration of Western sexual mysticism, finally granting this hidden tradition the scholarly attention it deserves. Its strength lies in its comprehensive scope and crucial distinction between mystical union and magical manipulation. While not a practical guide, it's a foundational text for serious students of esotericism. Those seeking sensational or "how-to" content might be disappointed; its value lies in profound intellectual contribution.

📝 Description: The Secret History of Western Sexual Mysticism: Sacred Practices and Spiritual Marriage

The first book to reveal the history of Western sexual mysticism - Reveals the secret sexual practices that have been used since ancient Greece to achieve mystical union with God - Details the sects and individuals who transmitted the radical sexual practices that orthodox Christianity never completely silenced - Distinguishes between sexual magic and sexual mysticism Beginning with the ancient Greek Mystery traditions, Gnosticism, and the practices in early Christianity, Arthur Versluis uncovers the secret line of Western sexual mysticism that, like the Tantra of the East, seeks transcendence or union with God through sexual practices. Throughout antiquity, and right into the present day, sexuality has played an important, if largely hidden, role in religious traditions and practices. This includes not only Christian but also kabbalistic and hermetic alchemical currents of sexual mysticism, many discussed together here for the first time. In the Mystery tradition of hieros gamos (sacred marriage) and the Gnostic tradition of spiritual marriage, we see the possibility of divine union in which sexual union is the principal sign or symbol. Key to these practices is the inner or archetypal union of above and below, the intermingling of the revelatory divine world with the mundane earthly one. Versluis shows that these secret currents of sexual mysticism helped fuel the rise of the troubadours and their erotic doctrine, the esoteric teachings of Jacob Böhme in the late 16th century, the 19th-century utopian communities of John Humphrey Noyes and Thomas Lake Harris, the free love movement of the 20th century, and the modern writings of Denis de Rougemont and Alan Watts.

📑 What's inside

Introduction
1 The Ancient Sexual Mysteries
2 Sexual Mysticism in Early Christianity
3 Heretical Mysteries
4 The Rediscovery of Christian Sexual Mysticism
5 American Sexual Mysticism
6 Eros in a New Age
7 The Secrets of Sexual Mysticism
Notes Bibliography Index

💎 Expert review

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💎

Esoterica Books editorial team

Occult literature desk

Versluis delivers a groundbreaking illumination of a suppressed tradition, carefully differentiating authentic sexual mysticism from mere magical pursuits. It is an intellectual feast for scholars of Gnostic history, Kabbalah, and Hermetic alchemy who wish to trace the concealed lineage of Western spiritual marriage. However, readers seeking straightforward religious dogma or those uncomfortable with erotic themes in spiritual contexts may find this dense and alienating. It does not suit those looking for simple moral guidance, as it explores complex historical currents rather than offering prescriptive advice. This is a rigorous academic exploration for the dedicated seeker.

✓ EDITOR'S REVIEW

📖 Why choose it

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Why this book is worth reading

This book is essential for those seeking to understand the concealed depths of Western esotericism, particularly those who recognize that spiritual transcendence often involves integrating sexuality into the quest for the divine. Readers interested in how ancient Greek mysteries, Gnostic rites, and Hermetic alchemy influenced later traditions will find this meticulous tracing of lineage invaluable. It offers a profound perspective on sacred practices and spiritual marriage, distinguishing authentic sexual mysticism from mere magical pursuits. If you are curious about the persistent, hidden current within Western spirituality that mirrors Eastern Tantra, this work provides the necessary context to appreciate these suppressed traditions and their role in achieving divine union.

⭐ Reader reviews

The starting rating comes from the team Esoterica Books —

⭐ Esoterica editorial review Editorial rating 4.5/5

★★★★★

If you're drawn to the hidden currents of Western spirituality, seek to understand the mystical dimensions of sexuality, or are curious about suppressed religious practices, this book offers an unparalleled journey. It's for those ready to reconsider the boundaries of the sacred.

Reader rating

4.5

Based on 1 reviews

Esoterica Books editorial team

Versluis delivers a groundbreaking illumination of a suppressed tradition, carefully differentiating authentic sexual mysticism from mere magical pursuits. It is an intellectual feast for scholars of Gnostic history, Kabbalah, and Hermetic alchemy who wish to trace the concealed lineage of Western spiritual marriage. However, readers seeking straightforward religious dogma or those uncomfortable with erotic themes in spiritual contexts may find this dense and alienating. It does not suit those looking for simple moral guidance, as it explores complex historical currents rather than offering prescriptive advice. This is a rigorous academic exploration for the dedicated seeker.

❓ Frequently asked questions

Sexual mysticism, as explored here, aims for spiritual transcendence and union with the divine through sacred erotic practices. Sexual magic, by contrast, typically seeks to achieve specific worldly outcomes or exert influence through ritualized sexual acts.

No, while it touches on early Christian practices, it broadly covers various Western esoteric currents. These include ancient Greek Mystery traditions, Gnosticism, Kabbalah, and Hermetic alchemy, showcasing a diverse historical tapestry.

📖 Who should read this

🎯 Key themes and symbolism

Unveiling Esoteric Sexual Traditions

This book meticulously unearths the long-obscured history of sacred sexual practices within Western spiritual paths. It demonstrates how, despite orthodox suppression, a continuous thread of individuals and groups sought divine union through various forms of erotic ritual, challenging conventional understandings of religious devotion and intimacy across millennia.

Erotic Paths to Divine Union

Explore how diverse Western traditions, from ancient hieros gamos to Gnostic spiritual marriages, viewed sexual union not as a mere physical act but as a profound symbol and vehicle for achieving oneness with the divine. The text reveals how these practices aimed at transcending the mundane through intimate spiritual connection.

Mysticism vs. Sexual Magic

Versluis provides crucial clarity by delineating between genuine sexual mysticism, oriented towards spiritual transcendence and divine union, and practices of sexual magic, which often focus on worldly outcomes or manipulation. This distinction is vital for understanding the true intent and profound spiritual depth of these esoteric traditions.

📜 Historical context

This groundbreaking work definitively explores an often-ignored aspect of Western esotericism, akin to studies of Eastern Tantra. It traces a continuous, subterranean lineage of sacred erotic practices, connecting traditions from classical antiquity, Gnosticism, and early Christianity to later Kabbalistic and Hermetic currents, illuminating their shared pursuit of divine union.

📚 Glossary

Hieros Gamos
Gnosticism
Sexual Mysticism

📔 Questions to reflect on

How does the concept of "sacred marriage" or hieros gamos challenge or expand your understanding of spiritual devotion and intimacy?
In what ways might the suppression of sexual mysticism have shaped Western spiritual traditions, and what might be the implications of its rediscovery?
Reflect on the distinction between sexual mysticism and sexual magic. How does this differentiation inform your view of esoteric practices involving sexuality?