Creativity And Sexuality: A Kabbalistic PerspectiveJudaism openly recognizes, as an integral part of human nature, the enigmatic relationship between yetzer, or physical desire, and yetzirah, or spiritual creativity. Creativity and Sexuality, written as a fictional dialogue, clearly delineates the psychic interdependence of these two drives, as well as the integration of the concepts as they are defined by both Jewish mysticism and modern psychology. Mordechai Rotenberg is interested in the impact of religion on the psychology of everyday life. He was prompted to write Creativity and Sexuality by the popularity of writings that explore Jewish texts on the subject of sexuality from a historical or literary point of view, but that do not hesitate to include psychological evaluations based on popular secondary psychological concepts. This work seeks to provide an accurate psychological analysis of sexuality and spirituality from a Jewish mystical perspective. As such, it both reconstructs the interdisciplinary bridge between Judaism and psychology and deconstructs some exegetical traditions. The goal is to present new paradigmatic options, which may help modern society struggle more efficiently with its sexuality. Ultimately, the author sees physical desire and spiritual creativity as a regulative continuum. People learn how to spend the tremendous power of energy that the sexual yetzer produces not only on physical sex, but on the spiritual yetzirah. In an introduction written especially for this new edition, the author explains the continuing relevance of Creativity and Sexuality, and the ongoing relationship between sexual desire and a healthy spiritual self-fulfillment. This volume will be of interest to students of Judaism, psychology, mysticism, and sexuality. |
From inside the book
Results 1-5 of 61
... Spiritual life - Judaism . 5. Judaism and psychology . I. Title . BM720.S4R68 2005 2005045971 Excerpts from Love and Friendship by Allan Bloom are reprinted by permission of Simon & Schuster . Copyright 1993. All rights reserved ...
... Creative Ecstasy Kabbalistic Sexuality as Spiritual Energy The Psychotic - Erotic Energy of Mr. E. " Devekut " as " Spiritual Orgasm " 53 54 57 62 65 67 70 4 Romantic Flirting versus Sexual Harassment 79 " Alien Thoughts " and ...
... spiritual creativity ( yetzira ) , which are derived from the same root , was used by the Jewish ethical tradition to foster a balancing energy system , why does it appear that ultra - Ortho- dox education seems to repress all forms of ...
... creative expression . However , when- ever a rekindling of the spiritual self - fulfillment occurred , the physical sexual desire was also revived . In a similar fashion , Ricki Glazner dis- covered in the research for her doctoral ...
... Creativity and Sexuality may entail a fresh , positive energizing system . By offering the L'shem Yichud preceding a blessing , it is hoped that in regard to the broadened sexual paradigm in which physical and spiritual desires may be ...
Contents
Creation and Procreation | 1 |
Contraction and Emanation as Reading and Writing | 21 |
The Yetzer and Romantic Imagination | 49 |
Manic Disorder versus Creative Ecstasy | 62 |
Romantic Flirting versus Sexual Harassment | 79 |
Harassing the Flirter | 89 |
Ecstatic Prophecy and Imagination | 105 |
The YetzerYetzira Genre and the Musar Movement | 121 |
The Theory of Vaginal Envy | 139 |
The Yetzer in the Sociopsychological Therapy Room | 157 |
Bibliography | 171 |
Kierkegaards Seduction Style 86 | 179 |