Body and Soul

}Are we able to discover the intimate, spiritual nature of our bodies and develop relationships in which a new kind of sexuality can flourish? Sexuality is improving for millions of people as they learn to engage in sexual healing. Therapists are spending many hours in training to learn to work with sexual abuse survivors in order to serve the flood of people who want toe examine what adversely affected their past sexuality and how to heal it. At the same time, the perception of old sexualitybased on feelings of lust and sex driveis desperately trying to remain alive, as seen through countless examples in movies, television, and magazines. Body and Soul: Sexuality on the Brink of Change takes an intriguing look at sexual mores steeped in out culture and explains why they remain anchored. Dr. Anne Stirling Hastings, an innovative psychologist specializing in sexuality issues, draws on her own sexual healing and study of cultural myths regarding sexuality to envision what it will take for society to exist in a sexually healthy atmosphere.
She describes out culture as sexually addictive, showing how that status is maintained by the broadcast media and advertising, as well as by prurient old wives tales handed down by tradition. The author confronts out most closely held views of sexuality, such as the belief in a powerful, dominating sex drive, and the perception of monogamy as an ideal to force ourselves to life up to. She also explains how sexual harassment can be seen as a perversion of the mating dance, and how traditional sex therapy actually encourages the use of cultural distortion. Dr. Hastings includes intriguing information on how sexuality can be healed, and how shame should be removed outright instead of merely avoided. Body and Soul is a consciousness-raising work for readers who want a new understanding of past distortions and future possibilities of their own sexuality. This will be a welcome guide for mental health professionals, sex educators, and anyone who is looking for a viable alternative to our cultures inaccurate views of sex. }