Embodied Spirituality in a Sacred World

Michael Washburn is Professor of Philosophy at Indiana University South Bend. He is the author of The Ego and the Dynamic Ground: A Transpersonal Theory of Human Development, Second Edition and Transpersonal Psychology in Psychoanalytic Perspective, both published by SUNY Press.

• Preface 1. The Spiral Path: History and Criticism of the Idea 2. The Spiral Path: A Stage View Neonatal LifeThe Early Preoedipal StageThe Late Preoedipal StageThe Oedipal StageLatencyPuberty and AdolescenceEarly AdulthoodCrossroadsAwakeningRegression in the Service of TranscendenceRegeneration in SpiritIntegration of the Ego and the Dynamic GroundConcluding Observations 3. The Dynamic Ground The Psychoid UnconsciousThe Primordial Source of LifeThe Intrapsychic Dimension of the Great MotherThe Splitting of the Dynamic GroundPrimal Repression and the Closing of the Dynamic GroundThe IdThe Mysterious Gravitational AttractorThe Numinous Core of the PsycheThe Psychic UnderworldThe Source of Renewing LifeThe Fertile-Sacred VoidConcluding Observations 4. Energy The Primordial ReservoirThe Reservoir OpensThe Splitting of the Power of the Ground into Forces of Light and DarknessPrimal Repression and the Division of the Power of the Ground into Psychic Energy and Latent LibidoPsychic Energy as the Invisible Energy of Conscious LifeThe Awakening of Libido During PubertyIntegrated Libido: The Second Latency of Early AdulthoodEbb Tide: Introversion of Psychic EnergyThe Awakening of the Power of the Ground as Numinous SpiritSpiritual Awakening and Instinctual DerepressionFrom Numinous Spirit to Transforming SpiritFrom Transforming Spirit to Transparent Spirit 5. The Ego Ontological ConsiderationsThe Incipient EgoThe Prepersonal Body EgoSplitting and the Emergence of the Self-RepresentationFrom a Split Body Ego to an Integrated Mental EgoThe Mental Ego During LatencyThe Mental Ego During AdolescenceThe Mental Ego During Early AdulthoodThe Alienated Mental EgoThe Ego Awakens to the NuminousThe Ego Returns to the Dynamic GroundThe Ego Is Transformed by SpiritThe Integrated Ego 6. The Other The Other as Wholly Immanent OtherThe Other as Immanent-Transcendent Great MotherThe Other as Split Good-Terrible MotherThe Overcoming of Splitting and the Achievement of Object ConstancyWholly Immanent Self and Wholly Transcendent OthersThe Other as Object of Sexual Desire and as Transitional Ego Ideal FigureThe Other as Partner in Life's TasksThe Other as Inauthentic ActorThe Other as Channel of Numinous PowerThe Other as Angelic or Demonic OtherThe Overcoming of Splitting and the Achievement of Higher Object ConstancyThe Other as Sibling in Spirit 7. The Body The Precosmic Universal BodyThe Body of Polymorphous SensualityThe Splitting of Pleasures into Good and Bad PleasuresFrom the Body as Ego to the Body as Ego's BodyThe Subdued Latency BodyThe Sexually Awakening BodyThe Sexually Mature BodyThe Depersonalized BodyThe Body on the Threshold of Spiritual AwakeningThe "Resurrection" of the BodyThe "Reincarnation" of the EgoThe Body as "Temple of Spirit" 8. The World The Ouroboric SphereThe Garden of DelightThe Splitting of the World into Enchanted and Haunted WorldsThe Natural World I: The Playground of YouthThe Natural World II: The Rehearsal Stage for Adult LifeThe Natural World III: The Arena of Responsible ActionThe Natural World Denaturalized: The Existential DesertThe Denaturalized World Supernaturalized: The Realm of Numinous PowersThe Supernatural Becomes Natural: The World of Transforming SpiritReturning Home: The World of Transparent Spirit Notes Glossary References Index