From lecture 207, THE SPIRITUAL SYMBOLISM AND SIGNIFICANCE OF SEXUALITY:
For most human beings it is still inconceivable to combine sexuality with spirituality. This concept is bound to change soon; the spiritual influxes of today have already wrought the beginning of a new era. In former times, sexuality and spirituality were considered antithetical. It was not known that true spiritual union is a consummate result of union on all levels of being, including the physical-sexual one. It was not known that total integration and oneness must bring sexuality into alignment with spirituality. The realization of your spiritual life is possible only as a result of total unification on all these other levels, and certainly never as a result of splitting off any one part from the other. The real meaning of spirituality is oneness and wholeness, and that means it must include all there is. Satisfying relationships with others therefore always mirror the degree of the individual’s inner unification. If you cannot find union with others, you are in disunity within yourself.
The difficulty human beings have in unifying spirituality and sexuality, even in a concept, is due precisely to what I explained before — namely, the fact that hidden evil manifests in and through the sexual expression. This is why for centuries spiritual teachings have postulated that sexuality is a hindrance to spiritual development. At an earlier time in history, there was a reason for such postulates. They were not all that wrong at that time. Early humanity’s less developed state made people act out their brutality and bestiality through their sexuality. Consciousness and conscience, the influx of the spirit, existed to a much lesser degree then. Everything was acted out with impunity and in self-righteousness. The stronger ones had the rights and needed no excuses. The ability for restraint and discipline was practically non-existent. The capacity for empathy with others was extremely weak and rare. In such a world the powerful drives had to be restrained in order to make any influx of the spirit possible. This explains the long eras when spiritual exercises were used to restrain natural instincts. On the one hand, spiritual development proceeded, on the other, it also constrained humanity’s natural drives, and this was temporarily necessary. Only now, as humanity enters a new spiritual era of unfoldment, are human beings strong enough to look at their hidden instincts and to purify them without danger of acting them out. Yet, even today hardly anyone knows the fine line between safe, honest expression and admission of negative material, and destructive acting out. You on this path are indeed pioneers in learning the all-important art of making this distinction. Only in this way can you unify your total person, purify all aspects of yourself, and safely bring out the sexual drive in whatever way it now manifests. The current predominance of stagnation, low vitality, and frequent sexual problems are a result of hemming in your negative life force because you could not deal with it safely. You are now learning a new and marvelous method of freeing your instincts for the purpose of purifying and revitalizing your life.
To my teacher Marieke Mars who taught me self-honesty. To my courageous and loving pathwork helper Dottie Titus.