Challenge of the Heart: Love, Sex, and Intimacy in Changing Times Paperback - 1985

First line

Romantic Love-which is, in my view, the prototype and summit of all eroticism-is characterized by a feeling of being "enchanted" by another being, a feeling of being absorbed by him to the core of our being.

From the rear cover

This powerful collection of essays by such notables as D. H. Lawrence, Robert Bly, Anne Morrow Lindbergh, and Rainer Maria Rilke focuses on the challenges of love between men and women, addressing the questions and difficulties arising for people in relationships today. Anyone who is, has been, or hopes to be in an intimate relationship with a person of the opposite sex will find this book "must" reading.

The first group of essays deals with the contradictions and possibilities inherent in erotic love, leading to the question posed in the next section: What do men and women really want? The contributors then explore marriage as an ongoing path of personal transformation. That opens into a look at sexuality itself as an especially vivid meeting of two different worlds. The book closes with a group of writings that consider relationship as a vehicle for developing power, wisdom, and inner truth.

Carefully selected, threaded together by Welwood's insightful commentary, the essays presented here approach the challenge of intimacy with bravery and gentleness, inspiring the reader toward becoming a "warrior of the heart."

From the jacket flap

This powerful collection of essays by such notables as D. H. Lawrence, Robert Bly, Anne Morrow Lindbergh, and Rainer Maria Rilke focuses on the challenges of love between men and women, addressing the questions and difficulties arising for people in relationships today. Anyone who is, has been, or hopes to be in an intimate relationship with a person of the opposite sex will find this book "must" reading.

The first group of essays deals with the contradictions and possibilities inherent in erotic love, leading to the question posed in the next section: What do men and women really want? The contributors then explore marriage as an ongoing path of personal transformation. That opens into a look at sexuality itself as an especially vivid meeting of two different worlds. The book closes with a group of writings that consider relationship as a vehicle for developing power, wisdom, and inner truth.

Carefully selected, threaded together by Welwood's insightful commentary, the essays presented here approach the challenge of intimacy with bravery and gentleness, inspiring the reader toward becoming a "warrior of the heart."