In this article Willow Pearson proposes that desire, as all lines
of development, evolves toward greater complexity and is an all-quadrant phenomenon. For this reason, she situates desire and sex (from preconventional to conventional to postconventional and beyond) within an Integral framework. Integral Theory
offers a unique view of desire and a possibility to understand all levels
of desire as embodied wisdom, however partial each view might be. Introduction Sexual desire is a natural and necessary condition of every human animal. How we relate to desire, and what we do with it, has the power to break individuals and communities apart, as well as bring us together. Sexual desire typically gets either a good rap or a bad one. It is commonly seen as either the root of all evil or the root of all salvation. Rarely do we consider the complex nature of sexual desire and how we act upon it. An Integral approach is not satisfied with desire’s dualistic street press. It goes beyond a discourse of good and evil by looking into sexual desire as a path of development. An Integral view accepts that sexual desire is indigenous to the human body, psyche, and spirit. Prior to interpretation and judgment, Integral tacitly recognizes what simply exists. Integral Theory takes a developmental perspective in order to illuminate the path of sexual desire, as well as to discriminate the important differences among the many perspectives on desire. Here, we will begin to explore that path. Receive full access to weekly conversations hosted by leading thinkers Receive full access to the growing Journal of Integral Theory & Practice library Stay connected by participating in Integral Life live events and discussions Get unlimited 20% discount off all products and courses
from our friends and partners Download The Integral Vision
eBook by Ken Wilber (worth $19 on Amazon) & The Ken Wilber Biography Series Support our mission of educating and spreading integral consciousness that is more critical than at any time in its history Dr. Pearson is a licensed clinical psychologist. She is also a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) and a nationally board-certified music therapist (MT-BC). In summer 2020, Dr. Pearson joined the core faculty in the Clinical Psychology Department at CIIS. Previously, she has taught doctoral students at Alliant International University in San Francisco, undergraduate and graduate students at Naropa University, and graduate students at John F. Kennedy University and Notre Dame de Namur University. Her website is drwillowpearson.com