Contents

Preface

PART I: CONNECTING

1 The cosmic pull toward union | Podcast

There is a powerful pull in this world tied to creation. All humans are made from the same substance that fuels the creative process. So one end of this force is connected to each of us.

As this force pulls us toward each other, it is also drawing us toward pleasure. For in truth, life and pleasure are one.

So when pleasure through relationships is missing, there is a disturbance in our life force that comes from being in opposition to the great cosmic plan.

2 The counter-pull: Frustration | Podcast

There is an opposing force in the human personality. It's called frustration.

Like so many human attitudes, it can go in two unhealthy directions—and neither works.

What's the way out? We must learn to let go. We need to allow ourselves to postpone having our own way, but without giving up on the possibility of fulfillment.

3 The importance of how we communicate | Podcast

Union is the highest and most desirable state in creation.

Two stages lead toward union: cooperation and communication.

Even on the level of our material needs, things like food, drink and shelter—everything we need to physically survive—depend on our ability to cooperate and communicate.

Now let's look at what happens on the mental, emotional and spiritual levels. Because cooperation and communication are just as vital in these areas.

4 The spiritual significance of human relationships | Podcast

From a spiritual perspective, the ways in which we interact with each other is very important. It leads to growth of individuals and also unification of beings.

But such co-mingling isn't without a few headaches. Indeed, on this human plane of existence, individual units of consciousness exist and sometimes we all get along.

Just as often though, conflicts arise in human relationships creating friction and crisis.

If we're not facing, accepting and understanding our own inner divergent parts, we can't put this process of unification into practice with others. This is an important fact that explains the need to emphasize self-responsibility as a foundation for doing spiritual development work.

PART II: ATTRACTING

5 Pleasure: The full pulsation of life | Podcast

Is pleasure in the body, as some people say, in opposition to true spiritual self-realization? No, it is not. In fact, it's a prerequisite.

Here's the situation. When we block pleasure, we block our connection to our deep spiritual self. This means spiritual self-realization and the capacity for pleasure are closely linked. 

6 The forces of love, eros and sex | Podcast

People may be confused about a lot of different things, but most of us are somewhat confused about love… and sex… and then there's that erotic spark.

These are actually three distinct forces, or principles. And they show up—or don't show up—differently on all the various levels.

Let's see if we can sort them out.

7 The spiritual symbolism and significance of sexuality | Podcast

Call it what you will, the main goal for all of us split-off beings is to reunite our separated aspects of consciousness and become whole again.

There is a grand force motivating each and every one of us to move in that direction. And the pull of this force is irresistible.

PART III: MATCHING

8 Mutuality: A cosmic principle and law | Podcast

Nothing can be created unless there is mutuality. This is a spiritual law.

It means that two apparently different entities come together to form one whole. They open toward each other, cooperating and affecting each other in such a way that something new is created.

It is mutuality that bridges the gap between duality and unity. It's the movement that eliminates separation.

9 A venture in mutuality: Changing our negative will | Podcast

When we first strike out on a path of personal development, we only know our conscious wishes. We place every lack squarely on the shoulders of bad luck, or on someone else.

We don't yet know that the only one thwarting any fulfillment is us.

10 Affecting and being affected | Podcast

We affect others in a particular way when we operate from our destructive levels. Of course, we are also affected by others who operate from their destructiveness.

This topic is extremely important. It's also complicated. It will help if we have already made some headway in getting to know the irrational, primitive part of ourselves—the unconscious aspect that uses the limited logic of a child.

Then, when we reach the point where we no longer need to deny, project and defend against this part of us, we can deal with the complications that arise from ignorant and destructive interactions with others.

PART IV: UNITING

11 Man and woman | Podcast

The goal of spiritual development is to make our way back to the original unity—the Oneness. So the pairing up of the sexes—the union of men and women—has much deeper meaning than procreation…

And yet isn't it true that relationships between men and women offer more hurdles and more friction that just about anything else? This is because our personal emotions are more involved. As a result, we lack objectivity and detachment.

This is why marriage is, at once, the most difficult of all relationships and the most fruitful, the most important, and the most bliss-filled.

12 Self-fulfillment through self-realization as a man or a woman | Podcast

We've all been fundamentally endowed with certain general human potentials. We need to develop these further.

In addition, we need to find and develop our individual assets. We do so by building up and integrating the liberated parts of ourselves into the rest of our personalities.

But beyond this, the idea of self-fulfillment means something even more specific. It's about relationships…For none of us can reach self-fulfillment if we don't fulfill our manhood or our womanhood.

13 The new man and the new woman | Podcast

In early times for humanity, mutual distrust along with man's physical domination were overtly acted out. As the millennia have rolled forward, these traits and attitudes have become stuck, albeit to a lessening degree, and remain lodged in our consciousness.

Today, they are overshadowed by more maturity and are not acted out in the same way. But in a dark corner of our minds, there is more that remains to be seen. Change is in the air.

14 The evolution and spiritual meaning of marriage | Podcast

Spiritual forces are so strong, if we haven't done the work of purifying ourselves—clearing our blocks and transforming our negativity—we cannot bear them.

These powerful currents will instead create crisis, pain and danger. These will often surface in the institution of marriage.

PART V: LOVING

15 Aspects of the anatomy of love: Self-love, structure, freedom | Podcast

We could literally discuss the topic of love for an entire lifetime—every hour of every day—and it would not be possible to cover it all. Love is that big.

For now, we'll focus on a few key aspects of love—the ones we need most at this juncture.

16 Life is relationship | Podcast

Life may be many things, but more than anything else, it is relationship. If we don't relate, we don't live… The minute we relate, we live.

When we are in destructive relationships, we are heading for a climax that is ultimately going to do away with the destructiveness.

And absolutely no one relates not at all—for then they wouldn't be alive.

17 Relating: Sadness versus depression | Podcast

With depression, we're making up a story in our heads about why we're unhappy. Then we label our false reason "legitimate" so we can justify our running away and wallowing in self-pity.

This is how we subtly exert a forcing current on everyone around us. We're controlling and manipulating through wrong use of our will.

Only by finding the gnawing undercurrents that cause depression will we be able to free ourselves of the real cause.

18 Three aspects that prevent loving | Podcast

When we sit and calmly observe how we react to others, we're bound to notice something like an inner cramp, a tension. This makes it hard to open up and meet others without restrictions. Instead, we tend to become grabby and demanding. 

Our urgent demands stop us from giving without fear. And yet, it is only when we're willing to meet others with love that our lives can become fulfilling—no matter how worthy our outer activities may otherwise be.

What is this fear about?

19 Love: Not a commandment | Podcast

As all psychologies and philosophies agree, love is the key to feeling fulfilled; it brings security and fuels our growth. Where there is no love, we will find disharmony—a result of not living in reality.

Love, however, cannot be a commandment. It's a free, spontaneous soul-movement, not a duty.

Let's look more closely at love and how we can obtain this greatest key to life—not by taking orders from our intellect telling us to follow artificial, superimposed commands, but by following our heart.

The Gateway Prayer

Through the gateway of feeling your weakness lies your strength;

And through the gateway of feeling your pain lies your pleasure and joy;

Through the gateway of feeling your fear lies your security and safety;

And through the gateway of feeling your loneliness lies your capacity to have
fulfillment, love and companionship;

Through the gateway of feeling your hate lies your capacity to love;

Through the gateway of feeling your hopelessness lies true and justified hope;

And through the gateway of accepting the lacks of your childhood
lies your fulfillment now.

– Pathwork® Lecture #190: Importance of Experiencing All Feelings, Including Fear

©2016, 2026 Jill Loree. All rights reserved.