The Spirit of Intimacy: Ancient Teachings in the Ways of Relationships - Softcover

Some, Sobonfu

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0965377423 ISBN 13: 9780965377423

Publisher: Berkeley Hills Books, 1997

Synopsis

A renowned, respected teacher and mentor to thousands, Sobonfu Som is one of the first and foremost voices of African spirituality to come to the West. Som was born in Dano, Burkina Faso, a remote West African village with a population of about two hundred people. Dano has preserved the old ways of African village life, with family structures, spiritual practices, and methods of living that have been in place for more than ten thousand years. In The Spirit of Intimacy, Som distills the ancient teachings and wisdom of her native village to give insight into the nature of intimate relationships.

Som generously applies the subtle knowledge from her West African culture to this one. Simply and beautifully, she reveals the role of spirit in every marriage, friendship, relationship, and community. She shares ancient ways to make our intimate lives more fulfilling and secure and offers powerful insights into the "illusion of romance," divorce, and loss. Her important and fascinating lessons from the heart include the sacred meaning of pleasure, preparing a ritual space for intimacy, and the connection between sex and spirituality. Her ideas are intuitively persuasive, provocative, and healing(and supported by sound practical advice, along with specific rituals and ceremonies based on those used for thousands of years. With this book, the spiritual insights of indigenous Africa take their place alongside those of native America, ancient Europe, and Asia as important influences on Western readers.

About this title

About the Author

Sobonfu Somé, whose name means "keeper of ritual," was born and raised in Burkina Faso, the former Upper Volta. She is an initiated member of the Dagara tribe of West Africa. Sobonfu and her husband, Malidoma Somé, teach the ancient wisdom of their tribe throughout the world.

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

A SONG OF SPIRIT

Intimacy in general terms is a song of spirit inviting two people to come and share their spirit together. It is a song that no one can resist. We hear it while awake or sleeping, in community or alone. We cannot ignore it.

THE EMBRACE OF COMMUNITY

Community is the spirit, the guiding light of the tribe, whereby people come together in order to fulfill a specific purpose, to help others fulfill their purpose, and to take care of one another. The goal of the community is to make sure that each member of the community is heard and is properly giving the gifts he has brought to this world. Without this giving, the community dies. And without the community, the individual is left without a place where he can contribute. The community is that grounding place where people come and share their gifts and receive from others.

BORN TO A PURPOSE

When two people are married and have built an intimate relationship, there is a desire that they make themselves available for other souls to come through, that they create a safe and sacred space for spirits who want to bring their gifts and fulfill their purpose.

And so people in our village would say that children do not belong completely to the parents who gave them birth. They have used their parents' bodies to come through, but they belong to the community and to the spirit.

Edition details

• Publisher: Berkeley Hills Books
• Publication date: 1997
• ISBN 10: 0965377423
• ISBN 13: 9780965377423
• Binding: Paperback
• Language: English
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 141