The strains, pains, and disillusionment that may come with illness often force each partner to re-evaluate who they are, what they need from the relationship, and what they can bring to it. The become ever more conscious and deliberate about using their relationship as a resource in support of healing. When two people form an intimate relationship, their energy fields unite to form a third, larger energy field, which can be drawn upon as a resource for healing. The energy that is generated through this union is much more powerful than what either person could generate individually. This rich resource of energy can be tapped through the use of specific practices and techniques which a couple can introduce into their relationship, such as the use of touch, working with the breath, meditation, prayer and other spiritual practices.
All healing takes energy.
By shifting certain attitudes and learning a few simple practices, sex can become a regenerative and energizing resource, even for those who are seriously ill. We also draw upon ancient wisdom from Taoist and Tantric healing practices for using sexual energy as a powerful resource for healing. Project Founders William Collinge has taught in the School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley and several other universities. She studied at Smith College and Tufts University, and completed her clinical training at the Westchester Institute for Psychoanalysis and Psychotherapy in New York. Making Love Work Amid the Challenge of Illness , to be published by St. Martin's Press.