Spiritual Forum

Being human is also a case of being a sexual entity. The way of finding and accepting our own sexuality might be difficult and long lasting. It is Freud's theory of libido which became most important among western civilisations being a cornerstone of explaining how getting human works and why. Inclusion and taking our own sexuality within the framework of our lifes is a key process thus forcing us to grow or living stagnation. Btw, christian belief systems were often obstacles in this regard giving people feelings of guilt rather than delivering tools - mental and practical ones - to help people living cheerfully and happy.

And of course I can imagine that Alien encounter - if it should happen - somehow and someday will touch the sexual aspect of being human as a whole. So being aware of our sexuality includes being aware of who we are and how we are and what that means and why we like this and dislike that. This should be crucial in encountering Aliens - again: if it should happen. Listen carefully. I speak not simply of having sex but about the implications of being sexual as essential human case.

So I introduce to you two examples from literature, both very strong and impressive.

First Franz Kafke, The Judgment.

On the surface, if read as a "realistic" fiction, "The Judgment" has a relatively simple, but nonetheless seemingly contradictory story line. Georg Bendemann, a young merchant, writes a letter to a childhood friend in St. Petersburg, announcing his engagement to a wealthy woman, Frieda Brandenfeld.
Georg then goes to report to his old, decrepit father about the composition of this letter.
The father questions the existence of this friend, or his status as "friend." He announces his alliance with the friend and with Georg's deceased mother. Then he accuses G. of being a devilish human being and condemns him to death by drowning.
Georg accepts and voluntarily executes the sentence pronounced by the father, throwing himself from a bridge while declaring his love for his parents.

Isn't that a story? Here we have an example of an immature man dealing with his father, his loving abilities, his personality. Kafka was 29, when he wrote the story within a couple hours. Think for yourself. Here is the text:

http://records.viu.ca/~johnstoi/kafka/judgment.htm

The second author is Marguerite Duras and her novel The Lover from 1984.
In this sad, cool, short novel, Duras tells the largely autobiographical story of a 15-year-old European girl's first affair with an older Chinese man in French Indochina during the 1930s. Stereotypes and expectations are inverted: she is poor, he wealthy; she seduces him, not vice versa; she controls the relationship, does not love him though he is hopelessly besotted with her, and she dictates all the terms, including how and when it ends. Duras uses cinematic techniques -- flashbacks and forwards, repetitions, incidents cut up and interrupted by seemingly unrelated descriptions -- and switches between first and third person to enrich what at first seems a dry and unadorned narrative. The novel is thus being a depressing yet eloquent work of art.

Other than Kafka the novel is written from an old, mature and wise woman of experience giving the girl an unbelievably deep insight and ability to analyze what's going on. You will love the book. When I read it I was really hypnotized and could not stop reading.

Again - think for yourself and take your sexuality - even the crazy one - as a precious gift of getting and being human. Get the book if you can. There is also a nice movie from 1992...