Jorge Ferrer, PhD, is former chair of the department of east-west psychology at the California Institute of Integral Studies. He is currently a core faculty member there. He is author of Revisioning Transpersonal Theory: A Participatory Vision of Human Spirituality, and Participation and the Mystery: Transpersonal Essays in Psychology, Education, and Religion. He is the coeditor of an anthology titled, The Participatory Turn: Spirituality, Mysticism, and Religious Studies. He is known as a leading proponent of the “second wave” of transpersonal theorists.

Here he shows that the same pluralistic approach that he takes toward mystical paths can also be applied in the arena of human relationships. He describes mainstream western culture as “mono-normative” — meaning that sexual monogamy is the primary standard. However, he acknowledges that this leads to various complications — particularly widespread adultery. A variety of other relationship models also exist including polyamory, serial monogamy, and open marriages.

(Recorded on September 20, 2018)

Published on October 1, 2018