The Fire and the Rose: The Wedding of Spirituality and Sexuality

by Bud Harris

"Bud Harris addresses the neurotic split between divinity and the body, between spirit and matter, and proffers a path of reconciliation and reclamation of sexuality as a vital link to a fuller expression of spirit. Full of personal confession, case examples and exercises, this work offers both theoretical and practical tips to personal and cultural healings." -- James Hollis, Ph.D., Jungian analyst, author, Finding Meaning In The Second Half of Life "I have read The Fire and the Rose three times now and find something fresh and necessary to my life in each reading. Dr. Harris is generous with his personal history, widely read, and deeply involved in the human journey. He is a healer in words and stories." -- Gail Godwin, Ph.D., novelist, author of Father Melancholy's Daughter and Glass People "When life becomes stagnant and congealed, most often sexuality brings a new crisis fraught with the high cost and great promise of the fire of the numinous. The desire that seems to be wrecking our lives may well be the Self-awakening us to Soul and the Divine.... The choice, Harris proposes, is dead soul, addiction, or discovering those questions that keep us alive and thirsty." -- Rev. Dr. Bill Dols, creator and editor of The Bible Workbench and coauthor, Finding Jesus, Discovering Passages to Healing and Wholeness "A deeply soulful book written from the heart, filled with wisdom, intimate personal sharing, challenging questions, and insights into the wonders and mysteries of sexuality and spirituality. This book is significant for all of us, and a timely resource for psychotherapists and spiritual directors....I can't wait to share this book with others, especially my clients." -- Gail Vaughn Rogers, M.A., psychotherapist "[Bud Harris] invites the reader to meander in the labyrinth of the Self and there to engage with one's particular monster. His wise counsel, to live the paradox of freedom through honest engagement with the shadow, is the Ariadne thread of a mature anima...." -- John Beebe, MD, Jungian analyst, author, Integrity in Depth "Bud Harris sees spirituality as the driving force that moves us into a life connected to something greater than ourselves, and desire as awakening of the soul, ridding us of fear, and nourishing us during our lifelong journey of `becoming.' ... He suggests to journal, to record dreams, and to understand metaphor in religion, literature, and myth as a source of wisdom. He challenges us to create joyful, passionate, and meaningful lives." -- Charlotte Mathes, PhD, Jungian analyst, author, And a Sword Shall Pierce Your Heart "Dr. Bud Harris explores with humility and wisdom the tension spirituality and sexuality brings to individuals, couples and societies.... He has added points of discussion at the end of several chapters as well as helpful guidelines in dealing with dreams.... I highly recommend this book." -- Tess Castleman, MA, LPC, Jungian analyst, author, Threads, Knots, Tapestries Our encounters with love, spirituality, and sexuality play a major role in shaping who we are. These powerful aspects of our lives are woven into the pattern that forms our potential for wholeness. Through growing consciousness, sexuality and spirituality can support our efforts to live more passionately and to understand love in all of its forms. In this stimulating and inspiring book, Jungian analyst Bud Harris, Ph.D., challenges us to reconsider our views of spirituality and sexuality as opposites and bring them into harmony and creativity. Together, we can heal one of our culture's great wounds of the soul.

202 pages, Paperback

First published July 1, 2007

About the author

“Bud Harris is a lantern on the path—clear-eyed, big-hearted, and illuminating.”
– Julia Cameron, author of The Artist’s Way

Bud Harris, PhD, is one of the most prolific Jungian authors of our time. He's authored and co-authored 15 books, and has been in the field of Jungian psychology for 30 years. At 82 years old, he has a long-standing practice in Asheville, North Carolina, which is still thriving.

Bud Harris defines himself as a husband, a father, grandfather, psychologist and Jungian analyst. Early in his life he earned a bachelor’s degree in management from Georgia Tech in Atlanta Georgia. After Tech, Bud became a businessman and then owned his own business which he operated successfully. However, in spite of his achievements, he found his life in the cul-de-sac that he explains in his book Sacred Selfishness.

Following a period of dissatisfaction and searching, he returned to school to change careers and eventually earned his Ph.D. in psychology.

After becoming a psychotherapist and psychologist, he experienced the call to further his growth by becoming a Jungian analyst. Bud moved to Zürich, Switzerland where he trained for over five years until he became a diplomate Jungian analyst. Bud explains that “In many ways my educational odyssey has been a reflection of the transformational pattern of my life.” Bud notes that writing Sacred Selfishness (his fourth book) was a labor of love. He says, “Jungian work becomes the path of a authentic life, a life that is fulfilling, passionate and full of love. And this journey is fueled by self-knowledge and awareness. This is the path that healed and
transformed my life.”

“I also wanted to write the book I wish someone had written when I was struggling in my early thirties or at midlife. By this I mean a book for everyone that isn’t loaded with professional jargon. While I love the books by Jung and other depth psychologists, I found them difficult until I became schooled in the field.”