{Love and Sex (5)}[3rd August 1989]

[Redbook6:190-193][19890803:0908d]{Love and Sex (5)}[3rd August 1989]

19890803.0908

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*In Gregory the Great’s letter* to John, Bishop of Constantinople (et al) on Christian leadership, he writes of ‘the bowels of loving kindness’: ‘he should be a near-neighbour to everyone in sympathy… to the end that through the bowels of loving kindness*** he may transfer the infirmities of others to himself.’

I do not think that this is an allegory or symbol: I think that Gregory is describing one of the many locations**** of physical sensation arising from the experience of Love. These range from the erect penis, at the lowest; to the head, the crown of the head, or even possibly above it, at the highest; and there are subsidiary sensations in the limbs.# The sensations are related, but differ according to the nature and/or height of the location: physical and moral height here appearing to be closely related.

The bowels, therefore, as a register of Love express a fairly primitive (but undoubtedly genuine and very warm, excited and affectionate) form of Love, which I guess our current inhibition about sex and defecation generally forbids us to recognise. The sensation is or may be felt in {any or all of}#* back, middle and front: ie in rectal area, lower stomach, and genitals (testicles and non-erect penis: from observation of the reactions of less inhibited girls I should guess that it can be felt also in sexually unstimulated#** female genitals). Penile erection is no more likely than in any other situation, ie depends on the concurrent or consequent existence of sexual stimulations, intended or accidental.

The next highest main physical registration centre for Love appears to be the central stomach; then the chest, or heart; then the neck, or throat; then the face and head; then the crown of the head, I think, and possibly above.

*{[[Redbook6:181-185][19890802:1734]{Love and Sex (4)}[2nd August 1989],] 181 →

**[Gregory the Great to John, Bishop of Constantinople [et al], on Christian leadership (in ‘Part III: The Christian Testament since the Bible’, Firethorn Press/Waterstone, London, 1985, p102)]

***{‘Loving-kindness’ – suggests love moving down towards expression in co-operation, ie love as ‘charity’.}

****[[Redbook6:288-294][19891004:1242]{Love and Sex (9)}[4^th October1989],] 289

#eg toes curling during lovemaking

#*<891004>

#**[ie not sexually aroused]

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