The Other Man in Me Erotic Longing, Lust and Love: The Soul Calling

by Shalley, Sheldon

• ISBN13: 9781098334987
• ISBN10: 1098334981
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2021-01-12
• Publisher: BookBaby

Summary

The Other Man in Me is the story of one man's journey to understand his bi-sexuality and how to reconcile his two selves—the one attracted to women and the one attracted to men and the responsible husband, father, church and community leader and the one caught in brief same-sex encounters. Drawing from both personal and archetypal material presented in his dreams, fantasies, spontaneous images arising in meditation, his art, meanings found in synchronicities and exploring same-sex motifs found in mythology and customs and rituals of some indigenous societies, The Other Man in Me tells the story of the discovery the symbolic and spiritual meanings of same-sex attractions.

As a result of his journey into his inner world, Shalley met another man living in his soul, This man introduced himself as the archetype of the Green Man, a divine masculine spirit that is one with Nature and a companion to the goddess of ancient times. In this world everything is energy, alive and connected. It vibrates with its own conscious awareness, putting wisdom and divine intelligence back into nature and matter, back into the object, whether that object be a stone, a tree, an animal, an organ in the body or the earth herself. This "Other Man" connected Shalley to an ancient masculine in his own soul, a sacred masculine that is one with the feminine, not ruling over her, but one with her, co-equals, two spirits living in unity and harmony, co-creators in the dance of life—the soul's calling. The Other Man in Me opens a man to deep places in his soul—places that can assist him in finding his way when faced with conflicts on how to live with same-sex desires in a manner that is congruent with his own established priorities and the meaning of his individual life.

Irrespective of how a man chooses to live his same-sex desires and attractions, whether that be in brief sexual encounters, in a loving relationship or as an inner relationship with the masculine within, The Other Man in Me invites you to listen to the longings of an ancient man who longs for us to live in harmony with all that is.

Author Biography

Sheldon Shalley, MA, MSW, is a psychotherapist, licensed clinical social worker, educator, artist and shamanic practitioner. Raised in an evangelical minister's home, Shalley's desire to reconcile his traditional religious training with his non-traditional sexuality thrust him into the study of his dreams, various spiritual traditions, philosophy, psychology and eventually shamanism and energy medicine. His personal psycho-sexual-spiritual journey and work as a psychotherapist have given him direct experience with healing the emotional, psychological, and spiritual wounds of human suffering.
Shalley leads dream groups and shaman circles, presents workshops on dreams, sexuality and spirituality, shamanism, and art. He earned his master's degree in social work from Indiana University. He lives in Noblesville, Indiana, with his wife of over 50 years, They have two children and two grandchildren. Sheldon is in private practice in Indianapolis, Indiana.