Pulsation: The Life & Work of Wilhelm Reich

Dan has been interested in Reich’s work for 25 years, since encountering his ground-breaking fusion of politics and psychoanalysis The Mass Psychology of Fascism at University. Reich was the first to write in this way, with an understanding of the emotional depths subliminated into  politics. He was also the first psychoanalyst to incorporate the body, prefiguring the current interest in embodiment. Reich’s approach still has much to teach us as he went further than most digging down into the fundamental question of “What is life?”.

His work on vital energy (Orgone) bought him into conflict with the authorities in the 1950’s. This salon will also look at this work and its potential significance. 

This salon will consider the following questions:

• Why the body can be so important in therapy?
• How might an embodied perspective influence our political ideas?
• What we might learn from Reich’s ideas about energy?
• How these understandings might map out into other areas – birth and midwifery, education and others. 

Recommended Readings:

Podcast interview with me discussing Reich:

https://whatmagicisthis.com/2021/07/08/the-life-and-ideas-of-wilhelm-reich-with-dan-lowe/

A fascinating lecture from Christian Smith via Stillpoint Berlin, connecting Reich’s work to contemporary events:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0YqNW2w9vWc

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This event will be recorded.