1 The cosmic pull toward union

How can we trust God if we distrust our own deep instincts? Where do we think our instincts come from?

The Pathwork Guide introduces a central force shaping human life: a powerful inner pull toward connection, pleasure and unity.

At its core, this pull is the creative life force itself. It moves us out of isolation and toward genuine contact with others. Life, pleasure and union are not separate aims—they are one and the same movement toward wholeness.

Yet we resist this pull. At a deep, often unconscious level, we fear that surrendering to love and pleasure will lead to annihilation. To protect ourselves, we divide body from spirit and begin to distrust our own instincts. This creates an inner conflict: one part of us longs for connection, while another pulls away in fear.

This resistance distorts the life force. Pleasure becomes entangled with pain, leading to cycles of hurt, fear, guilt and withdrawal. The more we oppose this natural movement, the more suffering we create.

Healing begins by recognizing that our instincts are not enemies, but expressions of a divine current. When we learn to trust this inner flow, we restore harmony between body and soul.

True union does not erase us—it expands us into more of who we really are.

Listen to The Pull
The Pull, Chapter 1: The Cosmic Pull Toward Union
Read Original Pathwork^® Lecture: #149 Cosmic Pull Toward Union – Frustration