The phrase "intimate relationships" can evoke warm and deep emotional feelings. Some kinds of these relationships though can be cold and decidedly distant. Those would fall into either the "co-dependent" or the "I'm-so-out-of-here" category.

In this article, we will examine a half-dozen relationships, which include mundane ones (those based on security, sex, or power) and sublime ones (those based on mutual respect and other spiritual characteristics). You will find that most relationships are a "mixture of elements" from various categories. Usually though, one prominent feature will define the union. As a rule, each successive category represents a higher energetic state than the previous one.

You can apply these categories to social relationships, but mostly I've used them to describe the intimate, one-on-one variety.

For convenience I've used the masculine pronouns throughout, although you can interchange them freely with the feminine.

MUNDANE RELATIONSHIPS - Security, Sex, and Power
Mundane Relationships operate within materialistic pictures of reality. People treat the other as objects rather than human beings, and this eventually creates suffering for them. Most of these relationships are co-dependent to some degree.

Security
People involved in security-base relationships are usually fearful. The relationship is marked by repression and manipulation, sometimes accented by strong religiosity (as opposed to spirituality). Survival issues lurk like reptilian predators in the background, waiting for the right moment to strike. Ironically, insecurity will weave itself throughout the term of the union, keeping the energy levels relatively low. Here, the parties commonly use passive-aggressive tactics to get what they want.

Sex
Unions built strictly on sex can be exciting, at least at first, but they often lack depth. This works fine for those who are content to live superficially. However, if either party starts to develop spiritually or psychologically, then he will likely find the relationship unsatisfying and will start looking for another. People here tend to think of themselves as "players," but a more accurate term for them would be "users."