Marnia Robinson is the author of Cupid's Poisoned Arrow: From Habit to Harmony in Sexual Relationships. As a former corporate lawyer (with degrees from Brown and Yale), she never expected to find herself writing books about sex. She delved into the subject in part because she was a bride or bridesmaid in four weddings and just about everyone who reached the altar (including Marnia) has since divorced and remarried. What was going on?

The more she learned about both ancient sacred sex traditions and the science of mating and bonding, the more she recognized the need for a cross-disciplinary perspective that also incorporates the experiences of actual lovers struggling with the tension between fiery biological urges and the desire for long-term harmonious relationships. Psychologists, neuroscientists, evolutionary biologists, anthropologists and ancient sages all have essential clues for coping with this challenge—and yet each profession alone is somewhat hampered by its official constraints. Marnia’s goal is to highlight key insights (both recent and long-forgotten) and then weave them together with practical suggestions, in hopes of encouraging a wider dialogue.

Her husband Gary Wilson, a neuroscience enthusiast, generously takes time from his teaching career to help her collect and analyze the material in her posts and books. Together they have given presentations and made radio appearances worldwide on the unwelcome effects of evolutionary biology on romantic relationships. They also contribute items to various magazines and books. Most recently their work was featured in the award-winning anthology, Toward 2012: Perspectives on the Next Age. Marnia and Gary host the web site Reuniting: Healing with Sexual Relationships, and reside in Ashland, Oregon.

Marnia’s new book Cupid's Poisoned Arrow will soon be available in German. Watch Marnia on San Francisco's "The View from the Bay" show. (6 mins.)

Blog Entries by Marnia Robinson

Sex Transmutation And Abundance

Posted October 27, 2009 | 11:36 PM (EST)


Ever heard of Think and Grow Rich? It's a quaint bestseller, published during the Great Depression and now available free. Written with the support of billionaire Andrew Carnegie, it is said to have sold 30 million copies. It was one of the first self-help books for harnessing the mind--a...

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Intercourse vs. Orgasm

4 Comments | Posted October 9, 2009 | 02:12 PM (EST)


Not long ago, a Canadian research team discovered something surprising: In the recipe for great sex, orgasm is optional. Said the head researcher, "There is plenty of evidence that most people believe that the secret to sexual fulfillment is technical, that it's about better manual and oral stimulation...

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What Porn Users Taught Me

68 Comments | Posted September 24, 2009 | 04:19 PM (EST)


"By Jove, it's the reward circuitry!"

A dedicated member of the "to each his own taste" club, I'm all for freedom of speech. However, my website happens to discuss the highs and lows of sexual satiety in terms of the highs and lows of the typical addiction cycle. To...

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Sure Ways To Stay In Love

23 Comments | Posted September 11, 2009 | 02:39 PM (EST)


As my husband and I stroked a live alligator resting calmly on a trainer's lap at a fair, I asked the guy why it was so tame. "I pet it daily. If I didn't, it would quickly be wild again, and wouldn't allow this," he explained.

Only months earlier...

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Sex and Novelty

7 Comments | Posted September 9, 2009 | 12:06 PM (EST)


Ever fall in love with total abandon, experience mind-boggling sex, been sure you wanted to stay together forever -- and then notice recurring emotional friction arising? Does one of you sometimes becomes clingy or demanding while the other feels devoured and needs "space?"

This misery isn't necessarily due to bad...

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Sex's Secret Gift: Aligning With The Flow Of Life

28 Comments | Posted September 2, 2009 | 07:50 AM (EST)


The first Daoist book I read on cultivating sexual energy rang a profound bell. Sure, there was the niggling emphasis on avoiding orgasm and making love in a relaxed way (huh?), but at the same time the descriptions of effortless merging sounded so right. I wanted to learn more.

...
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Another Way To Make Love

134 Comments | Posted August 31, 2009 | 11:31 AM (EST)


There's nothing new about hooking up. As a sexual-revolutionary, I practically lived on the Relationship Roller Coaster. Little did I know that biology was arranging every ride. Like many, I believed I just hadn't found "Mr. Right," even after I married and divorced. As it turned out, the issue wasn't...

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