The term stems from two different ideas Transmute and sublimate the sexual energy to strengthen spiritual aspiration The aesthetic notion of the sublime.
The Incarnate Angel: Leonardo, Homosexuality, & Sublimation
In his short glossary of freudian ideas and concepts nick rennison defines sublimation in this way
Sublimation one of the more famous but abstract concepts that freud explained was that of sublimation
This is the ability to take the sexual libido, or craving, and to direct it towards socially acceptable projects and goals Freud briefly outlines this process, which begins with childhood researches on how sex works and is then interrupted […]
