The Season of Love

February 18, 2014

It is now the traditional season of love, according to Hallmark that is. We just celebrated Valentine’s Day. Perhaps you had a romantic or heartwarming message delivered by someone close to you.

Valentine’s Day actually began in the 4^th century as a celebration of uplifting messages sent by one or more persons whose name was Valentinus to those who were persecuted by the Romans in the early days of Christianity. In the 14^th century it began to take on romantic meaning, and in the 17^th century England, Valentine’s Day took on the modern tradition of delivering flowers, confections and greeting cards between lovers.

So what is this thing called love? Is it simply a trick of nature to hormonally persuade a species to propagate? I suppose if one were cynical enough, that might make sense. But it would be a shame to settle for such a simplistic explanation. For example, the great saints throughout time have said that Love is God and God is Love. Here are a few more love quotes to ponder:

“Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength, while loving someone deeply gives you courage.” –Lao Tzu

“Love is composed of a single soul inhabiting two bodies.” –Aristotle

“Love is the moving energy of the Universe. It is what animates all things and motivates all action. Love, is ‘Life’s Longing for Itself’. –Kahlil Gibran

“Love is the supreme content of life…” –Maharishi Mahesh Yogi

“You know you’re in love when you can’t fall asleep because reality is finally better than your dreams.” –Dr. Seuss

So, is it this constant external out flowing of love that creates meaning in life? Or, do we need to look within and practice loving ourselves first as my movie mother, Lucille Ball, advises?

“Love yourself first, and everything else falls into line. You really have to love yourself to get anything done in this world.” –Lucille Ball

I’ll be posting more about the healing power of love and forgiveness, and why we all need to find love within ourselves to truly continue on the path of healing.

During Valentine’s Day Season, reflect the divinity in another person back to them, because that is what a true act of love is – and let them know you see the potentiality of the light of love, in them.

I honor the light within you.

Lucille Ball poses with child actors who played the Beardsley children in “Yours, Mine and Ours”.