The 4 kinds of Love – A different meaning for Valentine’s Day
Well, it’s February and as we know February 14th is Valentine’s Day. One of Hallmark’s High Holidays. And as it is sometimes done here in America, it’s a bit of a hype and a tad bit too kitschy.
But let’s not throw the baby out with the bathwater! Why not celebrate the Essence of Love (With a capital L) for one day a year?
When I reflect about love (Which happens to be my favorite topic to reflect on) I really like the Greek definition of it.
There are 4 forms of love in the Greek definition of Love:
- Storge: Love within Families or between family members. It is the love of a mother, a father, a brother, a sister etc.
- Phileo: Friendship and affectionate brotherly/sisterly love of neighbor or kinsmenship
- Eros: Romantic and erotic love between lovers (This is what Valentine’s Day typically focuses on the most). And lastly….
- Agape: Unconditional Love, Divine Love, God’s Love- That BIG inclusive Love.
All three of the first mentioned forms of love find their completion in Agape, the highest form of love, or the most mature form of love and the most inclusive form of love.
In all of our life we are in some kind of relationship to other human beings. And all our relationships have the potential to teach us about love. I believe the longing for that BIG Love is planted in our heart, body and spirit by a divine plan so we can fulfill our divine purpose- to live that Love here on earth as much as humanly possible.
And however different we are from each other, I do believe that underneath all our differences, everyone here is a sister or a brother on that same journey: To really know what love is and how to consciously live it.
When we become aware of this, we can truly use our relationships (And I mean ANY relationship with ANYONE) as a vehicle for profound inner growth. And the more intimate and deep our relationships are, the more we have the opportunity to become willing to engage in that which usually keeps us frightened and un-present in life. We can learn through them about Conscious Love, relationship as a spiritual practice- to clear the mind and open the heart.
All intimate relationships, be it between friends (Phileo), lovers (Eros), family members (Storge) and of course most profoundly our relationship with the Divine (Agape) offer a path towards the Heart, where the wounds of the past and the confusion of the present can be received in mercy and awareness.
Why not create a new vision of relationships this year, a vision of beautiful, awake relationships that help us come fully in the present moment and fully available to our connection to the Divine? How about finding our true Belovedness and the Belovedness of the other in our relationships? How about letting that allow us to complete our true nature? How about this Valentine’s Day making a decision to live life as the Beloved- wherever we are at in life, whether we are single or in a couple, old or young, man or woman?
Remember: We are all God’s Valentines!
In that Spirit: Happy Valentine’s Day!
Britta- & the Celebration of Being Team
The Valentine’s Meditation Practice:
- Lie down or sit down in a comfortable position. Get present in your body- and present to the love of the Divine for YOU personally, and let yourself relax into that as much as possible in this moment.
- Now imagine someone, preferably a person, but it could also be a pet, which is easy to love for you. A friend, a teacher, a grand child, someone you have no charge with- someone who brings up in you that feeling of love, warmth, someone you are always happy to see, or think of. Someone you simply love, feel good about, feel drawn to.
- Imagine being with that person, and then see what it feels like in your body when you think of him or her. Experience these sensations in your body; let them get stronger into a feeling of unconditional warm golden love in your body.
- Now bring that feeling of golden, warm, unconditional love towards yourself. See what happens in you, when you attempt this. Is there any resistance, numbness, do you space out and start thinking about something else? Can you allow this in? Can you extend this love to all of your parts, no matter how imperfect? If this is difficult, call -in your own unique way- on your connection to the Divine, and ask that Divine Grace to help you with this, to assist you in learning to be loving towards yourself, no matter what.
- Simply let yourself rest in this sense of inclusive, unconditional golden love for yourself
{ 0 comments }