|
Feb / March 2007
LOVE
by Barbara Davies, ND
Astrology and Alchemy
by Marlyna Los
GREEN CLIPPINGS
by Canadian Organic Growers
The Goji Berry
Editorial
Relaxation Yoga
by Sheri Kauhausen
Hidden Additives in Plain View
by Brian Cox
|
LOVE
by Barbara Davies, ND
At this time of year, with the emphasis on hearts and flowers and candles and romance, what, really, is love? Is it the heart-pounding, sweaty-palmed, butterflies-in-the-stomach feeling you get when in the presence of your beloved? (Actually, it sounds more like the flu to me!) Or, is it the wonderfully warm feeling you get knowing that someone truly cares for you — all of you — quirks and all. Or, is it a combination of the two?
And, what about non-romantic love? What about the love you hold in your heart for your children, your parents, your siblings, your friends, your pets? What about that kind of love? Where does that fit in?
And what about those of you feeling bereft of love at this time of year? You don’t have a significant other. You’ve just lost someone you loved deeply. The sight of red hearts everywhere fills you with sadness and despair. The incessant advisement to “show her your love” (usually with pricey diamonds) makes you cringe.
You’re the February version of “Bah humbug!” Down with love. Down with romance. If I can’t have it, nobody should. So you turn up your nose at the symbols of love and make cynical comments about the saps who fall for the advertiser’s wares. All the while knowing, in your heart, that if you did, indeed, have someone to love, you’d be showering them with flowers and jewelry, too.
My dictionary defines love as a deep and tender feeling of affection for or attachment to a person or persons. It also includes a strong liking for certain things, as in a love of music, but for our purposes, let’s stick to the deep affection for and attachment to a person.
So, who in your life do you love? Who do you have a deep, tender feeling of affection for and attachment to? Who makes you laugh? Who makes you want to get out of bed in the morning just so you can greet the day with that person? Who do you love above all else in the world? And, do you realize that this is a trick question?
Because, right now, you’re trying to visualize the person you love. If you are without a romantic partner at this point in time, you might be imagining what they’d look like and how it would feel to have that kind of love in your life. Or, you could be in the process of convincing yourself that having a loving family or pets is just as good—if not better — than having that romantic ideal. After all, your mother and your dog would never cheat on you, would they?
So, where does the trick come into my question regarding who you love the most? I’ll give you a hint. One of the characters on “That ‘70’s Show,” Jackie, once said that if she could run across the beach into her own arms, she would. What she meant was, she loved herself more than anyone else! In the show, of course, it was meant as a joke to underline her self-absorption. But there is a bigger truth hidden there.
|
You really do need to love yourself first and foremost. I know I’ve discussed this in other columns before, how being self-centered (centered in yourself!) is a good thing. But this goes deeper than mere self-interest. This goes to the core of who you are.
And who you are, my dear, is love. You are a daily, living, breathing reminder of Divine Love. You are the embodiment of Love. Therefore, you are best served when you acknowledge your love for yourself, because it makes you feel good and allows you to share it with others. Even if your dog died, your spouse left you, and the kids aren’t speaking to you, you still have you! You still have the most important person in your life. YOU!
So, this Valentine’s Day, if you don’t have anyone in your life who is going to shower you with hearts and flowers, I want you to go out and get some for yourself. You may feel a bit silly, and you certainly don’t have to explain to the florist or the jeweler who you’re buying this for! But, you deserve to feel the love and adoration that is yours by Divine right. You get to bask in the pink-and-white glow of this heart-centered season.
And, if for some reason you’re reading this after the valentine-o-rama has passed, get yourself a gift to commemorate whatever season you’re in, whether it’s a four-leaf clover for St. Patrick’s Day or a stuffed bunny for Easter. Whatever event is going on, treat yourself to a gift, from you to you, to show the Universe that you do, indeed, love and appreciate yourself. Embrace that deep, tender affection for and attachment to yourself. By loving yourself deeply, wholly, and without condition, it attracts love to you and allows you to share love more freely with those around you.
Shine love-light on yourself first—this Valentine’s Day and every day of the year. By doing so, you enrich your own life as well as those of others. And, when you enrich the lives of others, people are naturally attracted to your loving energy. And, the more people you attract, the less lonely you’re likely to be. So, while you don’t need other people to experience love in your life, by having love in your life you attract people to you who can love you as well.
See how it becomes a spiral of love? You love you, you love others, others love you back, they love themselves and the love spiral takes on a life of its own.
But, it starts with you. Infuse your being with the unconditional love of the Divine. You are Divinely loved, no matter who you are. Breathe it in and claim it as your own.
And wish yourself a happy Valentine’s Day!
Dr. Davies is a licensed Naturopath in Washington State and channels Spirit and heals from a distance. She can be reached at:
www.barbaradavies.com and
1-425-231-4342
|
|
