May Day is my favorite time of year, not only because it's close to my birthday, but also because it is the season when all of nature is making love. Millennia ago the Hieros Gamos, or sacred marriage, was enacted during Beltane, which is the Celtic name for May Day. The ritual was a magical and sexual union between the high priestess and her consort. This integration of sex and spirit revealed the deeper mysteries of sexuality, and it was believed to facilitate the renewal of life and reveal the pathway to expanded consciousness. Today, the sacred marriage can also refer to an alchemical transformation within the individual, uniting the masculine and feminine principles within, the union of opposites that leads to personal wholeness and healthier relationships.
I had been thinking about what I wanted to write for this blog and this morning, the song by Celine Dion was running through my head. You know the one: "The Power of Love." In an instant I knew that was my theme.
So often people think it's corny, all that mushy stuff we say about love. Of course, what each person imagines as that word is mentioned is very different. In fact, there are many, many kinds of love and just one word for all of it is limiting. We have the love of our children, love for our families and then love for friends and neighbors or the communities we feel called to join. Of course, there is the "falling in love" experience that captures most of the poems and songs about love, as fleeting as the feelings may be. And then there is love for our beloveds, the particularly deep spiritual connection between partners in an on-going relationship. Harville Hendrix, the founder of Imago Therapy, has said that when we are generating loving energy with our partners, we become channels for LOVE, that energy of the universe that is the most powerful force and the source of all creation. Abraham Hicks has said when we love, we are who we truly are. Love is a very powerful force indeed. The more we tune into it inside ourselves, the more we can channel it in any moment by aligning with the feeling state, and it leads to bringing that power into being.
We tend to think of power as something dominating, perhaps even intimidating. Yet we talk of empowerment as a very good thing, as it is. But to truly get just how powerful LOVE is? That is a relatively new (and ancient) awareness. Too many people are continuing to participate in political and economic conflict and view as natural that countries engage in power struggles to win something over one another. And yet we can perceive a very different meaning for power, such as the power to create our own reality and express our unique gifts, and the healing power to love ourselves, others and all life on our planet.
We are living in a time of a very big cosmic shift. Where we are headed is toward more collaborative systems, toward empathic civilization, and toward understanding that we are united as planetary citizens. We can begin to manifest that shift by finding the experience of love within our own being and aligning with that feeling every day, as often as possible. It's what allows us to have abundance in our lives and brings us into union with others
There are many ways to feel into that alignment, so I'll offer some of my favorites. Go outside and appreciate the beauty all around you. Remember a peak moment of joy with all the details until you really feel it, bask in the good feelings after making love, and allow your heart to expand when you play with a child or beloved pet. Watch uplifting movies and listen to your favorite sacred music. Sing, dance, create art, enjoy the process of making a delicious meal, and really hug those you love.
It has been quite a while since I have posted, and I have finally come to a place of restored and vibrant health. Appreciating all that life has to offer has expanded meaning for me, and I hope to bring more to these blogs to encourage the glorious desire to love and be loved.
For more by Linda E. Savage, click here.
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