Everlasting
Valentines
W
hy fall in love, when you can rise in love? Rising
in love is when that initial thrill evolves into
something far deeper, more sustainable, sweeter
and quite profound. And it keeps getting better!
That delicious, exhilarating feeling of aliveness,
that open-hearted ‘yes’ to life...
And how would you like to be on Cloud 9 – even if you are single- knowing that this experience originates from within yourself?
Could this Valentine’s Day be an opportunity to open a gateway
into a more profound possibility for your whole life? Perhaps this
is the Day of Love on which to commit to beginning this journey,
as you would commit to a marriage. Not just for the thrill of the
moment, but also for the long term.
Valentine’s Day, like Christmas, can be a lonely or difficult time
for some. Single people can feel inadequate, or envious, as if they
are missing the boat; the same goes for couples in challenging
relationships.
A few simple Tantra exercises can help.
For singles, people can fill up, from the inside out, and become
happier and more alive in themselves - with or without a partner.
Couples can build bridges from their lonely islands and create the
most fabulous, authentic means of returning to love.
Try out a little experiment: when do you feel most deeply fulfilled - is it when you receive a beautiful gift, or is it when you share
something of great meaning to another? When you can feel their
true appreciation, how much they value this gift, and you can see the
difference you are making to their life? So this year, how would it be
to decide to make your life beautiful? That you will love, appreciate
and cherish those that you love, and the life you have.
Meditations and exercises
for sustaining love, romance
and intimacy all year round.
By Leora Lightwoman
Many of the elements we associate with Valentine’s Day are
already celebrated within Tantra. Beautifying the love nest, for
example, both in terms of aesthetic beauty, such as sprinkling rose
petals on the bed you share with your Beloved, lighting candles
and incense, and also in terms of creating ‘Sacred Space’ inwardly.
Tantric mediations help us to move out of the way of the mind, and
into the heart, the only place where true intimacy can occur.Meditation 1: Appreciations
It seems such an obvious thing that when we love someone, or want
to love someone, we notice what we appreciate in them; there is a
whole art to giving and receiving appreciations.
It is not uncommon, on receiving a compliment, to respond with a
very British ‘thank you’ whilst swiftly averting gaze for too long, lest
a hint of emotion should seep out. Alternatively, we can practice
savouring the appreciation, and noticing how it affects us. Such as:ANNA: ‘I loved the dinner you cooked for us last night. You could
see that I had lots to do, and you came straight in from work and
made two versions of the dish, one for the kids, and the other for us.
This gave me a break for a shower and a few minutes of ‘me time’,
and I was a different person when I emerged. You did all of this with
a smile and lots of engagement, and I could really feel your love and
care and dedication to our family.’
(Instead of: ‘Thanks for cooking dinner’)STEVE: ‘You are welcome. I feel a warm glow when I hear you
recognise my dedication to our relationship and family. It’s reallyThe yoga
of Love