When is the actual settling in of the “Age of Aquarius”? We’ve been hearing about its “dawning” for a long time. Yesterday could have been a good day, because not only was the Sun in Aquarius, but the new moon
When is the actual settling in of the “Age of Aquarius”? We’ve been hearing about its “dawning” for a long time. Yesterday could have been a good day, because not only was the Sun in Aquarius, but the new moon also was, and will be in Aquarius until tonight, the 10th until about midnight. Aquarius is the humanitarian sign in the western astrology system. It seeks to make things better for all people, to love one another and end suffering as much as possible.
Yesterday, I substitute taught in a middle school class and the students were writing a paragraph entitled “Reflections.” The teacher had asked them to think about challenges and changes they might want to make for even more success through the end of the year.
One of the boys wrote about his basketball coach and how the coach had asked them all to think of themselves as brothers in the team, and that if they ever saw one in stress, that they would go to him and stand by him offering caring whether he was alone, or being confronted by others. There is great power in joining out of a caring love. With love in their midst, one and one becomes greater than two.
It’s that kind of caring love that endures. It keeps families and communities together. It is not motivated by worldly things like power or glory, but the simple, “I recognize you as my equal, worthy of my love and respect.”
True spiritual love would recognize everyone as an equal, worthy of love and respect. Friendships based on money, fame, and power do not endure. But they will if they are based on love, respect, peace and joy. That is how we will see each other, and live when the “Age of Aquarius,” or 1,000 years of peace, or the maturing of the human race occurs. Until then, we are stuck with the 3D understanding of love.
We’re all familiar with love of the senses and in no time is it more celebrated than around Valentine’s Day, Feb. 14. Recording was not very reliable in the third century AD, when he lived. There may actually have been two St. Valentines. He spoke of the love of God and God’s sovereignty in a time when Roman gods and goddesses still prevailed in many homes. He healed a blind daughter of a Roman judge who converted, and released Christian prisoners he had formerly imprisoned.
“The feast of St. Valentine of Feb. 14 was first established in 496 by Pope Gelasius I, who included Valentine among all those “… whose names are justly reverenced among men, but whose acts are known only to God.” As Gelasius implies, nothing was then known about his life…
Many of the current legends that characterize Saint Valentine were invented in the 14th century in England, notably by Geoffrey Chaucer and his circle, when the feast day of Feb. 14 first became associated with romantic love.”
Romantic love is much easier for the human mind to grasp. We are used to gaining information from our 5 senses, and romantic love celebrates them. We send flowers or buy perfume/cologne for the nose. Chocolate or expensive Valentine dinners satisfy tastebuds. We may gift or play romantic tunes, or speak of undying love to the ears. We send cards, or dress up so that our sweeties have something nice to look at, and hold hands, kiss, etc. to experience touch.
Card companies, florists, chocolate factories, vineyards, department stores, restaurants, and beauty shops may do very well. Yet, do we really think of all that stuff as filling our hearts and minds? Is it fulfilling? Pleasant? Yes. Deeply satisfying? Hmmmm.
I confess, my first husband sent me an “I’ll love you forever, sweet woman of my dreams” card, and then asked for an annulment two weeks later. So I’m a little leary of Valentine’s very expensive expression these days.
I’m one-quarter Scottish. They’re known as being very thrifty. My cousin informed me that he and his wife celebrate a “Scottish Valentine’s Day” (which they invented) about Feb. 17. Cards, flowers and chocolates are reduced and they can get great seating in restaurants without much fuss, or price increases. It made me chuckle, but I admit that I’m a “day after” shopper, too.
In her article in The Garden Island on Sunday, Dawn Kawahara wrote about having a healthy Valentine’s Day.
One way could be for a couple to prepare a healthy meal together, and if one says, “I can’t cook,” give him or her a head of romaine lettuce to wash and shake dry, a cutting board and a knife to cut it into bite sized pieces, some cherry tomatoes to cut in half, a bottle of tasty salad dressing, and voila, the salad.
As they spend time together, hopefully they are enjoying what they are creating together. They are enjoying being together. Sure, put on music and dance. Sure, have a beverage. Toast to the deepening love because that is what will really feed you.
We all need to know that we are lovable, loved, and loving. Sometimes we doubt one of them or all of them. Where does love come from anyway? We depict it as coming from the heart because we recognize that it isn’t always logical and therefore of the brain mind. But it’s actually the core of the part of ourselves that we don’t experiences with our senses.
I wrote of this last month when I spoke of the part of us that lives beyond our death. People who have been clinically dead and returned to life speak of the love that we all are. And in the clinically dead state, the body is not receiving information from the senses.
The love beyond the senses actually is a shared gift from our Creator. We don’t have to die to experience it,m either. It’s what fuels all true, non-ego based love, and the love that is within us recognizes it in each other whether our senses or minds record it or not.
When two people open to this divine love in each other, they feel loved, lovable and loving.
This love doesn’t demand anything from the other. Each person recognizes that they are a conduit for this love and have all they need.
However, this earth pulls us into our senses. We need our senses to function here. Most people use their voices and bodies to communicate, but I would invite you to sit lovingly with your partner or friend, and open to this divine love for about 10 minutes to start and let it flow between you.
You’ll find that words will not be adequate to express your experience. Sharing this with a partner is a great way to recharge when one of you is pulled down by a difficult 3D experience.
You might begin by caring deeply for another, like a brother or sister, as the basketball coach was encouraging his team to do. It starts by not being so focused on our own personal needs and image, and having empathy for others.
So this year, have a wholistic Valentine’s Day, one where you celebrate body, mind and spirit. Be happy, feel love, and not just satisfaction at the level of the senses.
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Hale ‘Opio Kauai convened a support group of adults in our Kaua’i community to “step into the corner” for our teens, to answer questions and give support to youth and their families on a wide variety of issues. Please email your questions or concerns facing our youth and families today to Annaleah Atkinson at aatkinson@haleopio.org For more information about Hale Opio Kauai, please go to www.haleopio.org
