"You are the soul of the soul of the Universe, and your name is Love" ~ Rumi
"Even after all this time, the sun never says to the earth, "You owe Me." Look what happens with a love like that, it lights the whole sky. ~ Hafiz
At this time of year (just past the halfway point between winter solstice and spring equinox), all the blossoms and buds, the flowers and new green, are like a continual reminder of new life, joy, love, regeneration and renewal. No wonder so many holidays take place between the new moon and full moon that just passed- Happy Year of the Yin Water Rabbit (may it be one of harmony, hope, peace, and comfort), New Year of the Trees (Tu B'Shevat), Imbolc, Candlemas, Brigid's Day, and so on! And tomorrow, we have Valentine's Day- or Day of Friendship and Love as it's sometimes called in Mexico. I always appreciate this reminder to give and appreciate LOVE. Yes, I love the pink cherry plum blossoms and camellias and magnolias, the roses and hearts and chocolates, making valentines, and just the whole color scheme really, but more importantly, it feels like another reminder of how essential LOVE is in our lives. The love we have for all of our loved ones, the love we have for our sacred Earth, the love we have for justice, peace, beauty, wisdom, pleasure, spirit, joy, life. And the love we are constantly receiving, though we may not always be consciously aware of it.
Love is powerful healing. Did you know that just spending a little time each day quietly focusing on a feeling of love and care in your heart center while breathing, can make a difference in heart rate variability, coherent heart rhythms, and synchronization between the heart and brain (resulting in increased clarity and cognition)? And this in turn can affect everything from blood pressure and stress hormones to depression, anxiety, and sleep? (Check out the HeartMath Institute for more info on all of this.)
Though tragedy, injustice, uncertainty, and mourning continue, nourishing and cherishing love and compassion in our lives and in the world provide a balm for our wounds, and a source of sustenance. Focusing on and cultivating experiences of love and joy create stress resilience. This love must be given and received both outwardly and inwardly. Taking a moment to offer compassion and kind acceptance and LOVE to ourselves, and to the situations and thoughts that we find ourselves in, can physiologically (as well as psychologically) transform our response to stress into one that is beneficial to our health and well-being. Love expressed outwardly is the foundation of our connections and relationships of course, but also of all great movements for justice and healing. It can be donating time or money or inspiration or creativity. It can be a kind word to a stranger, a caring response to your child or partner or parent, a hug from a friend. Receiving love can be as simple as a breath of blue sky, smelling a flower or herb, listening to a favorite song or podcast, massaging your face (or anywhere else!), calling a relative, re-reading a birthday card.
(Further reading: The Stress Prescription: 7 Days to More Joy and Ease by Elissa Epel, as well as books such as The Upside of Stress, Self-Compassion, and Hardwiring Happiness. The Love Prescription by John and Julie Gottman looks great too- I'm just listening to an interview with them on Brene Brown's podcast; I always like their work and it is applicable to all kinds of relationships!)
Well, you might be saying, don't you usually talk about the Liver and Wood element at this time of year, Shoshana? It's true- I do- and for a refresher please check out the blog archives, but the truth is, the Liver is involved with all of our main emotions, including LOVE. And it's also involved with our experience of stress- which love can impact greatly. Plus, the Wood element gives rise to the Fire element, which is the element of the Heart. And roses, which are connected with unconditional love, and with the heart, are also connected with Spring and the Wood element in Chinese medicine. Love can help to nourish and soothe the Wood element, the energy of growth and plants, and inform our purpose and vision (also qualities associated with the Liver). As you see, it's all connected in LOVE.
So, this Valentine's Day (tomorrow) and beyond, let's send some LOVE and care to areas of pain and struggle, within ourselves, our families and communities, and the world. It could be as simple as a kind smile, a brief touch, a moment of breathing into the heart, a loving word. As Stevie Wonder says, "Love's in need of love today/Don't delay/Send yours in right away".