To Experience Love Itself! Part 2

Hi Beloveds!

I am opening a new thread here as my old one is becoming too long and therefore a bit slow to open on my computer.

I just wanted to share the following beautiful email I got today from my friend and fellow Beloved the Rev. Josh Reeves:

Ernest Holmes wrote a book called, “This Thing Called You.” Like much of his work it focuses on living an affirmative life and feeling a greater connection and part of “this thing called life.” I remember reading this book for the first time when I was fifteen years old in photo class. I remember I had a good rapport with the students that sat around me, but like any other high school class (and to be honest, most every other aspect of life)…seeping through the character playing, inhibitions and anxieties to have personal and meaningful connection with folks was unlikely.
Reading through the book I wasn't all that impressed. It was really nice words about really idealistic things. But then, there was a statement that really spoke to me, because it spoke about relationships and a type of connection among people I had never thought possible before.

“Think for a moment about the few upon whom you have lavished particular affection. Now permit your imagination to include more. Say to yourself: 'What would it be like if these few whom I love so much were multiplied so that finally everyone I meet should arouse in me the same deep affection?' Dare to lose your small affection and you will find it increased and multiplied a million times through greater union.”

At that moment I looked around and felt such a love and admiration for my classmates and their lives and my connection to them. I was filled with affection for that either completely miraculous or random fact, that somehow in this expanding universe we had all wound up in the same country, in the same school, in the same period, together.
I have continued to ponder that quote at times. For me it goes, “Imagine those few upon whom you have the greatest affection, and imagine if you felt that way about everyone?” That statement has influenced the course of many of my relationships. It is the statement that made me a minister. It is a statement that still challenges me today (Imagine those few who have greatest affection for you, and imagine if everyone felt that way). And it is a statement I offer to you today, to do with what you will.

Re: To Experience Love Itself! Part 2

And I am so much more happy than I usually am right now! I just finished making an illustrated book version of one of my best poems! I am so excited!!! Yay!!! Wow! Yahoo!! Woohoooo!!!! :) :) :) :) :)

Re: To Experience Love Itself! Part 2

Congratulations dear one!

Warm hugs,

Nicole

Re: To Experience Love Itself! Part 2

Oh yes, and CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Re: To Experience Love Itself! Part 2

Wow! That quote stirred up some very intimate emotions inside of me. It made me think about all the beautiful people I have encountered in my life whether at school, at church or in the community. I never took advantage of establishing great relationships with others. The quote was actually an epiphany to me. I will now become more aware of how others are feeling. I will try to have the greatest love for everybody. Kundan, I must say, for you to bring up that quote, it must have been heavy on your heart. It is now heavy on my heart. The emotions that I am feeling, I will act out on them with my peers. Thanks for the insight Kundan. God bless!

*Be selfless, not selfish*

Re: To Experience Love Itself! Part 2

Re: To Experience Love Itself! Part 2

Wow! I am feeling so mad at someone right now. I feel this uncomfortable sad energy in the pit of my stomach. I rarely get mad, but these  days, I get mad so easily. I don't know why. Maybe lots of stuff to release? I don't really want to talk about it here.

Re: To Experience Love Itself! Part 2

holding you in my heart dear Kundan

Re: To Experience Love Itself! Part 2

Thank you so much, dear Anna. Your words moved me so deeply I have tears in my eyes right now. Wow. :)

Re: To Experience Love Itself! Part 2

I feel better now. Today, I heard the Holy Spirit, or the Voice Within me tell me, “”If you only KNEW how MUCH you are loved, you would have tears in your eyes at every moment, a BIG smile on your face, in your heart and even in your eyes, sweet tinglings in your fingers, goosebumps all over your body, you would not have the TIME or the space to be resentful at all, you'd be soooooo Happy!!!:) :) :)”

Re: To Experience Love Itself! Part 2

goosebumps resonating this side of earth

Re: To Experience Love Itself! Part 2

Well, that's so wonderful, Anna!

I love this Rumi quote:

I have come to drag you out of yourself and take you in my heart. I have come to bring out the beauty you never knew you had and lift you like a prayer to the sky — Rumi

Re: To Experience Love Itself! Part 2

 
What a great night!
I watched Woody Allen's latest movie - Whatever Works - maybe his best work yet, or at least one of my favorites - one I like as much as Vicky Cristina Barcelona! Especially the ending when the guy said: “See? I am a genius! I am the only guy who sees the Big Picture!” Indeed! That was pure genius! Lol! :)
 
Then  I took a walk around Tustin, stopped by Comedy Night, ran into an old acquaintance, who, it turns out, has a passion for playing the Native American Flute! So we started jamming spontaneously since I have such a flute too, and he taught me a few things! Fun! He likes to play it for the same reasons I do - that spontaneous burst of the Divine I feel whenever I play a good note! Tustin is a beautiful town to live in! I am so thankful!!! :) :) :)

Re: To Experience Love Itself! Part 2

Delightful! We watched the first two episodes of Enterprise - I had seen it before but Robert never. And other things happened :)

Hugs,

Nicole

Re: To Experience Love Itself! Part 2

Nicole, would that be the Star Trek Enterprise episodes? Or something else?

Anyway, I will be giving free hugs again this Thursday! Yay! :)

Re: To Experience Love Itself! Part 2

That's right, Kundan, the Star Trek Enterprise (the prequel series that ran for only 4 seasons). 

Oh, good, more free hugs! Let us know how that goes!

Love,

Nicole

Re: To Experience Love Itself! Part 2

Today I went to the Lightbearers World Unity Day Celebration in Laguna Beach where I read my poem, What is Love? and so felt so much connection, Divinity and Awakening. I also played my flute, did a bit of magic, and we sang songs, called in the ancestors and angels, danced, meditated, did chakra cleansing, and smiled and hugged, and we had soooooo much fun! Yay! :) :) :)

Re: To Experience Love Itself! Part 2

At the Celebration, I was given a rose, and I just could not help noticing that roses are like people - so open on the outside, but with so many walls actually, and as we get closer and closer to the magnificent center, the layers become tighter and tighter, and yet, at the moment, I just felt this immense unconditional love for every layer of everyone in my life and in the world! Wow!!! :) :) :)

Re: To Experience Love Itself! Part 2

I guess the following love letter would probably never be sent Lol:


You
When it comes to you,
you are so beautiful
in every single way
that I don't even have the words to describe you.
But I shall attempt…
When I am around you, I feel so light, so free, so sweet, so peaceful, so full, so easy, so at rest, so magical!
You are a breath of fresh air,
the light of the morning rise,
the ease of the breeze;
the size of chocolate I relish
is not as delicious and luscious as
the moments that seize me when I am with you.
Indeed, I freeze into the moment and become so present, and I expand and my heart becomes bigger and bigger, or feels bigger, oh so BIG!!! :) :) :)
Your smile is so cute, and your voice, so soft, like a child's and just as adorable!!! :) :) :)
I love you so much that I strangely do not at all feel rejected nor hurt not sad nor angry about you saying, “I am dating someone at the moment. So I just want to be friends.” As I already told you before, (whenever I have slight regrets sometimes about telling you that I liked you), I have to remind myself that I had to tell you from the very beginning of our interactions that I liked you because I felt it was important to be authentic in every moment while giving you the Total Freedom and Space to respond in any way you wish - because that is what Love really is. Love is Freedom. Love, in its knowing that it has everything, it is everything, in its Fullness, gives everyone total Freedom. And you can't really respond totally truly freely unless I be authentic in every moment.
I just feel this immense love for you, and this puzzling silent conviction that some day you too will fall in love with me - even if I had to wait 45 years, I am willing to wait. I am that convinced, even though you are not a vegetarian (yet) and you are taller than me, and I had always intended to be in love with a vegetarian girl shorter than me, or just slightly taller than me (but other than that, you are indeed everything I intended in a woman, and then some).
Tis so strange, so strange. I even like your body, like actually like it. I have never really liked a woman's body before, I don't know how to explain it - I mean, I have appreciated the bodies of many women, been attracted to them and been fascinated by them - but actually like a woman's body? Not really. I especially like your waist, your torso, and the way it feels when my arms wrap around your waist when I hug you - it feels sooooo good! :) :) :)

Re: To Experience Love Itself! Part 2

Oh Kundan!

Heartsore can be an initiation of sorts …  certainly your heart is wide open. When the heart is wide open it is very vulnerable - now the learning is how to be exposed 'to the elements without a jacket'.

Somethings which can be helpful - learning to be conscious of and working with breath. Allowing the heart to speak and listening to it's wisdom to direct you - is a life journey in itself. Finding acceptance for that which we cannot change is transformational.

I do feel you're on a sacred journey, Kundan

Re: To Experience Love Itself! Part 2

these are beautiful - love your observations about roses, but think how soft and delicate the walls are, requiring a gentle touch, and remembering E.E. Cummings' poem about how love can open us completely:

 somewhere i have never travelled


Love,


Nicole

Re: To Experience Love Itself! Part 2

Heartsore? I don't feel that at all! That is what I have been trying to say here, actually. Yes, I felt hurt initially when she said those words, but something shifted during that 11:11 World Unity Day Celebration. All I felt was this amazing, pure love, for all, including her, and she was there too. It only feels strange because all of society would have me believe that I should feel sad, or hurt, or angry, but I don't. Not at all. And all that stuff about this strange conviction that she'd change is not a hope, it is way more detached, it is just detached intution, since I don't really care if it happens or not, and besides, I don't really believe in soulmates, I know there will be other lovers in my life displaying and expressing the many different forms of Love, all of them, so beautiful! So Beauty-Filled.

Re: To Experience Love Itself! Part 2

Nicole, yes, all the petals of the rose are so soft, and so delicate, each one, so exquisite, so nice, and yes the Pure Unconditional Love slowly and gently opens up each fragile little bit - it is like that saying that the warmth of the Sun is more likely to remove someone's coat than the force of the wind! :) :):)
If only I could feel this love for each layer consistently and continuously at every moment! But alas! Sometimes, dealing with the layers can be so frustrating and annoying. Lol. :) :) :) Just being honest. :) :) :)
I'd like to cultivate this Love for every layer at every moment. And so, I say a prayer from Rumi:
“Fill me with the Light of Love, Oh Beloved! And Blaze my thoughts Away! :)

Re: To Experience Love Itself! Part 2

Oh btw, Nicole, that is really really beautiful poem! Wow!

I especially liked this line: “the voice of your eyes is deeper than all the roses”
WoW! :)

Re: To Experience Love Itself! Part 2

It may be EE Cummings most famous and beloved poem. I know that it has thousands of views from where I have blogged it alone.

Love,

Nicole

Re: To Experience Love Itself! Part 2

I hear you, and enjoy your honesty very much! It is all a process, rapidly accelerated by each Love relationship.

Hugs,

Nicole

Re: To Experience Love Itself! Part 2

Just wanted to chime in with my personal mantra, if it at all helps.

The heart guides the head, and the head protects the heart.

When we open are heart to someone, and cast the lover's gaze upon them, we see the potential of grace in them. We open a window through which the power of the divine helps them become fully themselves.

What's important is to be transparent. We only become heart sore when we try to turn the power of love to our own advantage. The material conduit isn't strong enough for that flow.

I think that his detachment from the object of his love is what causes him to not resonate with the designation “heart sore”. I can hope that by flowing through her, it will find it's way through the degrees of separation to his true love.

Re: To Experience Love Itself! Part 2

Wishing you beautiful journeys, Kundan

Re: To Experience Love Itself! Part 2

I am angry with myself because these days I keep being forgetfull, careless, and doing stupid things like last night, when I put my clothes in the drier, I accidentally put in the whole box of softeners in the drier with the box itself too. Who does that kind of thing? And so, now my clothes look worn out, and so I have to wash them again, and I wasted 200 softeners and now we have to buy a new box. Dang it!

Re: To Experience Love Itself! Part 2

Sometimes one has to be patient with oneself, just as patient as you would be with your best friend who is angry at himself for putting the box of softeners in the drier.

And ask, what is distracting you? Is there something that is puzzling you so that it preoccupies you?

Love,

Nicole

Re: To Experience Love Itself! Part 2

Today, I found this which I think is very helpful:

So, the simple how-to strategy is:
1. Consciously set at least three 20 minute empowerment sessions every week to feel stress, fear, overwhelm, angry, sad or any other feelings that arise.
2. Make sure you have a specific beginning and end time.
3. Eliminate all distractions and do this in a “safe” space
4. Allow yourself to just experience these disempowering feelings without guilt, shame or judgment.
5. Wrap it up by recalling and feeling one of your intensely, loving moments in depth at the end. (do not skip this step)
Take a moment to begin feeling the power of this easy Exercise right now.
There is no need to rush.

As soon as your ready, let’s move on to Exercise #2.

Exercise 2
1. IDENTIFY the feeling.
2. FEEL the feeling.
3. EMBRACE the feeling.
4. EMBRACE yourself
5. RELEASE the feeling and let it go.
Try these exercises Tonight! I guarantee you will be a believer!

Will you do me a quick favor? Read this next section out loud.

I am one with my feelings.
I take them as my partner.
I honor them and then honor me for honoring them.
I am integrated.
I am whole.
I come from a place of wholeness.
I savor the richness of my life.
I want it all.
You know you deserve to have it all. Don’t you?
Because you do!

Re: To Experience Love Itself! Part 2

Today, as I allowed myself to feel all the anger I had never allowed myself to feel (because anger is supposed to be bad), I suddenly realized a shocking revelation about my relationship to both money and women. I was shocked because I did not realize the two were related but they really were. When I was younger, I was taught to fear loose women or women who were takers or users, and I was taught that they might take away all my money or love my money instead of me or love me for my money, and then I said to myself, wait a minute - the money I don't have? And as another revelation struck me, I laughed out loud, despite my anger, at how funny it was. It is as if by not having enough money, I am somehow protecting myself from these loose women - this was a money block I had not realized before. :)

Re: To Experience Love Itself! Part 2

I recently found 2 wonderful blog on loving relationships.
I have re-blogged it on my blog:

http://iloveyou.gaia.com/blog/2009/11/soulmating

Re: To Experience Love Itself! Part 2

 I just had an amazing dream! I woke up feeling so loved, knowing I have already accomplished so much, so much, influenced and transformed so many lives, that there is nothing more I have to do 'deserve' all the love and richness, that in fact I am already so rich and so very very loved. I am complete. I am enough. I still feel so very loved. I love you all so so much! :) :) :) I believe in you! :) :) :)

Re: To Experience Love Itself! Part 2

aah I love you Kundan dear one!

Re: To Experience Love Itself! Part 2

Have you ever been so kissed so that in that moment there really was just this Moment, this Presence, this Now, so that you Were the Whole Universe and there was Nothing Else? This is how I was kissed in my dream. And so I got a glimpse of what Rumi meant when he said, “If someone asks, How did Jesus perform his miracles? Don't say a single word. Just kiss him softly on the lips.” I asked Her in my dream, “Tell me Who You Are.” (really meaning, Tell me Who I am). Instead of answering verbally, She kissed me. :)

Kundan Chhabra, Author of “Why I Don't Need You, But I Want You Around Anyway” and “How To Be Your Own Secret Admirer”

http://BeYourOwnSecretAdmirer.Com

Re: To Experience Love Itself! Part 2

Oh yes, I hear Rumi here!

love

Re: To Experience Love Itself! Part 2

ah, how perfect!

Love,

Nicole

Re: To Experience Love Itself! Part 2

Today, I read this valuable, insightful blog:

I know a man who is a wedding photographer. He decided when he launched his career that he would be “the” photographer for high-end weddings in his area. He averages $80,000 per wedding - more than four times what most people pay for their entire wedding! Now, does he have to deliver, so to speak, to charge that much? Well, yes, he has to be a very good photographer. But is he 20 times better than people charging $4,000? No way. People are willing to pay him $80,000 because he told them he is worth $80,000.

A few years ago, three friends were supposed to come and stay with me for the weekend. In preparing for the visit, I realized I only had one set of guest towels. So I went out and bought two more sets. Something came up at the last minute, and they weren't able to make it. The following Monday, I was telling my friend about it. I said, “I guess I'll just return the towels since I don't need them anymore.” She said, “What do you usually dry yourself with?”

I said, “The old towels.”

She asked me to describe the towels to her. “Well, they don't match my new bathroom colors, and a lot of them have stains from coloring my hair,” I said. “And a few of them have rips and snags from trips through the washing machine gone bad.”

She said, “And if you had a new set, what would you be doing with these towels?” I thought about this for a second and said, “Cut them up and use them as rags, I guess.”

After a pause she said, “So, basically, what you're saying is you dry yourself with rags.” 

In realizing what I'd been doing, we burst into laughter. Oh my goodness, she was right. I valued others' comfort much more than my own. It was such a perfect metaphor for what I thought of myself! That night, I went home and took all the old towels out of my closet and put them where the belonged … in the rag basket!

A strange thing happens when we value ourselves highly. People first gauge our value by what we tell them it is. Then, we show them who we are. Then, they form a judgment as to whether or not we are worth that amount of money, effort or attention. When we undervalue ourselves, it's not a case of people thinking, “Wow! I really got a bargain!” (I mean that both in terms of money and of emotional effort.) It's human nature to treat things better that have a higher value.

How highly do you value yourself? Do you keep a neat and clean home, or quickly clean before guests come over? In relationships, do you tolerate unloving and substandard behavior from people? Do you value yourself enough to eat healthy foods, and take care of your body? Do you value yourself enough to charge what you're worth?

And of course, I just have to ask: Do you value yourself enough to use the guest towels?

~ Elizabeth Grant:http://www.blog.beliefnet.com/yourcharmedlife/

Re: To Experience Love Itself! Part 2

This is a fun blog, Kundan, I'm imagining you snuggling into plushy towels!

love

Re: To Experience Love Itself! Part 2

http://www.newsweek.com/id/209164

http://www.newsweek.com/id/226348

Re: To Experience Love Itself! Part 2

“One glimpse of the true human being, 
and we are in love.” - Ikkyu (Japanese poet and Zen priest)

Re: To Experience Love Itself! Part 2

I adaore this quote Kundan :)

Re: To Experience Love Itself! Part 2

how beautiful

Re: To Experience Love Itself! Part 2

I  feel so angry and sad.

Re: To Experience Love Itself! Part 2

Sorry to hear that, Kundan. Would you like to share why?

Love,

Nicole

Re: To Experience Love Itself! Part 2

Not really. Please just hold me in your heart and send me some love. Thanks. It's really just my monkey mind doing its thing.

Re: To Experience Love Itself! Part 2

(((Kundan)))

Much love to you, holding you gently in my heart,

Nicole