There has been a mass of material written on this and related topics. Obviously, we as a species don't get what love is or we would have quit questioning it, thinking about it, writing about it and wanting it -- a long time ago. We keep seeking because love is the core of who we are. Our journey in this life is to know and experience love, in its many forms, every moment of every day.

The journey starts out slowly. Some look at love quizzically and some recoil from it. Neither understands how it could possibly be important. Slowly, we begin to think about it in an affectionate (loving - hint!) way and may not believe it is to be ours. Other people have love. We observe love. Then, we begin to play in the game of love. This is an external love. We want to have love. We're still missing the point. Love is not something we get; it is something we are.

As we continue along the path of consciousness, we begin to think and eventually believe that love can be ours. We begin to understand and experience love in a more expanded way. It is the child at play. It is the beauty of the Earth. It is the sound of our lover's voice. It is the snow at dawn. It is power of courage. It is community. It is all around us.

At some point, we actually begin to experience love as part of us. We may feel unconditional peace and joy for a moment. Then, things go back to "normal." Secret: when we are ready, we experience something so we know where we are going. Then, we must do the actual healing to get there. It is much like looking at a vacation brochure so we get excited and stay focused on creating our vacations. This is the way we grow.

One day we think we get it - we know love from the inside out as well as from the outside in. We think we're wise and finished with process. Not quite. Shortly, we being to realize that there is something more. It is time to live in love and be love. Now the advanced course in love begins.

From the physical perspective, it may be when we no longer need a night guard because we now sleep peacefully. One experience of being love is celebrating exercise as a meditation for our bodies. Each moment and each movement is experienced as a success on the path of (not to) wellness. When we have no daily pain or dis-ease in our bodies, we will move from the embodiment of love to being love. I know this is a huge concept and an even bigger journey. I am not saying that we will achieve this perfectly in this lifetime. It is goal and the closer we get, the more we live in pure love.

Emotionally, being love is an equally amazing journey. When we befriend our imperfections and allow ourselves to understand that we chosen those imperfections to learn love, we experience tenderness. When we cease viewing ourselves as victims of anything, we experience empowerment of self - which is love. When we forgive without wanting revenge, we begin to become love.

Mentally, when we accept diversity as a gift, we begin to live in compassion and become love. Each time we embrace our beliefs and practices and stop trying to fit some external criteria, we blossom into a more authentic expression of love. For a time, it was necessary to fight for justice and change. We may be fighting for a while longer. At the same time, as we know and live love, that fight becomes easier because injustice weakens in the presence of love.

This, of course, can become an incredibly complex issue. Let's keep it simple. Let's embrace the magic because we are talking about the journey home - to our hearts. That's as magical as it gets. Along this path, we begin to understand how and why humanity is where it is. We begin to have compassion and humor about our journey. As we move into greater love, we become more stable and so does our society.

There is a belief in the old traditions that when there is love in the home, there is harmony in community and peace in the world. (I am paraphrasing very loosely here though staying true to the sentiment.) There is only love. Our journey to uncover all the places within us where there is shadow or darkness, bless that for it is not of our true selves and release it to be turned into love and be sent out into the world as healing.

Don't be afraid. Let us walk together, souls embraced by the light. Let's transmute that which does not serve us and become our true selves - love.

See you on the path,

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Friends of WisdomDance

Each month WD will feature a colleague of Kim’s who offers high quality, high integrity services for you. Each person’s link will be added to the inspiration/resources section of the web site so that you can always find him or her

Courtney DeWinter

Delphine Healing Arts LLC offers Reiki training and healing sessions for people and animals in a comfortable, caring environment in Denver CO. The practice was founded in 2005 by certified Reiki master teacher Courtney DeWinter. She has over 10 years of study and practice in Reiki and other healing modalities. Classes offer this more rounded training with a special emphasis on students fully understanding techniques, healing and the connection between practioner and client. (Delphine is Latin for the word "dolphin," for which Courtney has a special affinity.) You may reach Courtney at 303.572.8180 or through www.delphinehealingarts.com