The best and most beautiful things in this world cannot be seen or even heard, but must be felt with the heart.

Helen Keller

Welcome to February and Valentine's Day! The energy of "love" is present during all the great mysteries of life--birth, death, milestone moments, and especially during healing. Words just don't capture or describe the essence of what we feel and sense throughout our being when our hearts are open to the presence and/or loss of love. The power of love can bind our wounds, soften and open our hearts, dissolve our fears, ease our journeys, and animate our life meaning and purpose.

We experience love in many forms: romantic love, love of family, pets, and nature, and love for ourselves and our, fellow human beings. Love also comes alive when we participate in the causes, principles, goals, and activities we enjoy and feel passionate about. Benjamin Shield, in Handbook for the Heart, describes love as our birthright. He states we reclaim our birthright by keeping our hearts open, letting go of past experiences that block forgiveness, and giving and receiving love. Like air, love is a continuous life-giving element that nourishes and sustains us.

Love is our essential nature, which flows in the world through giving and receiving. Loving others begins with loving ourselves. I am reminded of this when I fly, as the flight attendant tells passengers that in an emergency we need to put the oxygen mask on ourselves first, before doing so for young children. When we experience deep love within our hearts feel full, and we are more able to give love to others, our communities, and the world. Love also flows into the world through what we each create, great or small. When we share our gifts and talents, healing is enhanced for others and ourselves. In these moments, we experience a genuine sense of

fulfillment (full-fill-ment).

Just as the building of strong muscles requires regular exercise, our hearts need regular practice to strengthen and remind us of our ability to put love into action in everyday life. We are all wounded and scarred during life. We fear and feel unable to bear emotions such as grief, rage, betrayal, abandonment, or even the depth of beauty and love we encounter. We experience heartbreak through pain and suffering, but empathy for others and ourselves can also develop. Love challenges us to go deeper, become clearer, and open our hearts more fully. At these challenging times, it is self-compassion, self-care, self-love, and self-forgiveness that will renew and build resilience within our hearts.

May your hearts be filled through self-care and self-love....Namaste

Regina