<\/p>\n
Fletchers straighten arrows;<\/em> Almost one week before V-Day, Tuesday, February\u00a06th ,\u00a0Valentines arrive in all sizes and colors at Peace Awareness Labyrinth & Gardens (PAL&G.) They\u2019re here to attend a Loving Relationships workshop.<\/p>\n What\u2019s your definition of loving? When \u201cLoving\u201d facilitators, Paul Kaye and Anna Sugai pose the question, immediately a hand shoots up. A man with a big grin (and a gorgeous girl at his side) replies, \u201cEven on a cloudy day, I know the sunshine is always there.\u201d<\/p>\n Paul invites everyone to \u201cthis exploration of Love.\u201d I put on my safari hat; ready to go on an expedition through a jungle of passion, pleasure\u00a0and\u00a0pride. Oh, yes and maybe a few slips in the mud.<\/p>\n Time to pay attention. \u201cProbably the most intimate relationship [you have] is with your phone,\u201d quips Paul. The Eagles were prophets when they wrote Hotel California: \u201cWe are prisoners here of our own device.\u201d<\/p>\n Anna suggests stellar connections are a choice. \u201cThe relationship out there,\u201d she says, \u201cis a mirror of the relationship with myself.\u201d<\/p>\n In his crisp British accent, Paul observes, \u201cThe energy is a bit heavy in here.\u201d Maybe it\u2019s my imagination or the rebel inside; but there seem to be silent shouts of, \u201cWho? Me?\u00a0Nooo\u00a0way!!\u201d<\/p>\n Cheerfully Paul continues, \u201cOne way to lighten up is Light\u201d We can \u201cdial in the higher energy.\u201d Human beings are instruments. We can tune into higher frequencies like a radio syncs up with stations transmitting classical music.<\/p>\n Bowing his head, Paul says a Light prayer:<\/p>\n Just now we ask for the purest Light from the highest and purest source; Quietly, Paul says, \u201cIt can be as simple as saying that out loud. It\u2019s a\u00a0superpower\u00a0that we have.\u201d<\/p>\n Anna proposes\u00a0that,\u00a0\u201cWe have everything we need right now.\u201d<\/p>\n In other words,\u00a0loving\u00a0is a choice. To help us along\u00a0we\u2019re\u00a0given questions to answer in groups of 4.<\/p>\n 2 Simple Questions:<\/p>\n 1. \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0What gets in the way of your loving? FEAR: False Expectations Appearing Real seems to take center stage. So what do we do about it? Paul says, \u201cThe antidote to fear and judgment is forgiveness.\u201d<\/p>\n But why forgive when they hurt us??? \u00a0\u201cResentment is the poison we take hoping the other person will die,\u201d says Paul.<\/p>\n I understood him to say we are not condoning the evils of the world. Rather we are forgiving, touching into the center of our being and sending ourselves and the other a Valentine of compassion.<\/p>\n Anna and Paul reiterate the importance of taking responsibility for our perceptions. Crooked experiences may have shaped ugly behaviors.\u00a0Behavior\u00a0of a \u201cwrong-doer\u201d may feel personal but it\u2019s not. (It helps to remember Course in Miracles teacher, author Marianne Williamson\u00a0saying, \u201cForgiveness doesn\u2019t mean you have to go to lunch with them.\u201d)<\/p>\n Paul quotes popular Hay House author Alan Cohen, \u201cTo love yourself, just as you are, is to give yourself Heaven. Don\u2019t wait until you die. If you wait, you die now. If you love, you live now.\u201d<\/p>\n The groups of 4 charge into rounds of \u00a0\u201cI forgive myself for judging myself for_____\u201d<\/p>\n The facilitators note the lightness in the room. \u201cWhy do you feel better?\u201d asks Paul.<\/p>\n One pipes up, \u201cI tapped into my heart!\u201d<\/p>\n Another notices the expansive feeling of freedom. \u201cLoving is\u00a0possibility.\u201d<\/p>\n Freedom is the reward for choosing Love. \u00a0Early on in the event, Paul played a video. In less than 2 minutes I knew This is Love.<\/p>\n Heavenly piano playing by Lucy P. Dickinson \u2013 perfect for meditating on loving \u00ad \u2013 captured my heart, too. Lucy took some photos for us too! Here they are:<\/p>\n
\nCarpenters bend wood;<\/em>
\nThe wise master themselves.<\/em>
\n~Buddha<\/em><\/p>\n
\nand we ask this Light surround and fill each person here.<\/p>\n
\n2. \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0What is holding you back from moving into greater loving?<\/p>\n