Tag: #love

40 Days of Love – Introduction

40 Days of Letting Go, Letting God

Rebirth and Renewal

An Introduction

What is it about? 

As I was looking for some material for contemplation during the Christian Season of Lent a few years ago, I ran into a book called 40 Rules of Love by Elif Shafak CLICK HERE (Read more about the book below). I fell in love with the so-called ‘rules of Love’.

Background 

At first, I thought that Shams Tabrizi wrote a book – which is very unlikely – and started to look for his ‘rulebook on Love’. Since he was a rather particular 13th century Sufi Mystic known for being the teacher of Rumi, I thought,  that he might have left some notes behind which served as a base for the book. Well, nothing like that. The book – 40 Rules of Love  – is a fictional story. It is a story of Love, on Shams and Rumi, but most importantly the book offers 40 so called ‘rules’ on how to live a Spirit-filled Life.

I have collected some information on Shams’ Life and his impact on Rumi’s Spiritual unfoldment that you can read HERE

As I was reading the book, I have fallen in love with both the story and the ‘rules.  I found them thoughtful and deep. Each one made me think. They reminded me how much we are attached to the phantasy of rom-coms that tell nothing about the Truth of Love. They do not make it real or even believable. But there is a kind of Love that is beyond the warm and fuzzy emotions and fantasies, a Love that Rumi and Shams wrote so beautifully about.  

We often spend countless hours trying to find love in another person or in the world but what we fail to see is that the Love we are so desperately searching for is right there within ourselves. It has always been there. We only need to discover it or uncover it, more like.

Personally, I think it is important to find the True meaning behind the word ‘LOVE’,  understand it and experience it as a Spiritual Quality inherently within us. 

I am going to walk this 40-day Lenten Journey contemplating on the True meaning of Love, Divine Love, Spiritual Love for me by experimenting with the 40 rules and quotes from the Lent Booklet. Every day, between 

the 5th of March and the 17th April, 2025

I will post a ‘rule’ from the book ’40 rules of Love’ and an a release idea from the book ’40 days of Rebirth and Renewal – Lent 2025′ by Unity.org. Then, we will contemplate on it and share about it in the UNITY EUROPE Facebook Group (CLICK HERE).

Let’s walk this journey together!

Join me by …

either reading the daily blogposts I create – SEE THEM HERE (CLICK) – or joining the FACEBOOK GROUP (CLICK) where I am going to share my writings and daily contemplative questions. I will also post a short video/audio material on the daily posts. (click on the buttons below to join)

FACEBOOK GROUP
YOUTUBE
ALL POSTS IN THIS SERIES
Last year’s series

Courageous vs daring

This morning I found myself contemplating fear. 

Yesterday I found myself talking about a film called Das Leben der Anderen – see the film here CLICK – and the time of my life during the socialistic regime in Hungary. I heard myself ‘blame’ the Russians for overtaking our land and our lives. I found myself enraged again about the atrocities we had to endure.

Then it suddenly occurred to me that it is not only a far, far away past that  upsets me  but none of it actually exists any more.

Why am I so upset then?

I grew up at a time of terror. We were threatened for our lives at every turn. You had to watch out not to become suspect of any wrong-doing, or you may have been reported to the ‘Stasi’. Every perceived wrong-doing could be punished by imprisonment or death.

I learnt to live with dread. I became neurotic but daring. My response to fear was to challenge those threatening and punishing me. Until one day, I decided that I had had enough and fled. 

Except that I took the now innate dread with me. Unknowing, I now held the threatening shadows inside myself. They never ceased to scare me, day and night. So, I continued running trying to flee the shadows. 

I daringly conquered all the obstacles and challenges of my life. But I failed to notice that I lacked courage; the courage to face the one ‘enemy’ that generates all the anxiety that has been lurking in my veins.

I have tried it all. I tried to fix it and forgive it. Neither could I let go of the memory of the terror I once lived. It has become part of the vivid tapestry of who I am.

What I must do, however, is face it with courage that stems from my loving embrace. I want to find the compassion within myself that holds me while I look into the eyes of the terror and say ‘I love you, regardless!’

 

Metaphysical and Compassion

In Unity we look at events and spiritual texts through the lens of metaphysics.  Metaphysical interpretation means that we look behind the words and look for the messages, the learning, and the teaching in it.

I always ask, what does this event or sentences mean to me? How can I use it for my upliftment and growth?

I never judge or diminish anything just because I am not familiar with it.

I love looking at the different spiritual and religious celebrations and texts and use them for my daily spiritual practices. I use them to inspire me.

Each celebration gives me an opportunity to learn more about the people and the beliefs. We are all part of the Divine Presence regardless of our beliefs. Understanding others better gives me an opportunity to become a more compassionate human being.

Confidence

This morning I was thinking about confidence. We regard confidence as one of the most desired personality trait but we fail to notice how confidence was built in the first place.  Does your sense of confidence come from a place of ‘fear’ and self-defence? Or does it come from a place of ‘knowing who you are’ and connectedness of Spirit?

Listen to my thoughts here and let me know what you think.

thoughts on confidence

The Maverick kind

What makes a good intimate relationship?

Throughout history there have been mavericks. Both women and men who chose out of playing a pre-defined role for the macho-male and the ‘damsel in distress’ type of woman became outcasts in some way or another. They ended up being loners of a sort. 

In this audio, I am talking about the MAVRICK kind of relationships and what it takes to be a partner in such a relationship.

Let me know your thoughts. 

Rumi’s poetry

The Essence of Rumi’s Teachings

At the heart of Rumi’s teachings is the concept of divine love and the unity of all existence. He speaks of a boundless, unconditional love that connects every soul to the divine source. Rumi’s poetry often emphasizes the importance of self-awareness, compassion, and the pursuit of inner harmony as essential steps on the path to spiritual enlightenment.

Self-Discovery Through Reflection

Rumi’s verses invite readers to embark on a journey within, urging them to reflect on their thoughts, emotions, and actions. He emphasizes the significance of self-awareness, encouraging individuals to question their beliefs and explore the depths of their souls. Through introspection, Rumi teaches that one can unravel the layers of ego and discover the true essence of their being.

source – The Spiritual Wisdom of Rumi: A Guide to Self-Discovery and Inner Peace