Finding Divine Love in all Relationships

Love has many faces and forms, from that of a parent for a child or love of friends and family, to romantic love. Plus another that underlies all the rest that we may not even recognize. One that supports all other kinds of love, is the source of all love, and one we find at the heart of every relationship. That is Divine Love.

Divine Love is no abstract concept. On the contrary. Divine Love is reality here and now. Whether you believe only in Jesus as Christ, or only God, Yahweh, or Lord Shiva, the only things stopping you from experiencing it yourself are your own limited thinking and a closed, life-weary heart.

Can we experience it? How? Why would we want to? And why are so many of us stopping it when we want it so much?

Can you experience it? Absolutely. We all have the ability built into our systems. How? There are many paths, some more effective than others, some that resonate more within your heart than your neighbor's. Regardless of which path you choose, the tips in this article will help you start or progress further on your way.

Not everyone is interested, but if you do want to experience Divine Love perhaps you: 1) want to be closer to God; 2) think there is something missing in your life, the "more" you've always hoped for; 3) or maybe you've read, intellectually know, or believe we are all Divine, but it sure doesn't feel like it most of the time!

You're far from alone in your quest. Individuals through the centuries have sought God, both collectively, and in solitude.

The whole aim of life is to bring us closer to God. This is a Truth. Sages have said throughout time that we are all One, all this is That, and we are all part of the Divine, etc. Do you believe it, or want very badly to believe? Belief is more difficult when we only parrot the words, even if we know intellectually that they must be true. What's missing is the true experience, the inner certainty of Divine Love.

Think of Divine Love as a huge reservoir. It feeds into many smaller ponds and streams, some made by nature, others dug and formed by our own intentions. The reservoir never runs dry, but sometimes dams, landslides, or other acts of nature (or man) can block the flow and the love in that particular stream becomes isolated. We forget there was an abundant source feeding it, and begin to see limitations and boundaries where there were none. Then we have trouble in paradise.

This is the answer to another question: why, if you really want to experience it are you stopping it? You may not intend to put up blocks, but they nonetheless go up as you experience life.

All of us have known the surety of Divine Love at birth (whether or not we remember), and unless something happens to change our loving circumstances, that remembrance of Divine Love flows within each of us. The flow moves from us to our parents, and just as the law of physics states, "An object in motion remains in motion until acted upon by an outside force" so goes the flow. It keeps moving from us to others and would continue unimpeded throughout our lives unless something happened to stop it. In an ideal world all children would experience the security of the certainty of parents' love and know, in their hearts that this is a given—deserved and expected.

But when your kindergarten crush doesn't respond in kind, the heart is hurt. You withdraw just a little, to keep from being hurt again. That's a block. When a friend betrays a secret, your trust is shaken, and you grow wary. When your significant other wants space or wants out, you are devastated. The flow of love has been constricted, and must work to forge new paths so it can flow again. With so much twisting of the flow of love, the source is cut off from the smaller avenues.

The good news: No matter how convoluted your path has been, no matter how far from Divine Love you've come, you can re-connect. The first step is incredibly simple: ask for Divine help. ASK FOR DIVINE HELP. It's simple, but powerful. Don't worry about the proper words, the proper time or place. Just ask. You may want to merge with the flow of Love, but the Divine wants it for you even more. But the Divine can't act until you ask for help. Ask. Answers may not come right away, but your prayer has been heard and forces are already at work to help you. Answers may not come in the way you expect, but the Divine has a broader vision than you do. Trust.

There is more you can do. More than living a compassionate life and giving all you can (even if you don't feel like it). Try this spiritual exercise:

Sit quietly and let your attention go to the area of the heart. Not the actual organ. Some call it the Heart Chakra, others the heart center. Simply feel that area and intend to open the heart. Maybe you will feel something, a physical sensation, an emotion, or nothing at all. Let the attention be easy. Don't try to feel anything. Just have the intention to open the heart. Visualize it, if you can, as a flower bud opening, petal by petal, as an ever-widening circle, rippling outward, or imagine physical bonds around your heart that loosen and fall away. Once you've opened, ask that Divine Love flow into your heart. Then accept it.

Five minutes is enough to start. If that feels like too much, start with ten seconds, and work your way up over the next week or two. Repeat the process a couple times a day, and allow whatever happens to unfold. The more you do it, the greater the results. Give it time. Some of those blocks keeping us from experiencing Divine Love are big and ungainly.

There are other things you can do as well. Find a mentor, a spiritual teacher who not only has experienced that Divine Love herself, but one who can teach you how. The two don't always go together.

A word about the Divine. Some lump spirit guides in with God and His helpers. But not all spirit guides are Divine. There are many other beings, some good, some not so good, that can influence us. A spirit could attach themselves to us and give advice freely, but if the spirit is not Divine, their advice is not always beneficial. The spirit of one who is not particularly highly evolved cannot help you to evolve.

Once you have reconnected with the source of Divine Love you will find that all other love is enhanced, a reflection of that higher love. Look at your sweetheart, at your child, etc. and experience any limiting factors fading. Where you once had a large pond of clear water (love) to give, now you do not just love from your own small heart anymore. The container that holds your love has opened to an infinite source, and the power behind your love is being continually renewed from the sweet, deep ocean of Divine Love within your own large Heart.