2007-11-04 [~*Astarte*~]: I totally agree ... there most certainly is not enough love in this world we live in. I wonder though ... even if one truly loves - unconditionally - does it *really* matter? And if so, how do we *really* know? Sounding a bit pessimistic I suppose, and this forum is most definitely not the place for it. :|

2007-11-04 [zoloftzantac]: Oh, I think this is a fine place to ask questions. Loving is important, but it isn't enough by itself, we need to try to actually spread love to others instead of just giving it to them, if you know what I mean

2007-11-04 [~*Astarte*~]: Yes, I agree, this is a fine place to ask questions. If you reread my statement, I was referring to this forum not being the proper place for my sounding a bit pessimistic - my statement had nothing to do with asking questions. I don't believe you "give" love to someone ... I believe you "show" them through words, actions, deeds, acts of kindness ... I remember reading a statement from a well-known author (whose name escapes me at the moment) - he stated that love is an action, not a feeling ... reminds me of a Chinese Proverb I came across recently. "Words are mere bubbles of water, but deeds are drops of gold." 

2007-11-04 [shinobi14]: Ah, i disagree. I believe you can give love. For example, if you do show somebody love through an action or a deed, they will be filled with a loving feeling, and therefore a "giving" process. ^____^

But think people... How can we spread love to all the world? I mean, i try to be a very happy person, to make other people happy. And many other things like that... But how do we do it on a grand scale?

2007-11-05 [~*Astarte*~]: Ah Danny ... start with you! If each and every one of us took the time each day simply to smile more (think about the last time you smiled at a stranger - just because) or for those in relationship (or who are parents) when was the last time you took the time to really look deeply into your partner or child's (or children's) eyes, tell them you love them, and embrace them with such unconditional presence of being you almost (maybe you do) reach a state of euphoria (or for some nirvana)? Really Danny, I believe if you start with you, and I start with me, etc... this will lead to the grander scale. Does this make sense? I hope so, and should have prefaced by reminding that I am still healing from a head trauma (car accident) June 2007.

I understand what you say when you say you can give love - but then to me it makes love a "thing." (giving = thing) This way of thinking could just be the way my brain is processing right now ... I'm not sure. If the person you mentioned whom is filled with a loving feeling - that is theirs to own - for really Danny, we cannot make anyone feel anything - feeling is up to each individual. For example: you could say something hurtful to me (which I highly doubt you would do ^_^) - but if you did, my 'feeling(s)' are mine - I choose to feel what I feel - you cannot make me feel what I feel. Are you following me here? Maybe I'm just not explaining very well - which could very well be - doing my best though. ^_^

Speaking of love ... my partner is currently on a business trip in the Middle East and gone for a few weeks ... so my two youngest boys (and my newest addition - a 1/2 black lab, 1/2 whippet 11 month old rescue puppy) have been sleeping in my bed. To me, as a mom, there is nothing more intoxicating than burying my face in the necks of my boys (even my 18-1/2 year old if I tell him I need a "mom" fix!) and smelling their individual smells. *^_^* How is this connected with the above - this is an example of love - pure, simple and completely unconditional ... well, at least to this very proud mama anyway.

2007-11-05 [~*Astarte*~]: Since I'm on a roll (and my meds in the morning make me energetic!) ... the above I wrote regarding smiles, looking into eyes, and adding just simply calling someone (family member, friend, neighbor, etc.) to say hi - or to see if they need anything - this really can be done - and doesn't take much time at all. I am known to call a friend just out of the blue (or send an email or IM or such - but phone call is better) simply to say, "I'm calling just to let you know I'm thinking about you and to remind you that you are loved - by me!" I absolutely love doing this - I can hear the smile, and often times the giggles, and not only have I made a transformative difference for someone else, but for myself as well.

2007-11-05 [shinobi14]: That, my dear, is a very love-filled story. ^__^ I love it!

Okay, starting from the top, and working down. ;) The last time i did those things you mentioned was probably not that long ago. I love to greet strangers in the street, to admire nature, to be thankful for my friends, i give great pleasure in seeing others happy (couples, for example). In fact, just the other day, i went to Chester (a city near me) and went Free Hugging with a few friends. It filled me with that familiar funny feeling. ;) But yes, i agree. If we are all happy, then hopefully we could share the love around the whole world. For, as you probably know, love and happiness is contagious. I love smiling simply because most people smile back. So I don't stop smiling. =D Ever since about February.

Second paragraph: I know what you are trying to say, but in my opinion, you can give such feelings away, such as happiness, love, and others. I know what you mean however, when you say they sound like "things". These are just common English language faults. Not only are "love" and "happiness" feeling, they also happen to be nouns. Which are commonly referred to as "things". - And of course people do not have to feel the way I want them to feel, but in my opinion, moods are contagious. So, if you are feeling loving, then generally people feel more loved. <3

Third and last paragraph: And i have things like that, too. =] I love to watch nature in all of its glory and wonder. The natural beauty makes me filled with an intense happy feeling. I also find this feeling from my dogs, and my very close friends. *sighs* I don't think life would be worth living if I couldn't feel that feeling I get. "Life without love is no life at all" - Self Quote.

I do hope your partner will return safely from his trip. ^____^

2007-11-05 [shinobi14]: And now that Im on a roll, i've just remembered a message I sent to my friend [Nevan] the other day. It was:

"You're amazing. Never forget that."

God, i love it. <3 Pure ecstasy to me. XP

2007-11-05 [~*Astarte*~]: Smiles - can you imagine what this world would be like without them? *shudder* There is an elder, High Priestess, in a Dianic Wiccan Community in the general area I live in (she is well-known and published so will leave her name out) ... she just recently started "Hugging Rituals" - because she felt (feels) there are too many people in this world (in this case women) who go without. I think it's such a cool idea! And, could easily be modified to fit any belief system (whether it be Wiccan or not). I did something that filled my heart with such love and joy for an elder, High Priestess, in the Dianic community who passed in August - Shekhinah Mountainwater. I read the journal (online with permission) of the High Priestess who administered her last rites. Included was Shekhinah's last wish ... that she never be forgotten - that the world would not forget her - that our community would not forget her. It came to me like a bolt of lightning - our elders, our High Priestesses, those witches (in this case women) who have come and passed - my Foremothers, should have an altar at every ritual co-created in our community. So I found a beautiful black and white picture of Shekhinah, had it copied onto the best photo paper I could find, found a silver (for protection) frame for it - and sent it along (with very trusted Priestesses) to the Autumn Equinox ritual held in our community on woman-owned land - out in a beautiful area of Sonoma County, CA. As I was told, a beautiful altar was created in her memory (and also in the memories of other elder High Priestesses who have already passed over to the Summerland). One of my dearest coven systers (I LOVE her dearly) ... spoke about Shekhinah, as she was present shortly after Shekhinah's passing, and at the memorial (burial). She shared that the ritual space was filled with such love and joy - just what Shekhinah would have wanted. All of this, simply because I remembered reading what someone had shared about her last wish. See, so it really does start with just you or me or the next person - one person *really* can make a difference. (As an aside, my coven syster, loved the picture so much that she offered to be its caretaker, and has placed it on the altars of several rituals since, including a HUGE Samhain Spiral Dance, and a ritual some of Shekhinah's friends recently held - just because.

Thank you for the safe return wishes - he'll be fine. The areas he is (and will be) in are fairly safe. But thank you - tis sweet of you! ^_^

2007-11-05 [~*Astarte*~]: Oops...! Forgot to respond to last paragraph regarding nature and natural beauty ... it is the biggest high (well, besides the births of my 3 boys!) I could ever imagine - just simply sitting, being, connecting with and feeling the interconnectedness in and with nature. And I am blessed to live in such an incredibly beautiful area - even just my backyard ... as I live out in the country. And prior to my accident, where I worked - pure heaven! My office was like a "hobbit house" as my boys called it - sat in the middle of redwoods - a creek nearby (her belly would swell every winter, and I could hear it from my office if I left the door open, which I did most frequently!) I would be visited by squirrels, rabbits, deer, an occasional scorpion (yes!), wild turkeys... and if I looked up in the air (or just listened while working) I could hear the hawks calling ... *sigh* I truly do miss it. Used to take me 7 minutes to hike down a hill just to get to my office from where I parked my car. Clean air, beauty all around ... so much to be grateful for.

2007-11-05 [~*Astarte*~]: If I might borrow your saying, "You're amazing. Never forget that!" ... this goes out to everyone in this forum! We are all amazing! Never forget it!

2007-11-07 [shinobi14]: Here here!! =D

Tee-hee. You sound a lot like me. XP

2007-11-08 [~*Astarte*~]: Maybe that's because I'm English? :p Or just someone who believes in the power of love, positive thinking (although difficult at times for even the most positive of thinkers) and most definitely a believer in the power of one's own ability to create/manifest that which is to be of the highest good ... :)

2007-11-08 [shinobi14]: I think it is both, but more the latter reason. ^____^

2007-11-09 [~*Astarte*~]: I can agree with that ^___^

2007-12-11 [~*Astarte*~]: December 11, 2007
What We Are Made Of:
Choose Love
www.dailyom.com

Love is often presented as the opposite of fear, but true love is not opposite anything. True love is far more powerful than any negative emotions, as it is the environment in which all things arise. Negative emotions are like sharks swimming in the ocean of love. All things beautiful and fearful, ugly and kind, powerful and small, come into existence, do their thing, and disappear within the context of this great ocean. At the same time, they are made of the very love in which they swim and can never be separated. We are made of this love and live our whole lives at one with it, whether we know it or not.

It is only the illusion that we are separate from this great love that causes us to believe that choosing anything other than love makes sense or is even possible. In the relative, dualistic world of positive and negative, darkness and light, male and female, we make choices and we learn from them. This is exactly what we are meant to be doing here on earth. Underlying these relative choices, though, is the choice to be conscious of what we are, which is love, or to be unconscious of it. When we choose to be conscious of it, we choose love. We will still exist in the relative world of opposites and choices and cause and effect, and we will need to make our way here, but doing so with an awareness that we are all made of this love will enable us to be more playful, more joyful, more loving and wise, as we make our way. Ultimately, the choices we make will shed light on the love that makes us all one, enabling those who have forgotten to return to the source.

This world makes it easy to forget this great love, which is part of why we are here. We are here to remember and, when we forget to remember again, to choose love.

2008-01-05 [~*Astarte*~]: "When two hearts race both win!" ~ Author Unknown

2008-01-06 [~*Astarte*~]: The Fifth Annual Global Love Day is Thursday, May 1, 2008 ... What the world needs now is LOVE sweet LOVE!!! http://www.thelovefoundation.com/

2008-01-11 [shinobi14]: WOW! I had no idea there was an annual love day! *dances* Very exciting. XD

Although every day should be a love day... ¬¬

2008-01-14 [~*Astarte*~]: Yes, Danny, every day is love day! We, each and every one of us, can create/manifest that - I know you know this! I'm am working on a major project at both of the schools my younger sons attend - I am beyond excited to spread the LOVE!!! Did you notice the date of Global Love Day? Coincides with Beltaine! : )

2008-01-18 [shinobi14]: Oh yes I did! XD Dancing around the Maypole I will be, with ribbons... and spreading teh lurve. XD