Aspects
of Love
One way of understanding
and applying the notion of ‘being present’ is to consider how
to truly connect to the world around us in our day-to-day life.
i.e. how we love. Unfortunately many (most?) of us have been
brought up with over-developed ideas of romantic and sexual
love and can often only see love in these terms. The objective
of this workshop is to explore other facets of love and show
how, by extending the scope of our loving actions and activities,
we can be present in the world in many, wonderful, ways.
Topics:
-
Who and what
do we love? How?
“I love
chocolate cookies” = ‘love’ devalued?
-
Romantic Love/Divine
Love – a contrast
Feeling connected . . . but to what extent?
-
Being in love,
being present – are they the same thing?
-
Aspects of Love
Love the one you’re with, ways of connecting day-to-day
-
Finding a balance
in our activities . . . and related aspects of love
A spiritual directors role
-
Being present
in a learning/growing relationship – courage through love
Soul-mates; spiritual directors, mentors, etc.
-
The practice
– experiencing connecting and healing – here and now
Benefits
of Workshop
It's hoped that,
by attending this session, you may well have:
-
Reflected on
how ‘being present’ is also about ‘living to love’ and how
there are many aspects to this love. For example: Motherly
Love, Brotherly Love, Community Spirit, Love of Nature,
Love of Self, Romantic/Erotic Love
-
Had an opportunity
to share on the relative importance and practice of each
of these sorts of love and how fully engaging in them makes
life worthwhile
-
Discussed how
life guidance, pastoring, mentoring, spiritual direction
(etc.) is often about helping others find balance in their
lives (e.g. between work, rest and play) and how each of
these facets of our lives provides different opportunities
for loving others . . . in an appropriate and rewarding
way
-
Felt the flow
of divine and brotherly love through an experiential healing
within the participating group
-
Compared and
contrasted romantic love and the related ‘being in love’
phase with the love that comes through ‘being present’
-
Explored the
many people and things we love and the wide range of ways
in which we do it . . . and questioned which of these have
the quality of ‘being present’
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