Didn’t you just tell us you were getting divorced?

Yes, I can read minds now. It’s not in love in the conventional sense. I first came across this idea on Raymond Salas’ Zen Chill in an article by the same title.

I first discovered the state as I was walking to my day job with this silly grin on my face. I caught myself thinking what in the world am I so elated about, I don’t even like this job. At that moment, I could have spiraled into the socially correct attitude of resentment and anger, but I checked into it a bit more. I was enjoying the smell of moist earth after thunderstorms all night. I was enjoying walking uphill without panting. I was enjoying the rustling of leaves that sounded like fall in the height of summer.

I figure, this is what people mean by being in love. They are in a state where they are experiencing bliss. For me, it was literally reveling in Spirit. I envision myself splashing around in a fountain - a fountain of love, joy, and peace. It is euphoric.

So how can you come to experience this state without an object of affection? I could write another list, but it’s the same things that I say all the time. You need to develop a spiritual practice. It could be journaling, conventional silent meditation, chanting, praying, walking, or just having a frank discussion with Spirit in the morning. The key is to do it everyday (oh, alright, most days) for about 30 minutes.

In the beginning, it might feel like you are completely out of touch. A critic inside might say that this is all hocus pocus and you can make much better use of your time. Ignore it. About 6-12 weeks into it the novelty will wear off and the tedium will kick in. Push through it anyway. On the other side lies a place where you know that all is well. A place of harmony with all of life. A place of peace that passes all understanding.

It’s not a quick fix. There’s no catchy 50 item list that you have to check off. All you have to do is be still enough to allow Spirit to bubble up from within you.

In Spirit, In Love,
Nneka