When Love Means Pain

When love means pain, it’s time to step outside the dysfunction and ask yourself some big questions. What have you learned? Can you envision your “impossible dream”? Love, in the broadest understanding of the word, means a resonance that joins. In its ultimate expression, love binds the cosmos into One. Its essence is harmony, the “music of the spheres”, where every movement of every life form manifests a higher purpose.  

Yet sometimes that tune must play for awhile in dissonance. If you’re hurting, don’t blame yourself and do not regret anything. What matters is moving on, and remembering that nothing is ever wasted. Everything that has happened serves as preparation for the next scene. So what’ll it be? Hold the dream close. Find that spark of courage . . .because you are a phoenix, soaring from ashes into light. 

It’s an interesting paradox that those most capable of divine love are often the ones who get hurt the most. Divine love is unconditional. Prema in Sanskrit, Agape in Greek, Caritas in Latin, unconditional love wants nothing in return. Without end or beginning, it radiates from Pure Spirit. When Venus, planet of love, moves into Pisces, place of devotion, intuition, and diffusive consciousness, the conditions for divine love become optimal (though the strength of this effect depends upon other alignments too). If you were born with Venus in Pisces, you could be someone who loves without measure.

Divine love beams unconditionally from the heart of such a soul, bringing bliss when its object radiates a similar love. But most relationships aren’t like that . . . because most people love from a place of limitation, drawing others into their self-serving dramas.Their love is conditional; it’s a deal (like business) regarding goods or services. Actually, this is typical, and for many relationships, tolerable. Problems arise when one person’s bargaining angle involves domination, control or abuse; and the other loves unconditionally.

If that’s you, it’s time to understand the lesson! Your love deserves a worthy object. So incline it towards harmony. I know it’s hard! It’s the hardest thing you’ll ever do. But you can do it! Making a clean break is best. If that’s not possible for your situation, take one step, even one baby step. Though sometimes extricating yourself from practical entanglements takes time, your heart can shift with one momentous awakening. That’s the liberating key. It’s called metanoia, a radical change of heart. 

Nothing’s more worthy of your love than the Divine. So fill your heart with whatever in your life manifests its Bliss most abundantly: family or community, spiritual practice, service to the needy, gardening even!  There’re many possibilities, . . . all growing steps. This month, the cosmos will align with your purpose. From April 16th to May 10th, Venus resides in Pisces; and from April 23rd, receives also Jupiter’s aspect, which bestows light, grace, knowledge and expansion. Take advantage of this window of cosmic momentum and pair your soul with its Highest Destiny. Venus in Pisces bequeaths the Purest Love, so settle for nothing less!