What if we were taught to love?
A few years ago I took three months off work and went on a pilgrimage. The Camino de Santiago, I opted to do the Portuguese Camino from Lisbon to Santiago, by bicycle. It was in November and I wanted the best possible weather. After the Camino was completed I returned to Lisbon by train and then continued my way to southern Portugal and southern Spain all the way to Girona, just outside of Barcelona.
Along the way, over Christmas I stayed in a Hostel in a small town outside of Granada, called Quentar. The hostel name was Fundalucia , it had fantastic reviews for a small Hostel, so good I ended up staying for about 5 days. This place was super peaceful and soulful. The place was known for the owner who was a shaman and would do past life journeys for certain clients. While I was hoping he would do one for me, he did one for another that was staying at the hostel with me, his name was Ni, he was from North Africa.
The view from Fundalucia
Michael (the Shaman) and I had only one interaction and all he said to me is “No one teaches others how to love”. That was our only conversation. Now this whole pilgrimage I was on was more than a long road trip, it was a full on portion of my spiritual awakening. So I sat with this message for many days. He was right most have never been taught to fully love unconditionally. I want you to think about where and who taught you to love?, mostly or mother and father and who taught them to love? They have taught to love with conditions only. “I will love you when”, is a common phrase, or have you felt or experienced their banishment? Or feel the pain of their damnation? Does any of this sound familiar? Have your parent taught love or have they intermingled it with fear and hate?
I am guessing on how most of North America operates, most have been taught a conditioning love, hate and fear. These are my observations and my own experience from my immediate family.
My trip on the Camino de Santiago and the months that past was to reset my heart into an open space where I could be vulnerable and unconditional. I asked for it to arrive in my life, unconditional love, I wanted to be the experience fully so I choose to love unconditionally.
So what does love mean to you? Do you have conditions around it? Do you use love to be the highest possible version of yourself or do you choose fear and hatred? These are deep questions and ones that will bring out the true authentic you.