What is Love?
 Before we attempt to answer this big question….
 
Who was St Valentine?
 
Are you familiar with his story?
 
I decided to do a little research. If I’ve ever known this story,
I don’t remember it or maybe I purposely forgot!
 
I’ll share with you what I discovered:
 
St. Valentine was a 3rd Century Roman Catholic priest.
He was known as the “patron of love, young people and happy marriages”.
 
All was going well until Claudius G. took the throne.
Emperor Claudius was having trouble convincing young Roman men to enlist in his army.
 One of his men told him that their attraction to women was the reason.
 
So Claudius passed a law forbidding all relations between men and women!
 
Father Valentine believed the law to be unjust.
He continued to marry young couples in secret.
 
Eventually he was discovered, arrested and beheaded
in a public square on February 14, 270 AD.
 
What a sad beginning to one of the world’s most popular “love celebrated” holidays.
 
Those who loved Father Valentine chose to honor him
by creating rituals that involved giving and receiving love.
 
During the 20th century, this holiday evolved into the
exchange of paper Valentines we know today.
 
The honor of “sainthood” was bestowed upon Father Valentine
many years later, thus he’s most commonly known as St. Valentine.
 
Confusion around love is nothing new!
 
What is love? Is this love?
 
I recently discovered these papers, carefully folded in the side pocket of my purse.
I’ve been carrying them around for over a year,
maybe two!
I remember why….
 
I was attending a yoga class.
“What are your beliefs about love?” the teacher asked.
We began to write.

​

This exercise continues to inspire me to
create love rhymes…these even have a melody!
 
 
Love is gentle
Love is kind
Love is patient
Love’s alive
 
Love’s revealing
Love is peace
Love’s appealing
Love is free
 
Love is comfort
Love is joy
Love’s a baby girl
Or boy
 
Love’s a temple
Love’s a door
Love’s a rainbow
That’s for sure!

Love is love
 
 
 
Now it’s your turn!
How would you answer this question?
Love is…
​

​I’d love to hear your responses!
If you’re so inspired, please leave a comment under this blog or email me!
 
I wish you a delightful exploration of love this month!
 
“Time and space cannot play any part
between two loving hearts.”
Yogi Bhajan
 
Love and blessings,
 
Deborah

The rhythmic waves... reliably soothing...
where in your life would more rhythm be helpful?
 ​   

      
I call this shell, Sunrise Shell as it looks like it’s been kissed by the sunrise.
Its actual name is Spectral Bittersweet Clam. 

What is its story, I wonder? 

How far has it traveled to land on this beach
and catch my attention with its beauty?
​
​What gifts are you ready to share this year?

This friendly seagull joined me for a morning walk.
Seagulls carry the song of the sea with them
and inspire me to listen
and sing my own heart’s song more freely.

What song lives in your heart longing to be sung?
​let's sing together!

​Footprints in the sand
where all living beings can walk side by side in harmony
​
 
In the spirit of the sea,
​I wish you a new year of creativity,
cooperation and community,
of radiant health, wellbeing and prosperity,
​of love, joy and celebrations!
 
Blessings and love, 
 
Deborah