• 1.1 THE INVOCATION OF LOVE •

Love is the most universal, the most tremendous and the most mysterious of the cosmic forces.

— Pierre Teilhard de Chardin

In its mysterious and unpredictable way, love sweeps into our life and suddenly our world is changed. We begin to glow with a magical radiance and there is an atmosphere of beauty around us. We feel a new and inexplicable sense of wholeness, a joy which transports us beyond our ordinary, everyday state of being. The very presence of our beloved one makes us happy. We are fulfilled, complete, the world is bursting with unexpected, limitless possibilities, and each of us believes the other person to be the source of this wondrous state.

What most of us experience as love is, no doubt, a mixture of illusion and longing, romanticized desires and wish-fulfilling fantasy. Yet, at the same time, love as we know it, is a reflection of the great spiritual truth which has been taught by every Wisdom Tradition since time without measure: i.e., Love is the cause of all creation and the sustaining power in all that lives. Indeed, Love is the greatest power on earth.

The 20th century theologian, Paul Tillich, said, "I have given no definition of love. This is impossible, because there is no higher principle by which it could be defined." But even though we may not be able to define it, love can be felt and known at some level by every one of us.

Most of us associate love with the strong feelings it evokes in us, yet love is much more than feelings and emotions. Love is that most powerful, creative energy which, when it streams through our being, affects every level of our life — physical, emotional, mental and spiritual.

In our self-centered and materialistic culture, we suffer greatly from a poverty of love. For many of us, the shared values of social and cultural traditions have lost their cohesive power and, as history amply demonstrates, these secular cultural forces only appear to connect people, they are only temporary artifacts and they inevitably break down. In our world today, the atmosphere is clouded by a pervasive feeling of separation and alienation from one another. And we are constantly showered with seemingly rational explanations to excuse and justify the bitterness, violence, anger and fear that characterize our relations with one another. Where is love?

The development of love is the underlying true purpose for the blended life of a man and woman — as well as the communal life of all humanity — and love is the only real power that can hold us together. Indeed, love is the only power that can move us toward a more noble and lofty, spiritual destiny. We must begin now, as the Bible tells us, to "love one another." If a man and a woman living together were to actively and intentionally focus on the renewal and intensification of their love for each other, their relationship could become a creative vehicle for deep fulfillment and spiritual growth. In truth, there is nothing that can stop us. Despite how we might feel, despite every apparent obstacle or problem, in this moment, we can begin to love.

The purpose of The Way of the Beloved is to develop love in the relationship between a man and a woman. Since love on its own will not sustain itself in this relationship, we must continually and intentionally renew its presence, in our heart and in our life. Therefore we go directly to the essential core of The Way of the Beloved with an exercise that builds on the love we already know. It is a practice of remembrance and invocation which recalls, rekindles and intensifies love in a simple and direct way.

• THE EXERCISE •

• If you are alone, sit in a comfortable position in a quiet room. Close your eyes and relax. Mentally put aside the cares and problems of your day. Think of the one you love and visualize him or her in your mind's eye. When you see or feel the presence of your loved one, say the words, "I love you, ... [person's name] ..." (silently). Repeat the words over and over. Sustain the visualization and repetition for 2 or 3 minutes.

• If you are together, sit comfortably next to each other in a quiet room. You may hold hands or touch each other — or not, as you prefer. You may look at each other or close your eyes. You will find it easier to focus on the exercise if you close your eyes. Put aside any conflicts, duties or problems between you. If you are looking at each other, say, "I love you, ... [person's name] ..." (silently to one another). If your eyes are closed, visualize or feel the other person in your mind's eye as you repeat the words. Keep repeating the words as you hold the image for 2 or 3 minutes.

• You may begin by recalling a time, perhaps that beginning time when you both were delightfully, surprisingly, spontaneously in love. Recall what it was like, remember what the other person was like, and feel what you were feeling at that time of new love between you. As you say, "I love you ... [name] ...," the remembrance of your love can make it present to you and that love becomes your experience at this very moment.

• Afterwards, writing notes of your experience will increase your awareness.

This exercise sounds simple — it is simple — but it produces powerful effects. Through this exercise you are invoking and drawing into your awareness the love you already know. "Re-member" literally means to "form-again." Remembering love cannot fail to turn your relationship in a positive direction. Do it, and observe the effects. If there is harmony in your relationship, this practice will intensify the love between you. If there is conflict and unhappiness in your relationship, this practice will help to center you. As you recall the love you have had for each another, you actively invoke love to become your state now.

Many people say that they want more love in their relationship, but usually they have no idea of how to do it. Those who actually do the Invocation of Love each day, tell us that the effects are far reaching. The exercise can be done at any time, anywhere, during a 5-minute break at the...