“He that loveth not knoweth not God, for God is love.”

Expressly written in the New Testament, this universal decree can serve as a guiding principle for life.

In every culture, the act of falling in love has always been seen as a spiritual encounter. Whether you’re a saint or a simple person, love and its spiritual dimensions have been described as akin to treading on sacred grounds, said Deepak Chopra in “The Path to Love: Spiritual Strategies for Healing.”

Like the new sprouts of life in spring, love creates an opening. This affords an individual the opportunity to enter a realm where the qualities of faith, truth, trust, respect and compassion are called forth. With it there is a sense of vulnerability, where no guarantee is given.

For love to grow, it will have to go through different stages. The heart and mind are engaged in four phases for a couple: attraction, infatuation, courtship, intimacy. But before there can be a “we” or “us” in your life, it is essential to learn about yourself.

To know oneself, therefore, is paramount in learning how to love.

Here’s a test to know who you are and how you see love. Put a name beside this list of adjectives:

Saintly, courageous, strong admirable, passionate, tender funny, talented, kind, loyal, genius, generous, adventurous, handsome, innocent, adorable, beautiful, selfless.

Eight people

If more than eight are fictional characters, then your sense of fantasy is strong. There is a chance that you may not feel worthy of attention from people that you admire.

If more than eight of your answers are people you have not actually met, then your sense of idealism defines how you see love. There is a tendency to hero worship.

If more than five of your answers refer to your father or mother, then you may not have formed a grown-up idea of love.

If more than five of your answers are “me,” then you are not being very honest about this quiz.

If more than five of your answers are the same name, then you could be in love with that person.

If your husband or wife doesn’t appear in your answers, then you may not have resolved your relationship issues.

This quiz is a good start. Whatever the results, it should have helped give you a better perspective of things.

In order to allow the life force to flow to you and through you, you must let go. Take a roller-coaster ride in your mind. Are you the type to close your eyes and clench tightly at the bars? Or would you welcome the adventure?

The golden rule is, the person who will enjoy life and the promise of adventure the most is the one with an open heart.

Letting go is pivotal to allowing the process of life to move forward. The path takes many steps. It cannot be done instantly. But in order to succeed, there should be awareness.

A choice has to be made. Do you want to be imprisoned by your past hurts and traumas? Or would you prefer to start with a clean slate? The right time to let go of any negative patterns is when you have the strongest urge to hold on to them.

It is an exercise of the mind and the spirit which ensures the liberation of the heart. To let go effectively is to release your fears and misgivings.

The key is to find your personal balance. Along the way to the wisdom of your heart, you will become a teacher to yourself.

One of the best ways to give is to simply find your generosity. Everyone has the capacity to give—time, sympathy, attention, kindness.

It doesn’t have to be material. The most priceless of gifts are those without price tags. Start by practicing love in small ways. Express it through little acts of goodness.

Once you begin, there is no stopping the blessings. Think of it as “a Christmas every day” state of mind.

This week’s affirmation: “I am an endless source of love.”

Love and light!

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