Then said Almitra, Speak to us of

Love.

And he raised his head and looked upon

the people, and there fell a stillness

upon them. And with a great voice he

said:

When love beckons to you, follow him,

Though his ways are hard and steep.

And when his wings enfold you yield to

him,

Though the sword hidden among his

pinions may wound you.

And when he speaks to you believe in

him,

Though his voice may shatter your dreams

as the north wind lays waste the garden.

For even as love crowns you so shall

he crucify you. Even as he is for your

growth so is he for your pruning.

Even as he ascends to your height and

caresses your tenderest branches

that quiver in the sun,

So shall he descend to your roots and

shake them in their clinging to the

earth.

*****

Like sheaves of corn he gathers you unto

himself.

He threshes you to make you naked.

He sifts you to free you from your

husks.

He grinds you to whiteness.

He kneads you until you are pliant;

And then he assigns you to his sacred

fire, that you may become sacred bread

for God’s sacred feast.

*****

All these things shall love do unto you

that you may know the secrets of your

heart, and in that knowledge become a

fragment of Life’s heart.

But if in your fear you would seek only

love’s peace and love’s pleasure,

Then it is better for you that you

cover your nakedness and pass out of

love’s threshing-floor,

Into the seasonless world where you

shall laugh, but not all of your

laughter, and weep, but not all of your

tears.

*****

Love gives naught but itself and takes

naught but from itself.

Love possesses not nor would it be

possessed;

For love is sufficient unto love.

When you love you should not say, “God

is in my heart,” but rather, “I am in

the heart of God.”

And think not you can direct the course

of love, for love, if it finds you

worthy, directs your course.

Love has no other desire but to fulfil

itself.

But if you love and must needs have

desires, let these be your desires:

To melt and be like a running brook that

sings its melody to the night.

To know the pain of too much tenderness.

To be wounded by your own understanding

of love;

And to bleed willingly and joyfully.

To wake at dawn with a winged heart and

give thanks for another day of loving;

To rest at the noon hour and meditate

love’s ecstacy;

To return home at eventide with

gratitude;

And then to sleep with a prayer for

the beloved in your heart and a song of

praise upon your lips.

***** *****

 

~ Chapter 2: "On Love" from The Prophet by Kahlil Gibran

Spirit Nourished Earth created the image in this post in collaboration with DALL·E 3

 

~Read Chapter 3 Next~

 

Journaling Prompts for Self-Reflection

 

Surrendering to Love 

“And when his wings enfold you yield to him…” In what ways have you resisted or surrendered to love’s transformative power in your life?

Love’s Refinement

Gibran compares love’s process to threshing, grinding, and kneading.  How has love shaped and refined you through both joy and hardship?

Beyond Possession

“Love possesses not nor would it be possessed.” How can you cultivate a love that is free from attachment and expectation?

 

The Course of Love

Gibran says, “Love if it finds you worthy, directs your course.” How has love unexpectedly guided your life’s path?

 

Continue the Conversation 

Your reflections are valuable to this community.  If you feel inspired, please share your thoughts or insights in the comments below.  We’d love to hear from you.

 

 

Chapter 3: On Marriage