Saturday, February 16, 2008

PLUTO’S ENTRY

Dark, mysterious, and sexual
Pluto entered; uninvited.

Desirous, longing, and sensual
Venus woke up; unexpected.

While she brushed color onto the world
He lit fires, delivering the promise of life blazing hotter—
A promise which carried the fear
Of Pluto becoming stranger once more
And the terror that Venus would again fall to slumber.

Tuesday, February 12, 2008

HAPPY VALENTINE’S DAY:
ON SOUL & DESIRE

Although I have never been all that interested in Valentine's Day, I've been re-captivated by the story of Cupid and Psyche in recent weeks and this has me rethinking this holiday. Cupid is known as the God of Desire, and Psyche was a breathtakingly beautiful (mortal; i.e., not a goddess) woman whose name can be translated as soul. The story of Cupid and Psyche, therefore, is that of Desire and Soul. There are various translations of this myth, and many parts to the story. I won't summarize the myth here; rather, I just want to call attention to the links among desire, soul, and this February holiday.

I have always had a distaste for Valentine's Day because I believe, like most everything else in our culture, it covers over the very desire it purports to celebrate with a mass-produced film (as in layer of something) of sentimentality as well as dictated and prescribed portrayals of love and desire-- in other words, not the real thing. Telling someone that he/she should desire this or should look like that in order to be desirable is not the same thing as encouraging that person to discover what it is that truly turns him/her on and, in fact, actually prevents this more authentic discovery from happening. If we want to honor Cupid's holiday with integrity, we need to encourage ourselves, and each other, to discover what it is that we really love. Encourage each other to reach deep down into that place within us where raw passion and desire live. Deep into the recesses where we feel most alive, living and loving unabashedly and without restraint. Most of us don't relate from this place because it scares the hell out of us. It requires being "out there" in all of our vulnerability. As frightening as this is, I believe it is what our world needs.

Interestingly, part of the Cupid and Psyche story involves Psyche’s lack of trust in her own intuition and desire. Despite Psyche’s love for Cupid, the gods forbade her from seeing him in the light of day. Rather than trusting what she felt (love and desire for him), Psyche snuck a flame into the room where Cupid was sleeping to get a peek at what he looked like—it wasn’t enough that she felt love and desire for him, she insisted on seeing it, on seeing him. As you might imagine, going against the wishes of the gods made for a difficult time for Psyche, which could have been avoided had she just trusted herself.

Following lessons of this myth, perhaps we could celebrate Valentine’s Day by learning more about what it is that truly makes us come alive. Maybe for this day, we could make an effort to trust our felt sense of love and desire. Maybe we could commit to coming from that place within us where raw desire lives. And if celebrating with a partner, we could give from that place as well. If you are celebrating with a partner, instead of candy or store-bought cards give your lover words spoken from the depths of your being. If you're not a poet (though all of us can be), borrow from one, or from the songwriters (the poets of our time). Tell your partner he "quenches your mind" (DMB) ... that he is "whatever a moon has always meant" (ee cummings).... or that in your mind's eye you "can't stop touching her" (Counting Crows). Better yet, whisper those words as you are touching her. Give your partner an orgasm that moves her to tears. Or, something made from your own hands... a meal, something sculpted, something carved. Hands are very sexy and seem to me to embody the very desire I'm suggesting we celebrate.

The thing about desire, though, is that you don't need an object (or partner) for it. It is an energy that originates within you—and often then seeks an object, or has been evoked by one, but that is not its purpose. Desire begins and ends with the person experiencing it. It enlivens you, and the world notices and comes alive in return. So, give yourself a piece of art, or an orgasm, or a love note. And allow yourself to feel alive, to indulge your wildest passions, and to seek what you desire, whatever risks this may entail. You deserve this, and our world needs it.