Resisting Love & Hugging Trees

[Tim R]

This is a small but important exercise I came up with as the result of something that I experienced today.

 

Today when I was going for a run in the forest, I hugged a tree. And I noticed a curious thing:

I felt reserved. I felt resistance within me to hug the tree. Before I hugged it, I looked left and right to make sure that nobody was around to see me being such a hippie don't get me wrong, I love doing this kinda hippie stuff (especially when on mushrooms)

And when I hugged it, I felt love. For the tree and from the tree. On the one hand there was my love-deprived sorry ass who just wanted a hug (turns out: trees can't run away from you so you can really let yourself out on them) and on the other hand there was the tree who just "returned" the affection without resistance, judgement, fear, rejection, etc. 

 

Here's the important part of this story: we resist love. For various reasons, in this case it was fear of judgement. 

The exercise consists in noticing when you resist love.

 

Have you ever hugged a tree? No? Then go do it. And do it where there's a slight chance that somebody might see you dong it and notice how you feel about it

Notice it in other situations;

Showing or receiving love/affection to/by someone when other people are around? Afraid? Tense? 

What about singing (if you love singing) when other people can hear you? Do you feel reserved? 

And what about showing love to yourself? Do you resist showing love to yourself because you feel guilty or unworthy or something else for doing so and therefore don't? 

 

Notice it. Feel it. And then, what are you going to choose?

Love or resistance to Love?

 

PS: it's all Love anyway

[Jonty]

@Tim R ?

[gettoefl]

love this tim, thanks ... love needs to the very air we breathe and speaking of singing 

here's a list of the 6 s's of love: sharing serving shining spreading singing

besides hugging a beautiful tree how will i put one of these into action today?

Giving to others selflessly and anonymously, radiating light throughout the world and illuminating your own darkness, your virtue becomes a sanctuary for yourself and all beings. ~Lao Tzu

Edited May 5, 2021 by gettoefl