Intimacy means different things as we journey through our lives. There is a taboo about discussing this as a person grows up and ages and it leaves a gap in our education around this subject. We darken and begin to get confused when our libido packs its little bag and heads out for greener pastures. I think we can age into a better understanding given more information. Yet western culture takes a 180 degree turn at each teaching about the realities of human sexuality and leaves youth and the aging in the dust on our own. Mostly we're left to cobble together and to try and apply what future generations discover and teach regarding human sexuality and gender identity. This is especially true in the puritanical lands of the USA. My generation was supposed to storm those beaches and liberate and redefine that prudish thinking. Sadly the construct around intimacy and human sexuality is still bogged down in these well intended but twisted designs on the subject. Turns out we're going to need reinforcements, apparently. More time; more positive examples and experiences; more love is love bumper stickers.
Intimacy gets even more confusing when it rubs up against spirituality and bumps into the American psyche. One can get excited about feeling the spirit in their life...but not THAT excited! Off we are sent - and naturally so because of the ignorance - to boundary violation land via posturing and denial. We are sometimes not ready when there is an obstruction in the flow of spiritual energy. Yet, when it is not faced with courage and responsibility, it then surfaces shaded as an abuse of power and horrible emotional damage acted out in the victim/perpetrator dichotomy. All of this obscene activity is rooted in a lack of an education and skill sets to use regarding the very real human need for intimacy and connection. These two desires have a spectrum far wider than simply sexuality. Much of the thought stream of separation consciousness that people today maintain is trapped in this insane judgemental loop of good and bad or good vs evil road of displeasure and pain. We are clumsy in our attempt to evolve and reconnect with our instincts around these things. We've been long forced away from our senses in sharing our hearts. We know what is sacred/divine and what is profane/malicious without step-by-step guidance in the matter. If our intentions are honorable and our feelings are sincere, we can tell the difference in a heartbeat.
Hafiz speaks in this poem about how lovers are intimate and he goes on to describe how this intimacy is tended to with his own spiritual nature and cultivated with his sagacity. Passion in life is a treacherous way-going without a true heart as a guide. One must go a distance with oneself to understand this internal language and cultivate discernment.
Thank you for listening.
https://pixabay.com/music/id-109186/
Music: I have been hanging on to this song, The Kids Are Having None Of It by Frazey Ford for a long time waiting for the right post for it. This is the right post. We must listen to these young souls. They are here to teach us what we need to know so we can learn to open our hearts to experience love in the world. Please do what you can to stand by and support those who are facing the fire and the ire of people who are acting out their violently fearful scenarios. These kids are standing in their truth for all of us.
The original post in this series of poems by Hafiz (including an addendum regarding the authenticity of these poems) can be found here.
The Gift: Poems by Hafiz and translated by Daniel Ladinsky can be purchased here.