What Valentine’s Day Teaches Us About Love
Happy Valentine’s Day! This is one of my favorite holidays because I love LOVE.
The sacred energy of the heart is associated with the fourth chakra. It’s our ability to relate to others, our inner teacher, and the bridge between the material and physical world, connecting the agenda of the soul with our mind, body, and actions.
The History of Valentine’s Day
The history of Valentine’s Day is a bit mysterious. Many believe it’s tied to the pagan fertility festival Lupercalia that was celebrated on February 15 and dedicated to the Roman woodland deity, Faunus, and the founders of Rome, Romulus and Remus. One Lupercalia tradition involved women placing their names into an urn, from which young men would draw and pair up with their partner, their union often ending in marriage.
The First Saint
Others believe Valentine’s Day was inspired by 3 saints. The first, Saint Valentine, secretly married young couples after Emperor Claudius II outlawed marriage for young men, believing single men made better soldiers. Valentine was imprisoned for his actions, and he developed a friendship with his jailer’s daughter, Asterius, who was blind. The story goes that Valentine prayed for her healing, and she was suddenly able to see for the first time in her life. Before his execution on February 14, he sent her a final letter signed, “from your Valentine.”
The Second Saint
The second saint, the Bishop of Interamna, was known for his compassion and support of those who were persecuted or living in poverty. Like the first, he was said to perform miracles, including healing a nobleman’s son. He was ultimately martyred, also on February 14, for refusing to renounce his faith.
The Third Saint
The third and lesser-known Saint Valentinus is also honored with a feast day on February 14. He’s believed to have lived in a rural community of northern Africa and held true to his faith in the face of great political upheaval.
What Would Love Do?
No matter the story you resonate with most, I invite you to get curious about love. What would love do in this moment? In a time when fear is so prevalent, love is what will heal us—because love builds true power.
When you feel afraid, return to the power of your heart. Feel it beating. Cultivate gratitude for your breath. Be kind to yourself and others, and notice the positive effects on your nervous system.
Expanding the Energy of Your Heart Center
With every breath you take, allow the radiance of your heart to expand past your body to all who are in need of this energy. Sense the energy of your heart connecting to the heart of all things, expanding into infinity and rippling back to you.
This Valentine’s Day and beyond, may the wisdom of love be expressed through the eyes of the heart, the voice of the heart, and the actions of the soul.