In earlier classes, we learned to Stop the World—pausing the inner chatter, quieting external distractions, recapitulating our lives, and resolving misunderstandings from our history—we are now ready to Love.

According to my teachers, Love is more than a feeling. It is a state of heightened awareness in which we experience ourselves as part of the larger cosmos. Instead of seeing ourselves as separate, we recognize that our lives are intertwined with all those who cross our path. Each interaction becomes an opportunity to learn, to appreciate challenges, and to grow different aspects of ourselves. It is through our relationships with others, the environment, and nature that we evolve into better versions of who we are—expanding into new ways of thinking, moving, acting, and even cooking a meal.

When In Love, knowing becomes instantaneous, and curiosity and wonder become our natural state. We may look back at entrapments like codependency, addiction, loneliness, or separation and see them for what they are: illusions. We are part of a multilayered, multidimensional cosmos, and awakening to this reality is a natural outcome of growth.

Let’s wake each day refreshed, vital, purposeful, and grateful. This is our birthright—and what we will intend and practice together for nine weeks.