Hi Reader,

Happy Valentines Week 💕 Though I'm not a big fan myself of big displays of affection, nor do I typically celebrate this day, I've been thinking a lot about love, and how something as invaluable yet incalculable as Love can make a difference for ourselves and those around us.

Last weekend I was in contact with a Turkish friend, Eda, and she told me that though she and her family are safe and well, they are shaken and sad about the more then 34,000 people who have lost their lives in the Earthquake that shook Turkey and Syria. I couldn't help but think back to last year, when just about week from today, the Ukraine war broke out. Similarly, last year, I was in contact with with a Ukrainian friend who flew back to Kyiv to support the humanitarian relief efforts.

I used to scoff the popular hashtag used for situations like these, #prayforTurkey #prayforSyria, because I'd much rather take real and practical action, like sharing posts to raise awareness of such issues, or even better, making donations to relief aid organizations like apbap. These acts are much more tangible and valuable than 'sending prayers, healing and love' to people suffering in these circumstances. What good is prayer if people are dying or in starvation?

Now, a year on, I have had a change in heart: Though I still believe that practical support is important, now I am more and more convinced that love is the answer. Money, sustenance can provide the support needed for those struggling to be fed, to have shelter, all of which are valuable things. But in a situation like this when we are not only physically overwhelmed but emotionally distraught, physical support is necessary but not sufficient.

We are human. Deep in our fiercely beating hearts, what we long for, what we crave, we need, even when we're starving, when we're hurt, when we don't have shelter, even when we might die, is feeling, the reminder that, no matter what, we are loved, we are held, we are seen, we are heard and everything will be ok.

Love not in the form of big promises, loud declarations.

Love not in the form of bouquets, chocolates.

A simple kind of love, where we believe with every cell and fibre of our being, our heart and soul, that despite our struggles, our imperfections, the difficulties we face in this world - be it from wars, natural disasters, the burdens we carry - caregiving for others, living with challenging health condition(s), that what we're made of is love, and what we're held in is love.

If you've been having a difficult time, if you're feeling overwhelmed by what's been unfolding in your life.

Remember this, you are held in love.

Here are some resources for this much needed reminder.

💕 A short guided video on a Heart Beam Visualisation to receive and give Love (a snippet from last Sunday's Live session)

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💕 If you would like to be in community, join me this Sunday for our New Moon Qigong Nidra Circle. We will shake, flow, ground, dream and love in our circle of like-minded souls. All proceeds will be donated to support the relief aid for those affected by the earthquake in Turkey.

💕 A new meditation You are held in Love, for reminder we all need from time to time,

Sending you Love,

Wenlin