Spaces in togetherness...

Possession is 9/10ths of the law ... or is it? How many popular songs and movies have been about possession, rather than love? The airwaves are constantly filled with themes like "My Girl," and "You belong to me."

"Let there be spaces in your togetherness," writes Kahlil Gibran, "And let the winds of the heavens dance between you. Love one another, but make not a bond of love: Let it rather be a moving sea between the shores of your souls .... Give your hearts, but not into each other's keeping" (from The Prophet).

The idea of ownership of another human spirit goes contrary to principles of truth. Even in marriage, possessiveness imbues relationships with dysfunction and abuse, rather than the life-giving nurturing needed for love.

Possession is a form of domination and control, stemming from selfishness. The possessor manipulates objects and others for his own purposes. Many issues of abuse come from co-dependent relationships, where one person feels the need to control the other. It's a lot like closed a fist, trying to keep a butterfly from flying away.

Love is on the opposite end of the spectrum, like an open hand, letting the miracle of nature rest undisturbed...

...You never own another. You can only give your own heart...


Even as I can imagine J saying K to this, I thought this looked remotely relevant...
To some of us, at least :-)