Embracing the Beloved: Relationship as a Path of Awakening

One of the best written books on what everyone searches for in life...

About a decade ago, I was having an early midlife crisis. I had been focusing heavilly on my career and work, and relationships had become somewhat peripheral, accessories, extracurricular. What I didn't get was brought around to me by a flood of synchronicity that included a mad affair, Sufi poetry and several really good books. This was one of them. I think this is one of the best books available on learning to love The Beloved in self and others. Though we are born knowing how to love, we aren't born knowing how to have relationships. I'd highly recommend this as a book to share with a young couple who is cohabitating or considering marriage, or for any young person who is mature enough to understand the differences between affection, infatuation, and love.

This book is a treasure, one that I will return to over time as Life's different lessons surface to challenge me. The authors present the many questions that arise from relationships beautifully, grounding them in the necessary but often-belittled work we must do on ourselves, alone as well as with another. Viewing the relationship entity itself as a third partner, the Beloved, helps in recognizing that we each interact not only with our partner, but also with the energy of partnership as though it were an individual. The chapters can be read either sequentially or separately as their specific energies are needed. In fact, I think the stand-alone nature of the chapters makes the book particularly useful. The meditations also work well whether you do them progressively or return to them as you feel the need for a specific meditation's strengths.Most importantly, the book focuses on the importance of consciousness at all levels of relationship. The authors manage to make the book germane whether or not the reader is engaged in a relationship at the moment. Those who are in a relationship can use the book to deepen their bond and understand one another. Those leaving a relationship can use it to learn and heal. Anyone can benefit from the familiarity that comes from consciously examining their relationship persona and its impact on interactions with others.Especially poignant is the chapter on conscious closure of relationship, providing insight and great support when saying goodbye to loved ones, whether the parting occurs through death or a decision to go separate ways. Understanding the importance of forgiveness and the role of ritual in taking affirmative steps towards making peace with partings is empowering. The authors gently address the pain of closure, and provide concrete examples that can help to ease the hurt while opening yourself up to the new beginning birthed by every goodbye.

What can one say about a study so profound, so in-depth and so passionately presented? This book of knowledge goes well beyond the relationship between two individuals. It guides the vision of oneself inward to the place where the whole personality can be found. If one so desires, the guiding hand of this study will walk with them through the twisting, churning pathways of cluttered, patterned thoughts to the freedom of the 'inner we.' It is in the answer of the discovery of me, myself and I that the inner sharing of oneself can truly be realized. The 'workings' of the Levine's is the unadulterated truth of postive energy at its highest level.

The book is for people who wish to attain the highest spiritual goals. What is most amazing about the book is that the authors actually manage to communicate quite well, concepts that normally defy elucidation through words. It is a must for all couples, even those who think that they are a very "loving" couple. This book will show you the extent to which you are conditioned. This book is not an "intellectual" work- it is a handbook for spiritual practice.