This is the February blog drawing. To enter the drawing simply respond with a comment that has real content regarding the blog’s topic. From the posting until March 1st, all respondents will be entered into the drawing. This  month we are giving away a bottle of Prosperity Oil, just in time for adding it to the Luck of the Irish on St. Patrick’s Day. Remember, to qualify, all you have to do is leave a comment with real content. Deadline is midnight March 1st (central time).

Welcome to February! The shortest month on our calendar, but one that gets some of the most hype! Valentine’s Day falls within this month and thus it is hyped as a month of love and romance, compassion and tolerance. For some it is the most dreaded month. For others it is full of inspiration and family. This post is going to address much of what I think and feel about such sentiments that have been overly commercialized by modern media and the consumer mindset.

The Beatles had it part right with their song All You Need is Love. You do not need the love of another to be happy. You need to be able to love yourself, then the love of others will come freely to you.

Self love is not a guilty pleasure. It is essential to one’s own happiness. If you love yourself, in all things and all ways, then others will soon follow suit and begin to show that love reflected within themselves.

I am not talking about self pleasuring here, though that could be a part of the love that you have for yourself. Instead, I am talking about being able to love yourself for who and what you are. Even those little flaws in your physical and spiritual being.

I was asked many years ago by a Buddhist psychic if I was happy in my body. When I answered that I was, but that I would like to lose some weight, she said that I was not truly happy. I still am not happy within my own body. I would still like to lose that weight. But I have learned to love many aspects of myself that I once could not love.

How do you do that? A local high priest once said that in order to love yourself you have to say it daily. It may sound cheesy, but getting up morning and looking in the mirror and saying “I love you” to yourself does work.

When it comes to loving other people, you have to learn to accept their idiosyncraciess. Easier said than done. Tolerance is an important part of things, but it goes beyond tolerance. You have to accept them for who they are. As indicated, if they can love and accept themselves for who they are it comes more easily for others to accept and love them.

Here at Pangaia, we try our best to create a sense of love and understanding for ourselves and for our customers. Not always easy to do, though. There are the constant pressures of doing website updates, deciding on what is worth our time to put up on the site, and dealing with deadlines for things like this very blog. We are always understanding of each other, though, Sarah and I have known each other for over 12 years. We have been through a lot with each other. Somehow, even when we are at each others throats, we manage to remember that we do love each other.

Here are a few things from Pangaia Metaphysical Store that might help you along you journey to better love and understanding of yourself and others:

• Mab & Mercutio by Arden Ellen Nixon – Arden has created a beautiful scene inspired by mythology. With this painting hanging in your home (perhaps above your altar) you are sure to be reminded of love and romance.

• Pass the Energy, Please! by Barbara Shaw McKinney – This book will help you teach your children the value of energy, love, and compassion. By passing the energy from one person or creature to another they will definitely learn what it means to love and care for others.
• Love Heals bumper sticker – Express your desire to heal yourself and the world with this bumper sticker.
• Pink and Red Chime Candles – Use these beautiful candles to aid in attracting love and healing light into your life, or simply burn them to add that touch of atmosphere in the bath or bedroom.
• Scrying Mirrors – With one of these beautifully made scrying mirrors, you can peer into yourself, the past, the future, or even the present to learn what love may have in store for you.
• Lavender Flowers – These fragrant blossoms can aid in relaxation as well as lending their scent to sachets and spells for attracting love.
• Red Rose Buds and Petals - Long used for their ability to attract love and faithfulness, rose petals and buds are an essential for many in doing love magic.
• Amethyst and Claddagh Pendant – The Celts used the Claddagh symbol to represent love and loyalty to one’s chosen partner. Combined with amethyst, this pendant will surely show the world that you are in love.
• Fairy Heart Magic by Gary Stadler and Stephanie – An inspiring collection of soothing, ethereal music; this CD is quite charming and great for back ground when doing self actualization meditation.
• Beltane Bath Set – It is never to early start preparing for Beltane. This bath set will certainly help you do so. Soap, lotion and bath oil, a wonderfully scented and magically charged set to aid you in your love for yourself or for your partner.
• Aphrodite Statue – A beautiful statue of the Greek Goddess of love, this Aphrodite will be right at home on altar, end table, or shelf. Placed in the bedroom, She will shed her light and love upon all those who rest there….or have certain activities there.

A local priest and friend of mine has told me how he learned to love himself. Every morning when he gets up he looks in the mirror and tells himself “I love you.” It may sound corny, but it has worked for him. Long suffering from clinical depression, this simple morning ritual has helped him to learn to love himself for who and what he is. Another friend of mine, a Buddhist psychic, once asked me if I was happy with who I am. When I replied yes, of course…but, I would like to lose some weight she scolded me for not being totally honest with myself. Before you can begin to change your appearance you have to love what you are right now. Both of these are difficult lessons to learn, but learning them is very important to being able to love yourself and thus love others.

A WORD OF CAUTION ON LOVE MAGIC: Many are convinced that if they can just catch that lover or make someone love them that they will be happy and everything will work out perfectly in their lives. They couldn’t be more wrong. Casting a spell or binding another’s will to what you want can only lead to problems down the line. When doing love magic, you should not be casting spells on others. Only on yourself. The best love spell is to teach yourself to love yourself. By being able to accept yourself for who and what you are, you are opening your heart to the love others and making it very apparent that you are a complete individual and thus able to share yourself and your love with another.

This is the February blog drawing. To enter the drawing simply respond with a comment that has real content regarding the blog’s topic. From the posting until March 1st, all respondents will be entered into the drawing. This  month we are giving away a bottle of Prosperity Oil, just in time for adding it to the Luck of the Irish on St. Patrick’s Day. Remember, to qualify, all you have to do is leave a comment with real content. Deadline is midnight March 1st (central time).