Suggested Ritual Days

• February 13-15: Lupercalia, a fertility festival, as celebrated in Ancient Rome
• February 14: Valentine's Day, as celebrated in the United States
• May 1: Global Love Day, as proclaimed by The Love Foundation, whose motto is "Love Begins With Me"
• June 12: Dia dos Namorados (Day of the Enamored/Day of Boyfriends and Girlfriends), as celebrated in Brazil
• September 20: Dia del Amor y la Amistad (Day of Love and Friendship), as celebrated in Colombia
• Any Friday: Friday is "Freya's day"

Items needed

• heart-shaped, rose-scented floating candle
• a lighter
• heart-shaped pendant or token
• bowl of water

This ritual gives you the ability to open up to love. Whether asking for that "special someone" to enter your life or wishing to reconnect with the idea and passion of love itself, this ritual seeks to send your desire for love into the universe, where it will be heard and made manifest. Think of this ritual as a re-dedication to the art of love. You are remembering the power of love to bring pleasure and satisfaction in depth into your life.

Once you have collected all of your items, choose a Friday when you feel relaxed, peaceful, and happy. If this is an impossibility due to your everyday stresses, do this ritual on the next Friday you have available! You really need this time to connect with love! Now!

Gather your items in a place that is warm and relatively secluded. Outside, amid the trees or by a stream or on the beach would be perfect, but if the weather is inclement, perform the ritual in a room that is free of daily hustle-bustle. You could try your bedroom or meditation room. Take some deep cleansing breaths and focus only on your breath. Feel the breath moving into your body and then, as you exhale, out of your body. Concentrate only on the breath. If you find this difficult, you can try thinking "breathe in" on the inhale and "breathe out" on the exhale.

As you do this, you will find that your mind tries to wander away from the breathing. Gently nudge it back to the breath and away from everyday concerns, worries, and plans. This exercise is meant to bring you into the present and into your body, aligning the body with the mind. (This is known in some Buddhist practices as "I'm full breathing." You can learn about mindfulness as a spiritual practice in the writings of Thich Nhat Hanh.)

Once you feel your mind and body shift and come together, placed the candle in the bowl of water and light it. Continue breathing mindfully, taking in the aroma of the candle. With the breath in mind, begin to "take in" positive thoughts about love and breathed out negative concepts. You may, for instance, breathed in warmth and breathe out jealousy; breathe in laughter and breathe out anger. You can do this for as long as you want, individualizing the practice to coincide with your particular experience with love. You may actually breathe in and breathe out particular deeds that occurred during various loves in your life. You should take care, however, not to breathe in the essence of another individual. This ritual is for you and you alone. Be sure to breathe only experiences and sensations that were and are completely yours.

After breathing for some time, dip the heart-shaped pendant or token into the bowl of water. While holding onto the pendant or token, continue breathing with love in mind, breathing in the positive and breathing out the negative. When you feel ready, take the pendant or token out of the water and place it on your body -- around your neck, in your shoe, around your wrist, or in your pocket. Know that the pendant is a physical reminder of your ability to connect to the idea of love and that by wearing it, you are a part of love itself. You radiate love.

You can repeat this ritual as often as you would like, recharging your pendant or token with the power of love. Often, you will be able to recall the benefits of love through the practice of mindful breathing, which can be done at any time and in any place.