Valentinus Day

Our tradition of sending notes on Valentine's Day originated with an Italian monk, Valentinus, who drifted off in his old age into an unquenchable love of everyone around him. Valentinus was a second century Christian mystic and poet. He is sometimes refered to as a "Gnostic" because of the importance that mystical knowledge (gnosis) plays in his thought. He became a disciple of the Christian teacher, Theudas, who had been a disciple of Saint Paul. He claimed that Theudas taught him secret wisdom that Paul had taught privately to his inner circle.

For enjoyment he began writing notes of appreciation and devotion to more and more people; finally elders at the monastery allowed him to stay in his cell and do nothing but pour out his love by way of his small notes. This was finally honored after his death by beatification.

If you are weighted down by responsibilities, obligations and duties (this includes most modern people), then you must find something to love and new ways of bringing joy into your endeavors. What and who do you have energy and passion for? Write a note -- then place it under your pillow or next to your computer. Your inner soul guide is likely to respond with a dream or a creative outburst. The key is to let go of control or fears of appearing foolish. The unconscious will return to you the attitude that you display toward it.

Of course, you may also use this day to reach out in your relationships, which are so difficult to maintain in our busy and separated modern lives.