Exploring the Concept of Love: Quotes and Reflections, Study notes of Dance

Download Exploring the Concept of Love: Quotes and Reflections and more Study notes Dance in PDF only on Docsity! A collection of Non-Biblical Poems and Readings for the Wedding Ceremony 1. True Love True love is a sacred flame That burns eternally, And none can dim its special glow Or change its destiny. True love speaks in tender tones And hears with gentle ear, True love gives with open heart And true love conquers fear. True love makes no harsh demands It neither rules nor binds, And true love holds with gentle hands The hearts that it entwines. [unknown] 2. I will be here If in the morning when you wake, If the sun does not appear, I will be here. If in the dark we lose sight of love, Hold my hand and have no fear, I will be here. I will be here, When you feel like being quiet, When you need to speak your mind I will listen. Through the winning, losing, and trying we'll be together, And I will be here. If in the morning when you wake, If the future is unclear, I will be here. As sure as seasons were made for change, Our lifetimes were made for years, I will be here. I will be here, And you can cry on my shoulder, When the mirror tells us we're older. I will hold you, to watch you grow in beauty, And tell you all the things you are to me. We'll be together and I will be here. I will be true to the promises I've made, To you and to the one who gave you to me. I will be here. (Stephen Curtis Chapman) 3. Sonnet (from The Portugese XLIII) How do I love thee? Let me count the ways. I love thee to the depth and breadth and height My soul can reach, when feeling out of sight For the ends of being and ideal Grace. I love thee to the level of everyday's Most quiet need, by sun and candle-light. I love thee freely, as men strive for right; I love thee purely, as they turn from Praise. I love thee with the passion put to use In my old griefs, and with my childhood's faith. I love thee with a love I seemed to lose With my lost saints, - I love thee with the breath, Smiles, tears, of all my life! - and, if God choose, I shall but love thee better after death. (Elizabeth Barrett Browning, 1806-1861) 4. Destiny Somewhere there waiteth in this world of ours For one lone soul another lonely soul, Each choosing each through all the weary hours And meeting strangely at one sudden goal. Then blend they, like green leaves with golden flowers, Into one beautiful and perfect whole; And life's long night is ended, and the way Lies open onward to eternal day. (Sir Edwin Arnold, 1832-1904) 5. Today I Married My Best Friend Today I married my best friend, Our bond complete, it hath no end, We share one soul, we share one heart, A perfect time - a perfect start. With these rings we share together, Love so close to last forever, This special day - two special hearts, Let nothing keep this love apart. (Rachel Elizabeth Cooper, b.1977) 6. Love's Philosophy gentle with yourself. You are a child of the universe, no less than the trees and the stars; you have a right to be here. And whether or not it is clear to you, no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should. Therefore be at peace with God, whatever you conceive Him to be, and whatever your labours and aspirations, in the noisy confusion of life keep peace with your soul. With all its sham, drudgery and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world. Be careful. Strive to be happy. (Max Ehrmann, 1872-1945) 11. On Marriage, from The Prophet Then Almitra spoke again and said, "And what of Marriage, master?" And he answered saying: You were born together, and together you shall be forevermore. You shall be together when white wings of death scatter your days. Aye, you shall be together even in the silent memory of God. But let there be spaces in your togetherness, 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. Fill each other's cup but drink not from one cup. Give one another of your bread but eat not from the same loaf. Sing and dance together and be joyous, but let each one of you be alone, Even as the strings of a lute are alone though they quiver with the same music. Give your hearts, but not into each other's keeping. For only the hand of Life can contain your hearts. And stand together, yet not too near together: For the pillars of the temple stand apart, And the oak tree and the cypress grow not in each other's shadow. (Kahlil Gibran, 1883-1931) 12. Blessing for a Marriage May your marriage bring you all the exquisite excitements a marriage should bring, and may life grant you also patience, tolerance, and understanding. May you always need one another - not so much to fill your emptiness as to help you to know your fullness. A mountain needs a valley to be complete; the valley does not make the mountain less, but more; and the valley is more a valley because it has a mountain towering over it. So let it be with you and you. May you need one another, but not out of weakness. May you want one another, but not out of lack. May you entice one another, but not compel one another. May you embrace one another, but not out encircle one another. May you succeed in all important ways with one another, and not fail in the little graces. May you look for things to praise, often say, "I love you!" and take no notice of small faults. If you have quarrels that push you apart, may both of you hope to have good sense enough to take the first step back. May you enter into the mystery which is the awareness of one another's presence - no more physical than spiritual, warm and near when you are side by side, and warm and near when you are in separate rooms or even distant cities. May you have happiness, and may you find it making one another happy. May you have love, and may you find it loving one another! (James Dillet Freeman) 13. From Captain Corelli's Mandolin Love is a temporary madness, it erupts like volcanoes and then subsides. And when it subsides you have to make a decision. You have to work out whether your roots have so entwined together that it is inconceivable that you should ever part. Because this is what love is. Love is not breathlessness, it is not excitement, it is not the promulgation of eternal passion. That is just being "in love" which any fool can do. Love itself is what is left over when being in love has burned away, and this is both an art and a fortunate accident. Those that truly love, have roots that grow towards each other underground, and when all the pretty blossom have fallen from their branches, they find that they are one tree and not two. (Louis de Bernieres) 14. Irish Blessing May the road rise to meet you, May the wind be always at your back. May the sun shine warm upon your face, The rains fall soft upon your fields. And until we meet again, May God hold you in the palm of his hand. May God be with you and bless you, May you see your children's children. May you be poor in misfortune, Rich in blessings, May you know nothing but happiness From this day forward. May the road rise to meet you, May the wind be always at your back. May the warm rays of sun fall upon your home And may the hand of a friend be always near. May green be the grass you walk on, May blue be the skies above you, May pure be the joys that surround you, May true be the hearts that love you. [traditional] 15. From The Divine Comedy The love of God, unutterable and perfect, flows into a pure soul the way light rushes into a transparent object. The more love we receive, the more love we shine forth; so that, as we grow clear and open, the more complete the joy of loving is. And the more souls who resonate together, the greater the intensity of their love for, mirror-like, each soul reflects the other. (Dante Aligherti, 1265-1321) 16. Sonnet 18 Shall I compare thee to a summer’s day? Thou art more lovely and more temperate: Rough winds do shake the darling buds of May, And summer’s lease hath all too short a date; Sometime too hot the eye of heaven shines, And often is his gold complexion dimm’d; And every fair from fair sometime declines, By chance, or nature’s changing course, untrimm’d. But thy eternal summer shall not fade, Not lose possession of that fair thou owest; Nor shall death brag thou wanderest in his shade, When in eternal lines to time thou growest; So long as men can breathe, or eyes can see, So long as lives this, and this gives life to thee. (William Shakespeare, 1564-1616) 17. From 'The Imitation of Christ' Love is a mighty power, a great and complete good. Love alon lightens every burden, and makes rough places smooth. It bears every hardship as though it were nothing, and renders all bitternss sweet and acceptable. Nothing is sweeter than love, Nothing stronger, Nothing higher, Nothing wider, Nothing more pleasant, Nothing fuller or better in heaven or earth; for love is born of God. Love flies, runs and leaps for joy, It is free and unrestrained. Love knows no limits, but ardently transcends all bounds. Love feels no burden, takes no account of toil, Attempts things beyond its strength. Love sees nothing as impossible, for it feels able to achieve all things. It is strange and effective, while those who lack love faint and fail. Love is not fickle and sentimental. nor is it intent on vanities. Like a living flame and a burning torch, it surges upward and surely surmounts every obstacle. (Thomas a Kempis, 1379-1471) 18. Hawaiian Song Here all seeking is over. the lost has been found, a mate has been found to share the chills of from our souls. We are weaned from our timidity In the flush of love's light we dare be brave And suddenly we see that love costs all we are and will ever be. Yet it is only love which sets us free. (Maya Angelou) 24. Sonnet 116 Let me not to the marriage of true minds Admit impediments. Love is not love, Which alters when it alteration finds, Or bends with the remover to remove. Oh, no! it is an ever-fixed mark That looks on tempests.. and is never shaken. It is the star to every wandering bark Whose worth's unknown, although his height be taken. Love is not Time's fool, though rosy lips and cheeks Within his bending sickle's compass come. Love alters not with his brief hours and weeks, But bears it out.. even to the edge of doom. If this be error and upon me proved, I never writ, nor no man ever loved. (William Shakespeare, 1564-1616) 25. She walks in beauty She walks in beauty, like the night Of cloudless climes and starry skies; And all that's best of dark and bright Meet in her aspect and her eyes: Thus mellow'd to that tender light Which heaven to gaudy day denies. One shade the more, one ray the less, Had half impair'd the nameless grace Which waves in every raven tress, Or softly lightens o'er her face; Where thoughts serenely sweet express How pure, how dear their dwelling-place. And on that cheek, and o'er that brow, So soft, so calm, yet eloquent, The smiles that win, the tints that glow, But tell of days in goodness spent, A mind at peace with all below, A heart whose love is innocent! (Lord Byron) 26. From 'The Symposium' Anciently is mutual love ingrained in mankind. When one happens on his own particular perfect half, the two of them are wondrously thrilled with affection and intimacy and love, and are hardly to be induced to leave each other's side for a single moment. These are they who continue together throughout life. No one could imagine this to be the mere amorous connection: obviously the soul of each is wishing for something else that it cannot express. The craving and pursuit of that entirety is called Love. If we make friends with God and are reconciled, we shall have the fortune that falls to few in our day of discovering our proper favorites. Love is the god who brings this about; he fully deserves our hymns. If we will supply the gods with reverent duty, he will restore us to our ancient life and heal and help us into the happiness of the blest. (Plato, 429-347 BC) 27. The Gift of Love The gift of love, The devotion a man and a woman may feel Each for the other, It is the great and eternal mystery of this world of ours. We see it always, know joy beyond measure in its finding. Find fulfilment and happiness in its sharing. We need not understand Only acknowledge and cherish its existence. Life has the capacity to bring great sorrow as well as great happiness But no matter what the adversity Its pain will yield to the acknowledgement of love and the acceptance of life. So keep open your hearts, be true to your souls. You will remember always that the greatest gift of all is love. Given and received without reservation, with humility and gratitude, It forms of itself a bulwark, A buttress, a haven, a strength that never wanes or weakens, But grows more wonderful, more unconquerable day by day And enables life to become An exciting and satisfying experience, An existence filled with happiness. (Anon) 28. I Held out my Hand I held out my hand And you were there. You took my foolishness And gently showed me the path. You took my pride And made me laugh at myself You took my wounds And covered them with the balm of love. In your light I have the faith I need to succeed. In your presence I can explore myself. In your arms I find peace. I give myself to you Because I want to Because I trust that I can. (Lisa Integali) 29. Marriage Lines In a marriage where love lives There’s realism and truth, There’s pleasure in giving of time. Closeness and security freedom for individuality no need to possess or confine. In a marriage where love lives True friendship is present With respect for each point of view Through disappointment sharing comes deeper caring happiness deeper for two. In a marriage where love lives There’s no need for rules There’s understanding if harsh words are spoken Apologies are accepted Trust is effected The true bonds of love never broken. (Gloria Matthews) 30. Marriage is Love If two are caring, as they're sharing life's hopes and fears, If the music of laughter outweighs the sadness of tears, Marriage is togetherness. Share my innermost thoughts and know my intimate detail, Someone who’ll stand by my side and give me support And in return they’ll get my support. They will listen to me when I want to speak about the world we live in and life in general, And though my views may be wrong, they’ll hear me out And they won’t easily be converted to my way of thinking. In fact they’ll often disagree, but at the end of it all they will understand me. I want somebody who cares for me passionately, With every thought and with every breath. Someone who’ll help me see things in a different light - All the things I detest I will almost like. I don’t want to be tied, to anyone’s strings, But when I’m asleep, I want somebody who’ll put their arms around me and kiss me tenderly. (Depeche Mode) 36. These are the Hands These are the hands of your best friend, young and strong and full of love for you, that are holding yours on your wedding day, as you promise to love each other today, tomorrow, and forever. These are the hands that will work alongside yours, as together you build your future. These are the hands that will passionately love you and cherish you through the years, and with the slightest touch, will comfort you like no other. These are the hands that will hold you when fear or grief fills your mind. These are the hands that will countless times wipe the tears from your eyes; tears of sorrow, and tears of joy. These are the hands that will tenderly hold your children. These are the hands that will help you to hold your family as one. These are the hands that will give you strength when you need it. And lastly, these are the hands that even when wrinkled and aged, will still be reaching for yours, still giving you the same unspoken tenderness with just a touch. [unknown] 37. A Blessing for Marriage May your marriage bring you all the exquisite excitements a marriage should bring, and may life grant you also patience, tolerance, and understanding. May you always need one another - not so much to fill your emptiness as to help you know your fullness. A mountain needs a valley to be complete; the valley does not make the mountain less but more; and the valley is more a valley because it has a mountain towering over it. So let it be with you. May you need one another, but not out of weakness. May you want one another, but not out of lack. May you entice one another, but not compel one another. May you succeed in all important ways with one another, and not fail in the little graces. May you look for things to praise, often say, "I love you!" and take no notice of small faults. If you have quarrels that push you apart, may both of you hope to have good sense enough to take the first step back. May you enter into the mystery which is the awareness of one another's presence - no more physical than spiritual, warm and near when you are side by side, and warm and near when you are in separate rooms or even distant cities. May you have happiness, and may you find it making one another happy. May you have love, and may you find it loving one another (anon) 38. You Were Born Together, from The Prophet You were born together, and together you shall be forevermore. You shall be together when the white wings of death scatter your days. Aye, you shall be together even in the silent memory of God. But let there be spaces in your togetherness, 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. Fill each other's cup but drink not from one cup. Give one another of your bread but eat not from the same loaf. Sing and dance together and be joyous, but let each of you be alone, Even as the strings of the lute are alone though they quiver with the same music. Give your hearts, but not into each other's keeping. For only the hands of Life can contain your hearts. And stand together, yet not too near together: For the pillars of the temple stand apart, And the oak tree and the cypress grow not in each other's shadow. (Kahlil Gibran, 1883-1931) 39. Married Love You and I Have so much love That it Burns like a fire, In which we bake a lump of clay Molded into a figure of you And a figure of me. Then we take both of them, And break them into pieces, And mix the pieces with water, And mold again a figure of you, And a figure of me. I am in your clay. You are in my clay. In life we share a single quilt. In death we will share one bed. (Kuan Tao-Sheng 1262-1319) 40. i carry your heart with me i carry your heart with me (i carry it in my heart) i am never without it (anywhere i go you go, my dear; and whatever is done by only me is your doing, my darling) i fear no fate (for you are my fate, my sweet) i want no world (for beautiful you are my world, my true) and it's you are whatever a moon has always meant and whatever a sun will always sing is you here is the deepest secret nobody knows (here is the root of the root and the bud of the bud and the sky of the sky of a tree called life; which grows higher than soul can hope or mind can hide) and this is the wonder that's keeping the stars apart i carry your heart (i carry it in my heart) (e e cummings) 41. Love I love you, Not only for what you are, But for what I am When I am with you. I love you, Not only for what You have made of yourself, But for what You are making of me. I love you For the part of me That you bring out; I love you