Levels of Love

Recently I was engaged in a conversation where the group was discussing the facets of love - how they transform over time.

Interested in some of the buzz words people were using I went home and played on Google.  I came across a list of the 7 Levels of Love - Deepak Chopra and Oprah.

1. Attraction
2. Infatuation
3. Communion
4. Surrender
5. Intimacy
6. Passion
7. Ecstasy

Continuing on my word breakdown I used the dictionary to define each of these words:

1. Attraction
1. 1
   a: the act, process, or power of attracting b: personal charm
   2

   : the action or power of drawing forth a response : an attractive quality
   3

   : a force acting mutually between particles of matter, tending to draw them together, and resisting their separation
   4

   : something that attracts or is intended to attract people by appealing to their desires and tastes <coming attractions>
2. Infatuation
1. 1
   : to cause to be foolish : deprive of sound judgment
   2

   : to inspire with a foolish or extravagant love or admiration
3. Communion
1. 1
   : an act or instance of sharing
   2

   acapitalized: a Christian sacrament in which consecrated bread and wine are consumed as memorials of Christ's death or as symbols for the realization of a spiritual union between Christ and communicant or as the body and blood of Christ b: the act of receiving Communion ccapitalized: the part of a Communion service in which the sacrament is received
   3

   : intimate fellowship or rapport : communication
   4

   : a body of Christians having a common faith and discipline <the Anglican communion>
4. Surrender
1. 1
   a: to yield to the power, control, or possession of another upon compulsion or demand <surrendered the fort> b: to give up completely or agree to forgo especially in favor of another
   2

   a: to give (oneself) up into the power of another especially as a prisoner b: to give (oneself) over to something (as an influence)
5. Intimacy
1. 1
   : the state of being intimate : familiarity
   2

   : something of a personal or private nature
6. Passion
1. 1
   often capitalized a: the sufferings of Christ between the night of the Last Supper and his death b: an oratorio based on a gospel narrative of the Passion
   2

   obsolete: suffering
   3

   : the state or capacity of being acted on by external agents or forces
   4

   a (1): emotion <his ruling passion is greed> (2)plural: the emotions as distinguished from reason b: intense, driving, or overmastering feeling or conviction c: an outbreak of anger
   5

   a: ardent affection : love b: a strong liking or desire for or devotion to some activity, object, or concept c: sexual desire d: an object of desire or deep interest
7. Ecstasy
1. 1
   a: a state of being beyond reason and self-control barchaic: swoon
   2

   : a state of overwhelming emotion; especially: rapturous delight
   3

   : trance; especially: a mystic or prophetic trance
   4

   often capitalized: a synthetic amphetamine analog C₁₁H₁₅NO₂ used illicitly for its mood-enhancing and hallucinogenic properties —called also MDMA

During our conversation we discussed that it is hard to know what you are doing if you don't know where you are going.  In marriages, I am curious if both people really realize that there is a path to their "love" and if both people are walking the same path?  Friendship - work relationships - family......if you "loved" these individuals (even in a plutonic fashion).....shouldn't that love follow the same path?  More importantly, does it?  Do we get stuck in particular levels and that is all our mind perceives "love" to be?  How can this state of "love" be all-encompassing and satisfying all at the same time? 

 

The world is driven by it - it directs so many decisions in people's existence - yet, I wonder if people stop to reflect on the exact breakdown of this thing so many are searching for = "LOVE."

 

Curious thoughts on a Friday afternoon...........