Recently I came across a small book of love poems by Rumi and other Sufi poets. It is called RUMI- the Path of Love by Manuela Dunn Mascetti.* This is not the first time I have come across Rumi, but this small book is a bit different. I am drawn to the words of ancient wisdom and the interpretations provided in this volume because they transcend the experience of pain often felt in human love and help put what’s in my heart into perspective within the larger frame of spirituality. Although these poems do not separate human love from love of the divine, I feel myself dissolve into a numinous space of transcendent love each time I read them. This "in-between" space is healing and transforming and often helps me gain perspective on love problems in my own life without minimizing the importance of human love. I want to share with you several of these poems along with the interpretations found in this book.

Poem #2

Don’t be faithless, be faithful.

Find the antidote in the venom.

Come to the root of the root of yourself.

Kulliyat-E Shams, 120

Interpretation:

    "What is so scary about intimacy? Why do we want to run away from the other who loves us? The fear is that in the surrender to love we will surrender to the will of the other and become a slave. We need to make an important distinction: When we open our heart, we surrender to love, not to the other. Love is our own, it is a quality of our heart, it is akin to courage. It is also the only power that can bring true and long-lasting transformation. When we love we don’t disempower ourselves; on the contrary, our heart is full and our vision clear. When we love we transcend the ego and thus we no longer suffer for all the things that attack our fragile sense of who we are. Love does not chain, love frees us. Intimacy is to be open to love, and in that garden we can receive the other without fear. We can be faithful without feeling a prisoner. The venom that poisons love is fear, and when we drink, taste, and face our fear the venom becomes the antidote, the medicine that heals our love affair. Use fear as an indicator of a boundary that needs to be crossed. Always do the things that frighten you most and see what happens!
    Conquering fear, coming near - this is being at the root of the root of yourself. This is the place where you love most and best."

Poem # 43

If the heart isn’t there,

how can the body speak?

If the heart doesn’t seek,

How can the body seek?

Mathnawi II, 837

Interpretation:

"Without the heart the soul has no home, the body is no temple, the mind is not a sanctuary of wisdom. The heart radiates forth rays of illumination that awaken the spirit of the whole person: The body is alert and experiences with awareness; the mind is open and grasps small miracles in everyday events; the whole being is blossoming and responding to existence in fullness. Don’t ever shut down your heart, however badly you have been hurt or betrayed. The heart is the only thing that will heal you. Take care of your heart, live by its courage, listen to its counsel. Know that your heart is the seat of your wisdom. When you try to connect to others, appeal to their hearts and make your connection solid and meaningful, a meeting of two hearts."

    I hope these poems carried you into the numinous space between human and divine love and leave you dissolving into a warm feeling in your heart.
~Kathy Mays, Ph.D.

**Rumi-The Path of Love, Manuela Dunn Mascelli. Barnes & Noble Books, NY, 2001.