Of Marriage And Longterm Partnerships

Of Marriage And Longterm Partnerships

Almitra spoke again and said: ‘What of marriage, Master?’
And the prophet replied:
‘You were born together and you shall be for evermore.
You shall be together when the wings of death scatter your days.
Aye, you shall be together even in the silent memory of God.
That’s what I believed when I first wrote these lines,
But I know better now that I am dwelling on the other side
Of the veil of consciousness that separates our two worlds.
I can see clearly what a long way marriage
Has come since the days of the patriarchy
When it deteriorated ever more into
A more than somewhat archaic institution.

What a long way our world has come since then!
It gladdens my heart to see that for many by now
Marriage means forming a partnership
In which both men and women have equal rights
As well as duties to fulfil, because each one of you is an
Individual and independent spark of Divine consciousness,
Who once emerged from the heartmind of God.
Although in spirit all is one, when in earthly life you are married,
Make sure there is room between you.
Allow each other breathing space and invite
The winds of the Heavens to dance between you.
Love one another, but do not make a bond of your love
That ties you together as if with cast-iron chains.
Let your love be more like an ocean that moves
Between the shores of your two souls.

The other half you have been looking for without success
On the Earth plane in the course of many lifetimes
Is not meant to be found there and in other human beings.
The missing part of you that will make you whole is
The living God within, everyone’s own Highest or God Self.
Reuniting with it is the only marriage that in the end
Can still and satisfy your yearnings for a love that is true,
Accepts you totally and unconditionally,
Never leaves you and lasts in all Eternity.

That’s why I say:
You do not need anyone else to make you whole.
Each one of you has the energies of their counterpart within.
For a long time it had to remain dormant,
Waiting to be taken into possession by you.
Help each other to recognise and take possession of it.
Then with gratitude for the gift the other one
Has brought you, let go of each other again.

Even though you are married,
Never forget that each soul has its own pathway to walk,
Its own things to do and lessons to learn.
So share what nurtures you and fill each other’s cup,
But do not drink from the same cup or eat from the same loaf.
Sing and dance together and be joyous,
But let each also sometimes be on their own,
Just like the strings of a lute are alone,
Although they vibrate with the same tune.

Give your hearts, but not into each other’s keeping,
For only the hand of life can contain them.
Stand together, but not too close,
Similar to the pillars of a temple standing apart,
Bearing in mind that the oak tree and
The cypress do not grow in each other’s shade.

Each in their own way and time has to learn their pathway to walk,
Their Karma to redeem and Highest potential to fulfil.
Let each learn to take the lead in some things whilst following in others.
Each contributing in their own special and unique manner
Not only adds variety and interest to your relationship,
It helps to make it last longer and ensures that both partners
Grow at an even pace, individually and together.

From ‘The Prophet’ by Kahlil Gibran 1883-1931
Lebanese/American poet
Edited by Aquarius

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