The Rodan Foundation

The Rodan Foundation’s Publication for The Love Awakening

March 2026

Our mission is to assist humanity in awakening to the power of love.  Our intention is to help others awaken to who they truly are and use that awakening for the greater good. Our vision is the collective awakening of humanity, bringing forth harmony and unity for all. Join us as we learn and grow in the ways of living love and loving life!    

LOVE:  THE SPIRITUAL JOURNEY

The Soul’s Path - We are born helpless and (rightly) totally focused on our own survival. In our first months of life we do not see other people as separate entities with wills and desires; we see extensions of our own self that serve our needs. But as we grow and mature, that changes (or it should). We become aware that our caretakers are, in fact, independent people with wills and desires separate from ours.  And we are meant to grow out of our self-focus as well. But many of us never do. We remain totally fixated on what we want and need. We use those around us to fulfill our desires without any thought for their well-being. And this is one of the greatest sources of pain and conflict in our world. While the word sin has gone out of vogue, perhaps it should not have.  Because to sin is to miss the mark. And when we fail to grow out of our self-focused desires, we miss the mark set for our soul’s journey.

Spiritual Maturity - Human beings like to ask big questions. Why are we here, or what is the point of life? But the answer may be simpler than we would like to admit. Most spiritual and religious traditions tell us that the goal of our existence is to mature into a life of generous compassion. We use different words for this, of course. We call such people saints, or wise souls, but the content of their character is remarkably similar.  They are people who have grown into such spiritual maturity that the focus of their lives becomes love and compassion for themselves and the world. But the key to remember is that the spiritual life is a journey. It isn’t so much about reaching a certain destination: spiritual enlightenment, sainthood, etc., as it is moving forward.

This Is Love - and that is where love comes in. You see, love in its purest sense isn’t about emotion so much as choice. We love it when we make a conscious choice to act in a specific way. There is an ancient Latin saying, “lex orandi lex credendi,” which translates roughly as “praying shapes believing.” Or to put it in more scientific terms: what we do shapes who we are.  Acting out love actually shapes us into loving people. It’s totally backward from how we normally think of things; we assume that the feeling comes first, and out of that feeling comes loving action. But neuroscience says otherwise, and so does most spiritual tradition.

What is Love? -   Love is patient; love is kind; love is not envious or boastful or arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice in wrongdoing, but rejoices in the truth. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.                                                                                                                                                                                 1 Corinthians 13:4-71

This scripture is important because it defines love in a way we are not necessarily accustomed to. When we seek to embark on a spiritual journey of love, it’s important we’re on the right path. There are lots of sacred texts, teachings, and practices that will help, but I quite like this one for a definition of love.

You Cannot Love Someone & Control Them  - To act in love is, at its most basic, to seek the best for someone else. But here’s the key: it’s not what we think is best for them. It is not in fact loving your neighbor to refuse to speak to them because they are gay. Or to shun someone who disagrees with you. Or even to try to browbeat someone into your way of thinking.  Loving behavior does not insist on imposing its will on the other. It is not coercive.   It is a fine line to walk, because loving behavior is also not “anything goes.” And this is why a set of rules cannot be made for what it means to love. It is why whole libraries have been written on the subject, whole religions built to grapple with it. To love is to be willing to stand in that uncomfortable place where we are doing our best, and may be wrong. To love is to be willing to listen to the other, to hear what they need, to learn, and to change.  Love isn’t easy.  But it’s worth it.

Cultivating Love: 

Listen to understand - Those who love listen not to respond but to understand. Practice really listening to people. Listen intently. Quash any instinct to formulate a response, advice, or argument while you listen.  Listen to their silences, their hesitations. Notice what they don’t say. See when fear, or pain, or shame enters their face. Just listen.

Admit your mistakes - You are going to screw up. Practice admitting when you have done so. Big or small, look the other person in the face and say that you are sorry. Don’t hedge.  Simply offer your sincere sorrow at having screwed up.  Be willing to be wrong

Be present - A lot of the time, there is nothing you can do to fix a situation. Be present anyway. Show up for the friend who is hurting, even if you feel helpless (especially if you feel helpless), and simply offer your presence. The gift of presence is perhaps the greatest gift we have to offer as human beings; don’t underestimate it.

Practice compassion - Compassion is different than sympathy. Sympathy involves a feeling at a distance. You can feel sympathy for someone who is suffering without getting dirty. Compassion demands that we climb down into the hole with the sufferer. Compassion and empathy are tightly linked. Compassion can take many forms, from marching for social change to financial assistance to the gift of presence.

The key is action. Go and do.  We must actually WALK the path.                                                                                                                                                                                                                 Josephinerobertson.com                                                                                                                                 

The “I Love Me” meditation series and the “Embrace of Acceptance” series are available on the free Insight Timer App. To listen, download the app or visit  https://insig.ht/jErOcnXnjub 

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The Embrace of LoveTM

The Embrace of LoveTM is a guided meditation series which uses profound philosophy and gentle guidance to deepen your healing relationship with yourself as you are connected with the empowering presence of acceptance.  Listen to a free recording on The Love Awakening's website and discover more about our organization and activities: theloveawakening.org

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FALLING IN LOVE WITH MOTHER EARTH