Accept Love

For many of us, it is easy to give love to others. It may be a little more difficult to accept it in return. Accepting love means believing that you are worthy of the gift, and not all of us really believe that we are. Accepting love can also feel risky; after all, if you open yourself to love, it can then be taken away, leaving yourself feeling vulnerable and hurt. Passion, like fire, can burn us. But it is still worth it. Only in both the giving and receiving of love can we form balanced relationships, whether between friends, family, or romantic partners. You don’t have to let people in if their affection seems false or comes with a price. But if those around you offer love freely and genuinely, try to accept it with an open heart. I assure you, you do deserve it.

Sit someplace quiet and light a red or pink candle. (White will always do as a substitute.) Gaze at the flame for a few minutes, breathing deeply. Feel your heart open and expand. As you exhale, send love out to all those you care for deeply. As you inhale, take in the love that others have offered you. If you aren’t feeling that at the moment, then take in the love of the goddess, who is always there and always ready to give it. Repeat as needed when you are feeling alone or having trouble letting love in.

This card may be a not-so-subtle hint that you need to work on accepting love from others. Have you been feeling unworthy or shutting yourself off from those who want to share genuine affection? Are you more comfortable giving than receiving? (Or perhaps, not doing either?) Keep in mind that you can accept love without giving any promises for the future, if that love is given freely and without strings. If this is something you struggle with, try saying this affirmation, 'I am a child of the goddess and I am worthy of being loved.' Alternatively, this card could be an indication that someone close to you—a friend, a family member, or even a pet—is struggling to learn how to let love in. If that is the case, don't give up on them.

The heart chakra is, as its name suggests, the one that rules giving and receiving love. If your heart chakra is blocked or out of balance, that can make it difficult to do either. Sit with your hands over the center of your chest and close your eyes. If you like, you can visualize this chakra either as pink, or a combination of pink and green. Try to sense whether or not energy is flowing smoothly up toward the throat chakra above and down toward your core. In your mind's eye, try moving the energy in your heart chakra clockwise. If it won't spin in that direction, try spinning it in reverse, counterclockwise. Usually, if you really focus, you can get the colored energy to move first in one direction, then the other. If it seems to be stuck (or if you see gray or black overwhelming the pink), try visualizing the healing warmth of the element of Fire melting away any blockages, and surround your heart with light. Send yourself love. That is always a good place to start.