To some this may seem like a silly question, "Love, yes, of coarse I am open to receive love." But to others it may resonate with a place of struggle, sadness or anger that they may or may not be conscious of within themselves. While for many people love signifies a place of peace, support and happiness, to others it may hold layers of disappointment, fear and pain. This time of year, as Valentine's Day approaches, the duality of wanting to receive love, while at the same time having a layer of protection to push love away will be more evident. While in a recent energy medicine workshop I was paired up to describe an experience of distance energy work that I had received the night before. Now, let me preface this with the fact that I LOVE to receive energy work! For me it is a deep place of peace, connection and healing on many levels, so you would assume that I would fully be open to receiving. This particular session I had an intention of supporting a deeper layer of my heart to open more fully. Now, since I have an inquisitive mind that likes understanding layers of consciousness it only makes sense that I would come out with an experience that I am able to write about love. Anyway, my partner for the energywork shared that his experience of giving me the session was a sensation similar to that of giving a warm, loving hug to me. This made me pause for a second to really take those words in. In-fact, I realized that the experience of receiving a hug was exactly what it had felt like. It was comforting and safe, BUT at the same time I had an experience of feeling myself become guarded and not fully surrender to receive. "WoW" I thought. That is so often what I, and many others will do in situations even when they are positive. Open to receive only a small amount in life, and then push away at some deep layer without trying. The experience has me started on a new challenge, for those of you who follow the blog you will know that often I will pose a challenge or opportunity for you to examine your own ways of BEING in the world more consciously.... This one is for you to HUG as many people as possible, who are willing participants of course. While HUGGING them scan yourself honestly. What are you offering of yourself in these moments? Your Heart, love, compassion, sympathy or just a social gesture? What are you allowing yourself to RECEIVE? Are you PRESENT in the experience? Do you hold yourself back? Are you waiting to let go out of feeling uncomfortable? Then sit with your experience, see how it felt, and ask yourself, Are you ACTUALLY open to FULLY receive love? This experiment is not for you to place judgement on yourself in anyway, but to bring awareness. From this place of awareness you can CHOOSE to be different in your next hug. Go on...Get Hugging!