Love. A word that we use every day, but rarely fully grasp its meaning. But what is love when we remove the romanticized veil and look at it with deep eyes? In a poem attributed to the mystical poet Rumi, love is not limited to the heart or the mind—he says that he loves with the soul. Timeless words that invite us to reflect on the true nature of love and its true depths.
When we talk about love, most of us automatically think of the heart. The heart as a symbol of emotions, romance, maybe even naive daydreaming. However, true poets, philosophers and mystics like Rumi seem to perceive love on a much more spiritual level. This poet, who lived in the 13th century, teaches us that true love extends beyond our thoughts and feelings. It truly transcends all earthly perceptions.
Rumi says:
What does it mean to love with the soul? Does this mean that true love is not limited to how someone looks or how they make us feel? Perhaps it means that true love leads us to that which is beyond our reason and heart, to something greater, something that we may not even be able to rationally explain.
A love that is not doomed to be forgotten
Modern society often teaches us that love is fleeting. Like flowers that wither over time, love can wither if not nurtured. How many times do we hear that someone "fell in love" and then "fell out of love" again? But if love is not limited to the heart or the mind, can it even be fleeting? Rumi reminds us that the love we feel with the soul transcends the limits of mortality. It does not depend on the fleeting feelings and fluctuations that we feel in everyday life.
To love with the soul means to love without expectation, without fear, without the need to control. It is a love that is calm and stable, as it is not connected to external influences. You could say that love with the soul is that form of love that is not afraid to disappear, even though it may not be visible on the outside. It is a love that transcends physical presence, time and space.
When the heart and mind forget
Many are afraid of memory loss, they are afraid of forgetting a loved one, feelings, experiences. But Rumi reassures us with his poetry - if we love with our soul, our love is never lost. We can forget the face of a loved one, we can also forget the memories we made with them, but the feeling that love with the soul brings will remain forever.
This love is almost like an anchor within us. In moments of doubt, in moments when our thoughts are confused by memories and pain, when our hearts ache for loss, the soul pulls us back to this love. Not because we should, but because we are connected to her on the deepest possible level.
Love beyond ego
To love with the soul also means lto love without expectation, without conditions. In a world where love is often conditioned by achievement, beauty or wealth, Rumi reminds us of the unconditional nature of love. The soul knows no greed, no jealousy, no selfishness. To love with the soul means to love in a way that transcends our ego, our need for validation. It is a love that is completely free of expectations and demands.
This kind of love is rare, but not impossible. It is like a breath of fresh air in a world that is often saturated with superficial, fleeting connections. It invites us to find this calm, deep love within ourselves and express it in relationships, without the need for constant confirmations and compliments. If we love with our soul, our love is enough in itself.
Rumi's Search for Love in the Modern World
The modern world teaches us that love is something that is found and lost, something that must have dramatic beginnings and equally dramatic endings. But Rumi reminds us that it is true love is silent, timeless, constant – it is not tied to memories, nor to images, but to a deep, inner connection. Such love is freed from external obstacles, transcends the mind and heart, and anchors itself directly in our soul.
When we love with our soul, we love beyond ego, beyond fears, beyond our own limitations. And perhaps, precisely in this world where everything is so temporary, we need this form of love the most - calm, stable and deep. The real challenge is how to find it and, what is even more difficult, how to keep it in your heart and life.
