The Many Facets of Love: How It Reflects the Human Soul

Photo by Kampus Production

Charles Bukowski, Lang Leave, Raymond Quattlebaum, and many others, in reflection on love, speak of the many aspects and mysteries surrounding this universal emotion.  

While there may be plenty of ways that people differentiate themselves from each other—we are still oh so tribal, it seems—it cannot be denied that we are all one collective, due in part to the universal experiences and themes that make their way into our unique cultures and perspectives. 

There is no group out there that does not know how to cry, how to laugh, etc., and perhaps one of the more enigmatic forces that have captivated humanity for many millennia—and the one that is universal, I think—is love. 

Love is as diverse as the human experience itself, branching and blooming into a myriad of forms, each with its peculiar attributes, biases, and preferences, but still undoubtedly and evidently a form of love.

In its multitude of shapes and variations, love is a mirror that reflects the human soul and its intricate and unfathomable depths.

The Many Facets of Love

While there are many thousands upon thousands of ways that love takes shape, it can be reasonably assessed that most adhere to a “direction,” an aspect that any version of love is aimed at. Love permeates all of our lives, and this simple classification can’t truly do justice to its protean qualities—yet it is still important to start with something.

Romantic love. This is the most well-known direction that love takes. One may even argue that it is the most universally recognized. This is often described as a fire that burns inside the heart, a hungry flame that yearns to warm the object of its affections. Romantic love is a many-colored flame, often changing hue at the drop of a hat. This is the kind of love that elicits incredible daring and devotion—one that fuels dreams and aspirations.

Familial love. While romantic love is most known, familial love is perhaps the most important. This is because family, no matter which way you define it, is the bedrock of human society. Without family, there can be no society—and without love, there can be no family. Where romantic love is akin to fire, familial love is most akin to the earth; it nurtures and supports, providing home and security.

Platonic love. While romantic love is well-known and familial love is foundational, platonic love is perhaps the most abundant. This is because platonic love is what arises from friendships and many other relationships that are characterized by mutual respect, affection, and shared experiences that offer companionship, solace, and a sense of belonging.

Self-love. The foundation of personal well-being. Before anything, you have to first love yourself. This fosters a sense of inner peace and resilience, empowering us to embrace our imperfections and celebrate our strengths.

How Love Reflects the Human Soul

Love plays a very profound role in the experience, especially as it shapes our identities. Through love, we learn to empathize, to be compassionate, and to be understanding. When we feel love for one another, we develop a sense of community, and it is because of love that we discover our capacity for joy, resilience, and growth.

But, of course, while the positive influences of love cannot be understated, it is not without its challenges. When we are in love with whoever, there are bound to be misunderstandings, conflicts, and heartbreaks; while some may shy away from these trials, it is through adversity that love deepens.

Resources for Learning More About Love

If you want to know more about love, poetry is a good place to start. Through poetry, the nebulousness of love becomes more concrete and refined. Here are some collections that focus on love:

• Felicity by Mary Lover. In this collection of poems from renowned writer Mary Lover, you are led to the many ways that love can create great happiness. With her delicate words and her eye for form, Mary Oliver examines what it truly means to be immersed in love with another person, describing the exhilarating strangeness and wonder that is the human connection.
• Love Poems by Pablo Neruda. Always the master of sensuality and passion, borne from an escapade of romance on the island of Capri, Pablo Neruda captivates with his vision of love. The world is rebuilt and reimagined through the lens of eroticism and passionate yearning. 
• Love Is a Dog From Hell by Charles Bukowski. A canon of classic poetry, Love Is a Dog From Hell by Bukowski is a thorough and raw exploration of the difficulties, heartbreaks, and limits of love. It is a wonderful example of a poet opening himself to vulnerability, discussing without pretense the narcissism and selfishness that love often brings about.
• The Color of Love by Raymond Quattlebaum. In this stunning and tender dialogue about love, Raymond Quattlebaum speaks in reflection of love, drawing it as something divine and likening it to God.