As much as we love and metaphorically worship our pets, we still teach them tricks and control their access to food. What an odd thing it is, to be a master of the thing you worship!
Makes you think about what other things you value and elevate and support, but are ultimately in control of, at least partially. And then ask yourself whether this is really the best relationship you could have, or if there a different lens that makes more sense for you.
When we become the only source of support for our pets, we definitely have a fair sense of power over them. We worship with love, and our love sustains, and so their existance is conditional on ours.
It's hard, perhaps, to distinguish between loving for its own sake, and loving simply to get the feeling of love.
I can imagine that, just like pets, you can get into some very weird relationships. Not Sharp Objects-weird, but weird nonetheless.
Love without controlling would seem a reasonable way out.
I've not been too philosophical in this blog before, and it's unlikely that this is the beginning of a trend.
Certainly the relationship between love and ownership has been explored in many dimensions. The relationship with the divine or transcendant has murkier supporting literature.
My call here is simply to look at the various things you love in your life, and think about not only what you get from your relationship, but also what you give back and what feedback mechanisms exist.
Happy letting go!
Tags: philosophy