How much love can you give yourself?

In a vision, while the cosmic waves of intimacy and orgasm with a lover ebbed and flowed, I saw a robed figure in the distance surrounded in warm glow. I was relaxed, blissful and curious. And the thought came through clearly, "How much love can I give myself?" and then it washed through twice more, "How much love can I give myself? How much love can I give myself?" It was Imbolc celebration day. And the apparition's identity was confirmed later that day when my camp lantern fell on the floor and turned itself on to the camp fire flame mode - it was Brigid Goddess of the Eternal Flame! A divine feminine symbol of hope, light and love. For a time before this day, I had been mulling quietly over a childhood song, "this little light of mine, I'm gonna let it shine...hide it under a bushel, no, I'm gonna let it shine" and how so much of life seems to urge me to be quiet, meek and cover my inner essence light over a bit to make others feel comfortable in their ordinary existence and their life problems and stresses and things to sort out. That night, during savasana at my local yoga class a golden orb descended over my head, a golden staff with a large ring on its end hovering over my body offering healing. Here she was again in strong bright golden light.

This question, "How much love can I give myself?" is such a surprising and simple answer to all of my life experiences. The answer is a question that I get to imagine and answer for myself in the most creative loving ways that only I know how. What a guiding light this question is! And it occurs to me that by answering this question, I am giving myself what is at the heart of the matter ... my spirit.