Platonic Love

Love one another, but make not a bond of love

Let it rather be a moving sea between the shores of your souls.

Fill each other’s cup, but drink not from one cup.

Give one another of your bread, but eat not from the same loaf.

Sing and dance together and be joyous, but let each one of you be alone,

Even as the strings of a lute are alone though they quiver with the same music.

Give your hearts, but not into each other’s keeping;

For only the hand of Life can contain your hearts.

And stand together yet not too near together;

For the pillars of the temple stand apart,

And the oak tree and the cypress grow not in each other’s shadow.

--Kahlil Gibran (The Prophet)--

When it comes to relationships between straight women and men or other couplings of a homosexual nature, is it possible that there can be such a thing as platonic love? Of course opinions differ greatly on this subject. Some would argue that if a couple is in love they would not remain platonic and others would say that if they are platonic they are not actually in love.

There are reasons that a couple may choose to be platonic. I think that amongst those reasons are: religious beliefs, spiritual beliefs, physical limitations and sometimes, even fear. If a couple is choosing to a hold off on a sexual side of their relationship for whatever reason I believe that it is still very possible for them to be completely in love with one another. Perhaps their relationship is built more on affection and pleasures outside of the act of sex. For example, if the couple chooses not to become physical within their union until they are married, it is still entirely possible that they have connected emotionally on such a level that it can be described in no other way than pure love.

On the other side of the fence though, people would say that a relationship that is not sexual in nature is merely and affectionate friendship. The argument here, is that two people can really care for one another and genuinely have feelings but not actually be in love. One could argue that each person’s description of love is different though.

Platonic love seems to have exactly long into our history though. The thought of two people who are committed unconditionally to one another while remaining platonic has been written in stories many times over the years. The actually term “platonic love” dates back to the 15th century. The term, platonic is actually derived from Plato’s symposium concept and has been almost romanticized in our history. This is particularly the case in regards to the English High Court in the days of King Charles the first. In the years to follow however, political and social changes would make the premise of platonic love less popular.

In this day in age though, platonic love is often questioned. People are suspicious of the idea that a couple can harbor deep, emotional feelings towards one another but not engage in sexual activity. People who believe in platonic love and feel that this is a very real form of relationship have often said that the feelings and urges that are experienced with a sexual relationship are often expressed in a different form when in a platonic relationship. Some say it is more an attraction of the mind and that the urges that they experience are transmitted into more of a spiritual connection with the other person. In most cases though, what may start as a friendship can easily evolve into a platonic relationship then platonic love and may eventually lead into a loving relationship that includes sex. Most would agree that a relationship that starts in a form of friendship has the best chance of success as opposed to relationships that start out on a sexual level. This would indicate that platonic love definitely has a place in our society today.

What is your take on Platonic Love? Do you believe in it?