Cupid and Psyche

Having written several articles on the subject, I thought I would take this opportunity to take a closer look at what love is and what the impact of loving and being loved can be. The personification of love is Cupid, so I shall start with him, and then go on to look at the origins of Valentine's Day, before taking a more philosophical view of love in its many forms.

Cupid is the Roman god of love. He possesses a set of golden arrows (or darts) which have the ability to cause mortals to fall in love when struck in the heart. Cupid is often portrayed as a chubby infant boy, naked and winged, carrying a bow and a quiver full of arrows. This is an enduring image, which features regularly on Valentine cards, and is frequently used for Valentine's Day displays.... Read more about Cupid and his own romantic love story

Valentine's Day is traditionally a day to celebrate romantic love. It is named after a Christian martyr, but has its origins in the pagan love feast of Lupercalia, an annual festival that was celebrated by the ancient Romans in mid-February.... Read more about the pagan origins of Valentine's Day 

Love and hate are both very powerful emotions. They are often linked together as being somehow connected, even if it is just the perception of them being direct opposites. By looking at the positive and negative qualities of love and hate, it is possible to conclude that one of them is stronger than the other.... Read more about which is stronger, love or hate

To understand the importance of love in finding a life purpose it is necessary to consider the many ways of loving, and of being loved. Most people first experience love within their own family, then they develop love for close friends. Love of other people comes with maturity, as does the basic need to be loved.....  Read more about finding a life purpose through love