The Love Issue
Four simple letters merged into one lilting syllable—love. L-O-VE, it spells love. The all-encompassing majesty and gravitas of this little word is staggering—even in the way that it also envelops all that is fleeting and trivial. Okay, it’s late and I’m tired, and I am attempting to share a moment here with readers on this mysterious subject of love. And, like millions before me, including bygone geniuses and poets and philosophers and songwriters who have stumbled onto this same awkward place of bewilderment, I find myself mouth agape, empty and speechless. We’ve just dedicated an entire issue to investigating this humble little word despite the fact that now, when the time has come to introduce our subject, I am befuddled with stage fright. Dearest readers, the best I can say is, “I don’t know love at all.” Something tells me this is the way it’s supposed to be.
John Gray is a friend of mine. We’re part of a small men’s group that gathers once a month. He was overseas when I called to ask him some questions about love. We spoke for a spell, but then he had to go. I didn’t have a chance to follow up as I would have liked, but in hindsight there was no need. John had said quite a lot about love and relationships, and without the sort of hesitation I struggle with. He often amazes me. He just breathes this stuff with so much practical and esoteric experience. Before becoming a household name with Men Are from Mars, Women Are from Venus, John was a celibate monk for nine years. He had the honor of being the “skin boy” for Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, the founder of the Transcendental Movement and guru to the Beatles. In the ancient tradition the guru would meditate cross-legged on an animal skin. John’s job was to lay the deerskin down for the guru. As such, whenever John came into the room, everybody would stand up, which John enjoyed.
John has been very successful in his spiritual quests, and then in the world, being one of the world’s best-selling authors and lecturers. There is even a major motion picture anticipated next year titled Men Are from Mars, Women Are from Venus. I am honored to introduce my friend John Gray as the Love issue’s Common Ground interviewee.
Besides the interview, this edition is filled with wonderful articles on many facets of love and relationships, including sex. Dive in. It was fun running into so many yogis at the Yoga Journal Conference. Sadly, it was there that we watched our beloved San Francisco 49ers’s exciting journey to the Super Bowl end suddenly in heartbreaking final seconds.
We hope to see you at the Wisdom 2.0 Conference this month. What a wonderful gathering bringing business, tech, and social leaders into the room with spiritual luminaries such as Eckhart Tolle.
As ever, please show your appreciation for Common Ground by patronizing our ad sponsors, who are simply the best. March is our Food issue. April is our Green issue. May will be a creativity-themed issue. Happy 2014!
Love, Rob Sidon
ROB SIDON, PUBLISHER AND EDITOR-IN-CHIEF