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Opening Love: Intentional Relationships & the Evolution of Consciousness Kindle Edition

by Dr. Anya (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.8 4.8 out of 5 stars 37 ratings
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Love, sex, and relationship wisdom from the polyamory movement are offered in this practical guide to spiritual enlightenment. Contrary to popular belief, monogamy and celibacy are not the only two options for exploring a spiritual path. In Opening Love, Dr. Anya translates the lessons learned by the pioneers of the polyamory (many loves) movement for readers who actively pursue personal growth through spiritual practice. Drawing on both personal experience and philosophical reflection, this nonfiction guide explains how to cultivate intentional, creative, non-conventional relationships that center on principles of honesty and consent. Instead of committing solely to a single person, spiritual seekers can instead commit to pursuing openness and courage in all their interactions. As polyamorists understand: love, sex, and relationships are not scarce commodities, rather they are an abundant resource for healing and evolving one's consciousness. With eloquence and precision, Dr. Anya describes how to cultivate compersion (the opposite of jealousy), find an intentional community based on common core values, and build advanced emotional and communication skills. Meditation and reflection practices are offered throughout, to create an interactive, truly transformative learning experience.
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  1. Print length
    165 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Sticky notes
    On Kindle Scribe
  4. Publisher
    Changemakers Books
  5. Publication date
    May 29, 2015
  6. File size
    3074 KB
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Editorial Reviews

Review

Dr. Anya skillfully draws on the wisdom of previous generations of spiritual outlaws and polyamorous pioneers, as well as her own expansive personal experience, to offer clarity on the sometimes puzzling concept of relationship as a spiritual path to a new generation of seekers.
~ Dr. Deborah Taj Anapol, author of The Seven Natural Laws of Love and Polyamory in the 21st Century

This beautiful book is both lucid and accessible and will open doors that, whether or not the reader chooses to pass through them, will enhance their quality of being simply by being aware of them. I recommend this book as an exploration of what it means to be human.
~ Roshi Ingen Breen, Soto Zen Buddhist Association

This is a vital addition to the literature on relationships, filling the current gap that exists around relationships as a form of spiritual practice and a means of personal growth. The book presents a radical approach to relationships in comparison to current relationship books.~ Dr. Meg Barker, author of Rewriting the Rules: An Integrative Guide to Love, Sex and Relationships

Opening Love is a brave and thought-provoking book that offers healing to those who have been wounded in the battle of the sexes.~ Marsha Scarbrough, author of Medicine Dance and Honey in the River

It matters not if you are monogamous or polyamorous, an atheist or a Christian: in all likelihood, you'll find something useful in these pages.~ Daniel Cardoso, Assistant Professor of Communication Sciences and expert in polyamory studies

About the Author

Dr. Anya is a spiritual counselor, Reiki Master, relationship coach, and poet. To learn more, please visit: www.dranya.net

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B00W8FCLH0
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Changemakers Books; Reprint edition (May 29, 2015)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ May 29, 2015
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 3074 KB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 165 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.8 4.8 out of 5 stars 37 ratings

About the author

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Dr Anya

Dr Anya

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Anya Light, PhD, is an intuitive life coach, lightworker, meditation teacher, Reiki master, and poet. Her book, Opening Love, demonstrates how intimate relationships are a profound doorway to spiritual awakening.

In the ancient language of Sanskrit, Anya means inexhaustible. The name is a manifestation of her inexhaustible passion to serve humanity’s awakening process. Learn more at www.AnyaLight.com

Customer reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars
4.8 out of 5
37 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Guru Jah here ...
5.0 out of 5 stars Read this and grow …
Reviewed in the United States on June 13, 2015
Verified Purchase
Initially, I found this work a little awkward for reading. Soon though, I realized Anya needed to expose everyone to the world in a different light attainable through the mind, a scenario I find discomforting. Though you shall read the beginning of this book with your mind, I invite you to read it instead with your heart reflected toward yourself. It is then you may understand the great beauty of what Anya is conveying.

Further into the work, the true beauty of Anya pours forth. You will see her, and know her as I do, a beautifully loving Spirit manifest as human, sharing the openness of love and intimacy as she stands naked before you in her truth. Blessing on her honesty …

The book hosts complex [but simple] truths. Read it slowly. Reread it. Read it until you grasp as much as you can. Set it down, explore your life, then pick it up and read it again. The price of this book is insultingly low compared to the potential changes in humanity through Opening Love.

Read it and grow …
Guru Jah here …
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Ian McCain
5.0 out of 5 stars Abundant Love!
Reviewed in the United States on July 3, 2015
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Dr. Anya authentically captures her experiences as a polyamorous person, using those to shape a larger message of truth and hope: ever-flowing, unconditional love from all and to all. Anya describes and celebrates words like compersion, a word poly people use to describe intrinsic joy created from seeing an individual you deeply care about experiencing a happy or joyful moment. Whether you agree or understand entirely, readers must appreciate the organized format, including practices to help live a life of abundant love. Dr. Anya boldly shares good news about a community that is largely unknown nationally and internationally, and I have no doubt she and other brave polyamorous people will blaze the trail for an inclusive future for poly and non-poly people.
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Susan
4.0 out of 5 stars Opening Love is a wonderfully written book and reflection on polyamory, love, self reflection, and loving transitions.
Reviewed in the United States on May 19, 2015
Recently I received an advance copy of Dr. Anya’s book — Opening Love. I received no compensation for this review. This is my open and honest review of her book.

Opening Love is a wonderfully written book and reflection on polyamory, love, self reflection, and loving transitions. Throughout the book, I found myself nodding. Nodding because I had had similar experiences or because I would tell someone seeking and exploring poly exactly the same thing. (I likely have either in person or on my blog.)

One of the most amazing things about the polyamory movement or the poly people I have come to know, is that there is no one kind of person exploring polyamory and there is no generally accepted “right way.” There is no dogma and there are no hard and fast rules. Polyamory at its heart is about being who we authentically are, loving who we authentically love.

Opening Love fits right into that space. The first two chapters cover exactly that. Where polyamory fits and how many people who identifying as poly also identify as outside the norms they were raised with or amidst. For some people, the transition is easy, for others it is a tremendous struggle.

While so many parts of the book resonated with me, my favorite section, the section I wish I had had as I began my personal journey, is Chapter 2, specifically the section that discusses “no more normal.” The exercise a few pages later is what I wish I had had starting out. Giving myself permission to finally be me, was one of the hardest things I have done on my poly journey. I journaled intensely during that time, but the guided exercises in this chapter seem so obvious now, but back in the day, I would have benefited greatly having had them.

I will say, that this book does rely on Eastern Spirituality and many Buddhist principles. On the one hand they are gentle and loving lessons, philosophies and principles. While their root is squarely in those traditions, they have great crossover and are at their core compassionate and loving. I am not a practitioner of Buddhism, but as a devoted yoga practitioner, I found myself understanding these principles and applying them as I would a yoga teaching. You can take each up and examine them, if they fit, keep them, if not, don’t. The book is not dogmatic in the least, but rather encouraging and loving in its purpose, regardless of where you are on your spiritual journey or even if you identify as non-spiritual. Being compassionate and mindful occurs in so many contexts.

If Eastern philosophy is not your cup of tea, I still think this book would be helpful. It is one part recent memoir, one part compassionate guide, a flashlight, a what if prompt, and an academic beginners guide.

It is also reasonably short. You could read it with a partner in a weekend. You could read it in a week, reading only a short bit each night before bed, like I did.

Overall I think this book brings a fresh voice to the conversation. It is a path of loving gentleness, of forgiveness, of embracing the self. So often, in my position as community organizer and leader, I see people suffering. Transition from the de facto cultural norm of monogamy to polyamory, ethical non-monogamy, or somewhere in between, there can be so much judgement, internal and external. Dr. Anya takes up those questions and offers a glimpse at a path that is rooted in forgiveness, compassion, and love.

This is not a how to guide, but more of an exploration of academic text, philosophical principles, and first hand experiences, written in an accessible style.

Overall I would give it 4 out of 5 stars. I can see it being part of a series and I can see each chapter going deeper, sometimes I longed for that, but reminded myself, this was the opening of what is likely going to be an ongoing conversation. Not unlike what most of us a poly people come to understand, the journey is a lifelong one.
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Samantha
5.0 out of 5 stars good for all relationship types
Reviewed in the United States on February 28, 2018
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I thought this book was fantastic. It's written differently than what I would have expected, but there's nothing wrong with that. This book covers a lot of basics in polyamory, which is good for those just getting into or those who are curious. This book talks of many important things in mono relationships as well. I wish I would have read this prior to some of the papers I wrote in school regarding non-monogamy, it would have helped a lot. I highly recommend this book.
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Thomas N.
5.0 out of 5 stars How can you put a value on the spiritual benefit?
Reviewed in the United States on August 10, 2019
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Worth far more that the purchase price. The lesson in honesty alone changed my thinking forever. But there is much much more herein. thank you
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I. Ponder
5.0 out of 5 stars If you love earnestly and wholeheartedly read this book and recommend to all your connections.
Reviewed in the United States on October 7, 2016
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One of the best resources ever to understand what love means. Dr. Anya creates a piece of work that applies to all love styles no matter
what choice. Highly recommended!
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Shelby Bliss
5.0 out of 5 stars Must read!
Reviewed in the United States on October 4, 2015
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Such wisdom and openness from Anya!
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Glennopeko
4.0 out of 5 stars Great book for self-reflection on the topic of love
Reviewed in the United States on July 18, 2015
I became curious about this book/author when I read a recommendation by Paul Lowe who usually has a a lot of great insight into topics we don't always talk openly about. Overall, I really enjoyed reading this book and read it in only a few sittings because it is a very easy and interesting read.

I found it had less to do with polyamory specifically and rather more of a guide personal reflection dealing with the broad concept of love and spirituality. I connected a lot more to certain sections and I think that is a good thing - If it connects with you, you take that info and do some self analysis and, if it doesn't, you leave it. For now. Maybe at another point in time it will. As such, I can see rereading this and following up more with some of the suggested exercises at the time when they speak to you.

I would probably recommend the e-book version because it reads so quickly and you can make some notes. :) Looking forward to follow-up writings by this author.
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Top reviews from other countries

roger
5.0 out of 5 stars INTENTIONAL LOVE THATS HONEST TO ALL!
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on June 16, 2015
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Dr Anya I love reading this book, it reveals so many depths to intimate relationship energy. Just dipping into any page opens my heart to expanding my capacity to OPENING LOVE. Anya guides me through jealousy with exercises that increase accurate empathy to intimacy with self and others. Anya allows me to become brave in becoming a hero of 'coming out' as a natural Polyamorous soul. It faces me with all my personal conditioning of guilt, fear and risk of being so misunderstood. I ask you to risk buying this book and revealing your true potential for OPENING LOVE. I believe understanding and daring to live truthful Polyamory will be truly served by Anya 's deep insights. We all risk controversy who 'come out' and this book will stand the test of time. Roger King author of WARRIOR LOVE.
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