SPIRITUAL RECOVERY NEWSLETTER FROM AH-MAN

News concerning your Spiritual Recovery

February 2026





Exploring the Depths of Love


Dear family and friends,


Welcome to the February 2026 issue of the Ah-Man Spiritual Recovery Newsletter. 


In honor of the month most associated with love, this edition focuses on understanding love from a spiritual perspective. The aim is to help you tap into your inner consciousness and explore the deeper truths about spiritual life—truths that are ultimately rooted in all-encompassing love.


Understanding Love’s Different Levels

How we experience love is shaped by our current state of consciousness. If we are living primarily through our lower nature—focused on the body, mind, and ego—love can feel fleeting and transactional, often dependent on what we receive in return. When expectations aren’t met, that kind of love tends to fade away and one looks for new companions, partners, etc...


However, when we engage with life from our higher self, guided by spiritual principles such as the Ten Commandments (West), Yama Niyama (East), the 12 Steps, or the teachings of stoicism, we rise above basic instincts like eating, sleeping, mating and defending. These are qualities shared with the animal kingdom. Living from this higher consciousness means embodying respect, awareness, commitment and compassion towards all beings. These principles guide us to a more profound way of being, grounded in love, commitment and honor.


The Ultimate State: God Consciousness

Beyond even the higher self lies the state of God Consciousness—a place of communion with the Creator. In this state, love is not just understood; it is lived and expressed without limits. We begin to see the divine in everyone and everything, awakening the God within ourselves and others. While there are even greater states of consciousness, exploring these three layers—lower self, higher self, and God Consciousness—offers a foundation for spiritual growth.


Love’s Many Aspects: Masculine and Feminine

Love also presents itself in different aspects, commonly described as masculine and feminine. These aspects are not tied to gender but to qualities of devotion and union. Jerry Thomas, in “The Journey of the Soul” (pages 94-95), describes masculine love as the complete dedication of body, heart, mind, and soul to a noble ideal, putting the will of God and the needs of others above our own. Feminine love, on the other hand, is characterized by the ecstasy of union and the desire for complete devotion to the beloved.


Moving Beyond the False Self

You may have recognized these aspects of love in your own journey, but lasting love can only be fully experienced when we transcend the false self—our outer identity made up of body, mind, and ego—and connect with our inner self or soul. Western scriptures refer to this as the “Kingdom of Heaven within,” while Eastern traditions call it “Sat Cit Ananda.” Experiencing love from this inner, God-centered state makes us embodiments of love, peace, and positive change.


Love in Everyday Life

Love takes many forms in our daily lives, and not all experiences are gentle or comforting. As my spiritual advisor reminds me, “Love is not peace, tie-dyed t-shirts, and granola.” While some of us began our spiritual journeys with those ideals, deeper spiritual practices, whether following the 12 Steps, Eastern or Western scriptures, or teachings from genuine spiritual guides, opens us to a richer, more balanced understanding of love. This evolution requires surrender and trusting God’s direction.


As I close, I’m reminded of the countless writings and poems about love. I often return to the wisdom found in “The Prophet” by Kahlil Gibran, which I will share with you in the next part of our newsletter.


Only Love

Michael John




The Prophet


Each of us has different takeaways depending on our state of consciousness’ from the topics Almustafa enlightens Almitra and the crowd before leaving the city of Orphalese where he had spent the last twelve years. 


On the topic of Love, which the Prophet first addresses, for me, it is letting go of the limited love most experienced in life and reaching for the fullness of Love, the love of God. The love that shatters all illusions. May your heart open and experience the power of love and its secrets of silence in your heart of hearts.


On Love

BY KAHLIL GIBRAN


Then said Almitra, Speak to us of Love.

    And he raised his head and looked upon

the people, and there fell a stillness upon

them. And with a great voice he said:

    When love beckons to you, follow him,

    Though his ways are hard and steep.

    And when his wings enfold you yield to

him,

    Though the sword hidden among his

pinions may wound you.

    And when he speaks to you believe in

him,

    Though his voice may shatter your dreams

as the north wind lays waste the garden.

 

    For even as love crowns you so shall he

crucify you. Even as he is for your growth

so is he for your pruning.

    Even as he ascends to your height and

caresses your tenderest branches that quiver

in the sun,

    So shall he descend to your roots and

shake them in their clinging to the earth.

                    

    Like sheaves of corn he gathers you unto

himself.

    He threshes you to make you naked.

    He sifts you to free you from your husks.

    He grinds you to whiteness.

    He kneads you until you are pliant;

    And then he assigns you to his sacred

fire, that you may become sacred bread for

God’s sacred feast.

 

    All these things shall love do unto you

that you may know the secrets of your

heart, and in that knowledge become a

fragment of Life’s heart.

 

    But if in your fear you would seek only

love’s peace and love’s pleasure,

    Then it is better for you that you cover

your nakedness and pass out of love’s

threshing-floor,

    Into the seasonless world where you

shall laugh, but not all of your laughter,

and weep, but not all of your tears.

                   

    Love gives naught but itself and takes

naught but from itself.

    Love possesses not nor would it be

possessed;

    For love is sufficient unto love.

 

    When you love you should not say,

“God is in my heart,” but rather, “I am

in the heart of God.”

    And think not you can direct the course

of love, for love, if it finds you worthy,

directs your course.

 

    Love has no other desire but to fulfil

itself.

    But if you love and must needs have

desires, let these be your desires:

    To melt and be like a running brook

that sings its melody to the night.

    To know the pain of too much tenderness.

    To be wounded by your own under-

standing of love;

    And to bleed willingly and joyfully.

    To wake at dawn with a winged heart

and give thanks for another day of loving;

    To rest at the noon hour and meditate

love’s ecstasy;

    To return home at eventide with grati-

tude;

    And then to sleep with a prayer for the

beloved in your heart and a song of praise

upon your lips.



Only Love

Michael John


 

All of the above might sound daunting, but that's just the mind unable to understand the unlimited possibilities of Divinity. The value of Spirituality in the world today is needed, which is Love Itself, Being One Spirit, Unity Consciousness. This results in Peace. Make time to be The Peace you want to see in the world.


You can start by joining the weekly retreats, which last only one hour. See below for more information.


 

Please join the StillPoint community (see below) for our weekly retreat. Until then, be the peace you want to see in the world.


Only Love

Michael John

Visit the weekly one hour group retreat of meditation, contemplation and prayer

Every Wednesday evening, starting at 8pm. But the retreat can be experienced anytime at your convenience. Just follow the link sent by Judy.

"The Great Devotion to God Is Self Acceptance" words from the Mystics

To register for the email invitation, please email Judy Tache at silentretreats@gmail.com 


Check out the Ah-Man Website

If you haven't already done so, please visit and take a look around my new Ah-Man website. I thought it was time to do a bit of "freshening" on the site and I am very pleased with the result.
 
Be sure to bookmark the site and come back often, as we'll be updating and adding new features periodically.

Let's Connect!


Following are some links that will help you get to know me better and, perhaps, enable you to assist those who rely on you for information and resources.


Here is a link to the Ah-Man Spiritual Recovery web site, where you will find a wealth of information about me and the Ah-Man Spiritual Recovery Program, past newsletters and if there are any upcoming events and appearances: Ah-Man Website


Go to Amazon to purchase my latest book The Little Blue Book of Recovery & Spiritual Foundation.

 

Join me on Facebook at Michael Hoare on Facebook and on LinkedIn at Michael Hoare on LinkedIn

 

Like the Ah-Man Spiritual Recovery Program at Ah-Man Spiritual Recovery Facebook Page.


You can follow my tweets at Michael Hoare on Twitter.


If you're interested in obtaining copies of my published articles or scheduling a personal appearance or interview, contact me at mh@ah-man.com.

 

I look forward to connecting with you! 

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Michael Hoare, D.D., is a minister and certified Angel Therapy Practitioner, who has a wealth of experience and expertise in healing his own life and helping others heal theirs. He is the author of the new book "Returning to WHOLENESS...Discovering Ah-Man."
 
For more information, or to learn more about Michael and Ah-Man, visit his web site at www.ah-man.com and his blog at http://www.blog.ah-man.com/