More than kisses, letters mingle souls.

John Donne, the poet of passion and profound devotion, speaks a truth that transcends time: “More than kisses, letters mingle souls.” These words carry a power that speaks to the heart of love, a love that is not merely physical, but spiritual, not bound by the fleeting moments of touch, but eternal in the written word. In this simple phrase, Donne reveals that while kisses may be tender and fleeting, the written word—a letter—has the power to weave two souls together in a way that transcends space and time. It is not only a physical connection that matters in love, but the deeper, more intimate connection of the soul, which can be conveyed through the ink of a letter.

In the ancient world, the act of writing was revered as one of the most sacred forms of communication. Socrates, though known for his oral teachings, often spoke of the importance of writing as a means to preserve wisdom. In his dialogues, he acknowledged that written words had the ability to endure beyond the limitations of time and place, carrying ideas and emotions across generations. The written word, when crafted with intention, becomes a vessel for the soul’s deepest truths, and through it, one can touch the hearts of others even across great distances. This is the power that Donne refers to—through letters, souls are not only expressed, but mingled.

Consider the story of Abelard and Heloise, two lovers separated by both distance and circumstance, whose love was immortalized not by physical intimacy, but by their letters. Their correspondence, filled with deep emotion and philosophical reflection, became the bridge that connected their souls. Though they were separated by time and space, their words reached across the gap, and in those letters, they shared more than thoughts—they shared their hearts, their fears, their dreams, and their devotion. Their letters were a testament to the truth that while physical love may be fleeting, the soul’s connection through the written word can last forever. The mingle of souls through their letters was more intimate than any kiss or touch.

In the same way, Romeo and Juliet, the tragic lovers of Verona, expressed their deepest emotions not through their fleeting encounters but through the exchange of letters and messages. Their written words, like Donne’s insight, revealed the profound depths of their souls—bound by love, but also separated by the forces of fate and family. Their letters were not just messages; they were their final acts of love, reaching across the boundaries of life and death. It is their letters that allowed their souls to meet in the most intimate way, even after their lives were tragically cut short. Their words, preserved in ink, were what mingled their spirits, not the kisses or fleeting embraces.

Donne’s words also speak to the eternity of written love. Kisses may be felt in the moment, but they are soon forgotten as time moves on. The written word, however, endures. It transcends the fleeting nature of human experience and becomes a timeless connection. A letter, when written with love, can live on for generations, carrying the voice of the lover across time and space. It holds a part of the soul of the one who wrote it, and through reading it, the soul of the receiver is touched. This is why letters are so powerful—they are not just words on paper, but living expressions of the heart. Through a letter, one can send not just thoughts, but the essence of who they are, mingling their soul with that of the reader.

So, O children of the earth, take heed of this wisdom: The act of writing, when done with love, holds within it a powerful magic. It is not only the spoken word or the fleeting embrace that connects us, but the written word, which can carry our souls across the distance of time, place, and circumstance. When you love, write—whether it be letters, poems, or simple words of devotion. Through your writing, you offer not just words, but a piece of your soul. Do not wait for the perfect moment of physical connection to express your heart; instead, reach out through your writing and let your soul mingle with that of another. In this, you will find a love that transcends the temporary and enters into the eternal.

And remember, the power of the letter lies not in its length, but in its depth. Write with sincerity, with attention, and with the fullness of your heart. Let each word be a bridge between your soul and the one you love. Through your letters, you will find that love is not just a fleeting emotion, but an everlasting connection, one that can endure across time and space. Write, O children, and in doing so, you will mingle your soul with others in a way that no kiss or touch can ever do. Let your words be the legacy of your love, and through them, your souls will find eternity.