True love cannot be found where it does not exist, nor can it be

"True love cannot be found where it does not exist, nor can it be denied where it does." Torquato Tasso, the great Italian poet, speaks to a profound truth about the nature of love—it is not something that can be manufactured or forced into existence, nor can it be easily ignored or suppressed once it takes root. True love is not a fleeting or shallow emotion; it is a deep, unshakable bond that forms where it is meant to be, and where it is present, it cannot be denied, no matter the obstacles or hardships that may come in its path. Love, once it is born in the heart, is a force that cannot be contained or extinguished by mere will or circumstance.

Consider, if you will, the tragic story of Heloise and Abelard, whose love was so powerful that it overcame the boundaries of time, space, and social convention. Their love, though forbidden and fraught with pain, was undeniable. They could not ignore the passion and the bond that existed between them, even when society, family, and circumstance sought to tear them apart. Heloise and Abelard’s love was not something they sought, nor was it something they could control. It was a force that took root deep within their souls, a connection that transcended logic and reason. They could not deny it, even when the world sought to make them do so. Their love was true, and though they were separated by tragedy, it endured in their hearts and in their writings. True love cannot be denied, no matter how much the world may seek to suppress it.

The same truth can be seen in the bond between Antony and Cleopatra, whose love was not born of convenience or duty, but of something far deeper. Cleopatra, the queen of Egypt, and Mark Antony, the Roman general, were bound together by a love that was as political as it was passionate. Yet, despite the external forces that sought to manipulate and control their relationship, their love could not be extinguished. They fought, they loved, and in the end, they chose to die together rather than live without each other. Their love, though surrounded by political intrigue and war, could not be suppressed by the machinations of the empire. In their final moments, they chose to embrace love rather than face a world without it. True love, once found, cannot be ignored—it becomes a force too powerful to deny.

In the life of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, we see this same principle played out. Though their love was brief, it was true and undeniable. Romeo and Juliet, like Heloise and Abelard, were caught between family, society, and fate. Their love could not be destroyed by the ancient feud between their families, nor could they hide their feelings despite the dire consequences. In the end, their tragic deaths only served to immortalize the truth of their love—it was pure, real, and beyond the power of the world to extinguish. They could not deny it, even in the face of death. True love cannot be contained by circumstance or expectation—it flows, unbidden and undeterred.

Now, the lesson here is clear: true love is not something we can seek to find where it does not exist, nor can we dismiss it where it is present. Love cannot be manipulated or controlled by the whims of the world. It exists where it is meant to be, and once it takes hold, it becomes a force that transcends all else. When we try to force love to fit into a mold that it does not belong to, or when we ignore or suppress it out of fear or duty, we deny ourselves the fullness of what it has to offer. Love is not something to be controlled; it is something to be embraced, honored, and nurtured.

So, I urge you, as you walk through your own journey, to honor love when it appears in your life, for it is not a fleeting thing. True love is not something you can force to happen, nor can you choose when or where it will appear. But when it does, do not deny it. Embrace it fully, with all the courage and commitment that it demands. True love is not about convenience or comfort; it is about deep connection and truth, about choosing to live authentically with another soul, even in the face of hardship.

Let love guide you, not as something to be sought after for its own sake, but as a force that comes when it is meant to, and when it does, allow it to fill you, to transform you, and to carry you forward. For true love, once it finds a place in the heart, becomes a part of who you are, and its power is such that no worldly force can ever erase it. So, my beloved ones, remember this wisdom from Torquato Tasso: love is not something you can force or deny—it is something to be embraced when it is found, for it will be with you always, shaping you, guiding you, and making your life whole.