In The Mastery of Love, author don Miguel Ruiz illuminates the fear-based beliefs and assumptions that undermine love and lead to suffering and drama in our relationships, as well as how we are able to heal our emotional wounds, recover the freedom and joy that our birthright and restore the spirit of playfulness that is vital to loving relationships. On the March 10, at the Mastery of Love retreat at Unity of Naples, don Miguel and his sons, don Miguel Ruiz Jr. and don Jose Ruiz will share their experience of the Toltec tradition that is the basis of the book.

What will participants in the Mastery of Love workshop learn?

We explain tools from the Four Agreements. Our interactions with our audience indicate to us which specific tools we should teach to help people overcome their old habits. Many of the tools are for unlearning the old stories, behaviors and belief systems that are the foundations of the way humans operate. These need to be released so that people can experience self-love. Although we already have everything we need to love ourselves, we just need to release old habits of thought that we unconsciously use in our relationships to suppress ourselves, friends and family members. We teach in common ways these Toltec tools that help to heal the emotional body.

Why are these Toltec tools for unlearning so important now?

The dream of life is different in each of us because of our past experiences. It has become more of a nightmare with the media constantly showing us only the duality of life, the positive and negative, love and hate and other polarities. These dualities show up in films, in television shows, newspapers, magazines and books.

Where we direct our attention—on the positive or the negative—creates the dream of the future, which only exists now in our imagination. It’s essential to understand that we each have the powers of attention and choice. While we can’t change the dream of society or the dream of the planet created by the collective dream of billions of dreamers, we can be impeccable with our word, attention and choice. We can awaken and realize that we are pure love and have the power to choose to speak from the heart in our interactions and relationships with the people we care about. This is how we begin to master love.

Does the power of our choices and attention impact future generations?

Our children are artists of the spirit. As masters of love, we can choose to teach them to practice their own art, rather than someone else’s. Artist’s live and create from their heart. Keeping the flame of love alive in our children and each other can mean a better future for the planet.

Mastery of Love, March 10 at 10 am, Unity of Naples, 2000 Unity Way, Naples. General admittance tickets $75. VIP tickets at $125 include lunch and private gathering with don Miguel Ruiz Jr. and don Jose Ruiz. For information, call 239-775-300 or visit NaplesUnity.org and MiguelRuiz.com.