A dedicated spiritual seeker recently asked how the “specialness” we often attribute to our intimate partners fits in to universal/spiritual love, where everyone is special.
My thought is this – certain people expand one’s hearts to the point that more love can pour through it than before. I think this is natural and beautiful.
The feeling of being in love comes from the increased amount of spiritual energy moving through you – the love is the same love that you would give to anyone – just much more intense.
The danger of romantic love becoming “unspiritual” is when couples put their partner or relationship above everyone else. I’ve seen some couples fall into the trap of finding the negative in other people, situations and relationships as a way to keep that “me and you against the world” feeling that is so strong in the beginning.
The spiritual goal might be to generalize one’s newfound open-heartedness to the world, while keeping the relationship sacred.