"Love one another, but make not a bond of love: Let it rather be a moving sea between the shores of your souls." – Khalil Gibran.
Platonic love is a love that is experienced through a connection. It is neither forced nor filled with obligations. It flows freely through the veins and reaches straight to the heart. It is a love not tied with knots but through invisible threads of compassion, empathy, and affection. It is a love not defined by uniting, but which can remain with us in autumn. It is a bond without a name, yet founded on a lifelong friendship and appreciation. People think it's a lie; then, I believe this universe is also an illusion. How could this gravitational pull exist over such a long distance? But aren't two humans allowed to feel the same?
Have you ever noticed the spark in your friend's eyes at the mere sight of you? How the joy in their eyes shines when looking at you. Their silent prayer to meet you once school is over and you both have parted ways. Do you remember how lovingly your kindergarten teacher taught you to write the letter A? The affection that you feel towards your mentor is for the way they are guiding you to cross the hurdles of life. Your cousin, without whom every family function feels boring. These are the people who understood you without words. They are the ones who stood by you when you needed them the most. They could see your inner emotions. They supported you. They cheered for you the loudest.
If you have a bond in life where you feel safe, good, honest, and accepted, then you know what a profound platonic relationship is.
A Love Rooted in the Soul
The concept of Platonic love emerged from the philosophies of the ancient Greek philosopher Plato. Plato introduced the idea of love that exists without desire—love that is deep, consuming, and life-changing without being romantic. Platonic love sees the soul beyond physical beauty.
People may disagree, but today's generation has a far better acceptance of platonic love than the older generation. In earlier days, it was considered ridiculous to separate love and sexual relations, but eventually, this association faded away, leaving us with today's beautiful notion of close friendship. In society, romantic love is more glorified, while platonic love is looked down upon. People question whether platonic love is real, and it is often mocked. But the divinity of Platonic love is beyond these social norms and cultural identities, not bound by time, age, customs, and roles.
Platonic love is something that is beyond definitions. It is a love that doesn't depend on names. Platonic love is a heartwarming love letter to life, an invitation to the joy of living. It is like trees that never bear fruit, and like the sun that blesses while burning itself. It is the tenderness that follows the heart in this harsh world. There is no chaos, only connection. It teaches the importance of a loving heart and shows us that humans can expand in love, reaching beyond horizons without thinking of societal judgments.
Why We Need Platonic Love
Platonic love teaches soulful love, affection of chosen family, emotional safety, friendships, presence, and deep conversations. Platonic love can be realised through a teacher who changed your life, a friend who stayed through every storm, a bond that has no label but heartfelt meaning, and a coworker who became family. How can all of these not make you understand why we need platonic love?
Platonic love never promises forever, but it keeps holding you in the now. You may never see them again, but at that moment, they were there when you needed them the most. Platonic love is to hold without gripping, love without fear, bless and release, and a sacred friendship.
The Relevance of Platonic Love in Today's World
In today's world, platonic love is more acceptable, and it is significant, especially in Indian culture, where the expression of love is very rare. Here, even talking about romantic love is a tedious task. So, to acknowledge platonic friendships is no less than an achievement. Secondly, in the modern era, people are suffering more from loneliness, burnout, isolation, and digital disconnection. Therefore, it's necessary to keep platonic relationships alive. This can offer emotional depth, presence, intimacy, and a safe space for self-expression. It can be a safe space for healing, a radical act of care, and a bridge across generations, genders, and ages. The relationship could be between two activists bonded by a shared purpose or friendship through creative communities.
In a world that celebrates grand romantic gestures, possession, and romance, there exists a love that is illuminating, quiet, and peaceful—a love that transcends the physical realms and leads us toward truth, beauty, and appreciation of everyday life. Platonic love is that miracle. Platonic love is not a topic of debate, but its embodiment is the highest form. It doesn't dismiss the need for romantic love; rather, it teaches that divinity lies beyond it. Romantic attraction is love for the surface, but it is platonic love that takes you to the depths. Beneath the outer form, we ascend to the love of inner beauty, character, kindness, and the love of the soul.
There are people with whom you know how to pause; you no longer pretend. Not a rush, but soft unfolding. No haste, but stillness. To love someone platonically is to support their growth, to nurture them, and to share a hearty laugh with them. To share a sacred intimacy, to witness someone's essence and presence without a greed for possession.