The Naming of Love as Defiance

Mirabai defied convention by publicly singing her love for Krishna—scandalous in her time and place. This public, unapologetic declaration of love is itself a spiritual practice, especially in the face of anticipated loss. Anticipatory grief often silences us; we protect ourselves by holding back explicit expressions of love, as if our reticence could somehow prevent the pain. But the teaching here is the opposite: name it, declare it, sing it. Tell the person what they mean to you. Not once, but repeatedly. Not to convince them or to extract reassurance, but to honor the truth of your connection. This naming is an act of defiance against both death and the fear that makes us small. It is also a gift to the person, who may not know the full depth of what they represent in your life. Mirabai's courage was not that she avoided suffering but that she met it with full-throated love. By naming your love explicitly and repeatedly in the face of impending loss, you transform anticipatory grief into a love declaration, which is its own kind of freedom.