The dictionary defines epiphany as "a sudden intuitive perception of or an insight into reality or the essential meaning of something, often initiated by some simple commonplace occurrence." Several of my memorable epiphanies are mentioned in the Thread. Those suggest the variety of circumstances in which I experienced transcendent moments. Here are some "commonplace" relationship occurrences that helped me achieve a deeper understanding of the "divine union:"

• Exchanging glances while taking pictures of the roots of a fallen tree on a raised walkway out in the Everglades.

• Giving me a shell at the end of the Siddhartha film that she had gotten at the beach that same day.

• Seeing a postcard with a Georgia O'Keeffe painting and then looking at her art in a book page by page.

• Sharing sea shells, listening to the waves and looking at tiny wild flowers growing in the beach sand.

• Walking in nature and sharing impressions about the decaying plants and trees and then reading my Merry Lane Trail poem.

• Holding up her arms as "tree branches" after reading her Tears poem which reminded me of the "yes" mudra.

• Getting a flower at the end of The Unbearable Lightness of Being and handing it to me without a word.

• Sharing her grief over a personal tragedy, we heard a singing bird, and the tears of pain turned to tears and smiles of joy.

• Dancing the erotic Cosmic Love theme by Kitaro with feelings of connection to each other and to the source above.

• Eating a salad and sharing the meaning of our relationship with liquid pools of recognition welling up in our eyes.

• Sharing tender moments evoked by the Sunday Morning TV program and feeling deeply understood.

• Reading the "I Have Love for You" poem after rewriting it to reflect a traumatic dancing away crisis we had.

• The warmth that came through in my word and touch while softly caressing her body and telling her what it meant to me.

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