The six directions (right, left, forward, behind, up and down) are the primary avenues of flow relative to ourself.  These, and their combinations, represent all possible routes from (and to) ourself to (and from) the world outside.

  Imagine holding a ball.  Thrown, this ball travels in a direction towards a target.  If our aim is good, the ball arrives at its destination.  Likewise, an object thrown towards us arrives through a direction.

  This is so simple that it may seem insipid or banal.  However, by examining the essential structure and principles at the core of this interaction, we may discover a basis for an expanded experience, so bear with me.

  In terms of loving, or lovingness, we outflow love through a direction towards the object of our love.  If we are loving our partner who is standing before us, then that energy travels forward.  Move your mouse over the heart picture at left for the visualization.  

  This directed love uses a limited, narrow field in its travel.  If we are in a crowded room, others may notice that we are loving our partner, but the receipt of the love is limited to him or her.

  This is essentially conditional love.  Reception of the energy is conditional upon being the intended recipient.  This isn't meant to change your definition of "conditional love", I'm simply offerring a new definition to add to the list.

  There is a seventh direction, which is a flow returned to self.  We can perceive this direction as a loop because the energy is returning to us.  An example of this flow is thinking about ourself - our thoughts cycle back to us, perpetuating themselves.  It is a feedback loop which, if left unchecked, will grow in strength until we either stop it or the mind overloads.

  Extreme stress illustrates this.  Ever lay in bed at night, unable to sleep?  Thoughts churn and churn, exciting the nervous system until we can't take it anymore.  Then we wake up in the morning completely exhausted, unsure of when we finally fell asleep.  

  On a more positive note, loving ourself is another example of this looping direction.  Of course I do not mean "love" in the manner of Narcissus, who fell in love with his reflection (directional love).  Self-looping love truly enjoys the whole self, including our faults, our suffering and our circumstances.

  When we truly love ourself, we create a self-perpetuating feedback loop that grows stronger as it nourishes itself.  It's easy to love someone who is loving us back, and when that someone is ourself, the energy upgrades.

 What is magical here is that this loop generates ripples of love that radiate out in all directions.  Much like a stone thrown into water creates ripples that radiate outward, loving ourself is like having a cup that infinitely refills itself - the spillover splashes in all directions.  (Move your mouse over the picture for the animation.)

  Back in the crowded room - if we are loving our partner from a place of self-love, then in this instance the entire room will feel the rippling effect of our emotion.  Not only will they notice that we are loving our partner, they will actually feel the quality and feel loved themselves.

  A love secret:  "Love one person and they feel it.  Love yourself and everyone feels it."