X CLOSE

Love

A young woman and an older man at a poker table with colourful chips, the man wears a suit and lights a cigar, the woman wears jeans and a fluffy turquoise top.

Work and vocation

idea

The ways Sugar Babies navigate two roles: lover and employee

‘Sugaring’ involves the commodification of romance – presenting a puzzle of love, labour and autonomy for those involved

by Brynn Valentine

Photo of a black sign with yellow text reading ‘Way out’ and a left-pointing arrow, mounted on a white brick wall.

Emotion regulation

idea

If feelings for an ex are troubling you, try ‘opposite action’

Acting on misguided feelings of love only fuels the emotional fire. Learn to let the fire burn out with these DBT-based tips

by Kiki Fehling

A painting of an older man with a beard smiling at a young woman with braided hair in a red dress, their heads close together.

Money and economics

idea

How your attitudes to money could be affecting your relationship

Do you see money as a way to gain freedom or status? If your partner takes a different view, there could be consequences

by Johanna Peetz

A man and a woman laughing together in a restaurant

Communication and language

idea

Why it takes humour to sustain a long-term relationship

Maintaining a long and happy relationship requires a specific skillset. Learning to laugh at yourself and together is key

by Enrico Gnaulati

A porcelain statue of the Buddhist goddess of mercy, seated in meditation, with a soft-focus background.

Ethics

idea

Morality aside, there’s another good reason to love your enemies

Wishing your antagonists well can be seen as a moral obligation or a misguided ideal. But it might serve your interests

by Alex Moran

Painting of a woman leaning towards a man resting his head on a table cluttered with papers and books; a painting of horses racing hangs on the wall behind them.

Emotions

idea

Why is there such a thing as ‘true love’ but not ‘true grump’?

What makes an emotion feel true? And how is that connected to your true self? New insights on old philosophical puzzles

by Shayla Love

Two people on a train reading Metro newspapers, one headline reads “Real claim: We’ve got £85m Bale”, the other “Royalty: A new wave”.

Love

idea

What I’ve learned about relationships as an agony uncle

I am an agony uncle. This is what I’ve learned about men, women and how relationships work in my 10 years of giving advice

by James McConnachie

A dimly lit painting depicting four people gathered around a dining table in a rustic interior, illuminated by a warm light source.

Stories and literature

idea

Ovid’s tales of mutual love show he was more than a poet of rape

Ovid’s epic poem explores two sides of the Roman idea of love: one led by violence and domination, the other by mutual desire

by Stephanie McCarter

A painting of a woman sitting at a table with a glass of beer, a cigarette, and a contemplative expression in a café setting.

Love

idea

Why it can be sublime to love someone who doesn’t love you back

Unrequited love might be bitter and painful, but it is also the ultimate expression of your humanity. Don’t fight it

by Alexandra Gustafson

A man and a woman sit at a table in conversation, with drinks, a flower vase, and a newspaper. A puzzle, piano, and window are in the background.

Psychosis and schizophrenia

idea

Love can fuel the deep empathy needed to understand psychosis

Dedicated carers search for shared mooring points of understanding to help them connect with their loved ones with psychosis

by Zoë Boden-Stuart

Love

idea

Digital entanglement is changing the nature of breakups

We interviewed people about their breakups to find out how matters were complicated by being technologically intertwined

by Elise van den Hoven

Whirling dervishes spinning in traditional white garments with brown hats in a dimly lit setting.

Poetry

idea

Sufi love poetry is in vogue, but few grasp its radical meaning

The Sufi path to love in the poetry of Rumi and ‘Iraqi styles the body as a bridge to the divine in deeply erotic ways

by Matthew Thomas Miller