God
Madkitten,
You need to talk to God regulary, not like just once a week, but daily as well and beg God to hug you. We all need to be like children that begs their mother for candy. Last spring, I begged God to hold me every night before I fell asleep. After a month of begging, I finally got the hug I begged for in a lucid dream! It was so beautiful, I woke up crying. I didn't stop begging, I kept at it, then not too long ago, I got an even bigger hug in another lucid dream! It was much longer and more intense. OMG I was in bliss all day long after that! God does not ignore His children's cries. There is a very good article that explains how to have a more intense, closer relationship with God via the "bhakti" path which origins in Hinduism but also applies to all religions:
The Philosophy of Bhakti
Bhakti is the Sanskrit term that signifies a blissful, selfless and overwhelming love of God as the beloved Father, Mother, Child, Friend or whichever relationship or personal aspect of God that finds appeal in the devotee's heart. Bhakti incorporates a number of universal principles, also common in other world religions.
The 'Bhakti-rasamrita-sindhu' (written by Rupa Gosvami) gives the following as the nine primary activities of bhakti, with the instruction that by following all, or just one, of these activities perfectly the aspiring devotee can achieve pure love of God:
1)
Hearing about the Lord - singing & chanting God's names (japa), hearing stories from scripture.
2)
Glorifying the Lord - describing God's all-attractive features.
3)
Remembering the Lord - internal meditation on the Lord's form, activities, names or personality.
4)
Serving the lotus feet of the Lord - providing a form of physical service.
5)
Worshiping the Lord - deity worship (arcana) is a popular form of this within India.
6)
Offering prayers to the Lord - any form of prayer offered to please God.
7)
Serving the Lord - offering a service for Lord's pleasure, such as preaching activity.
8)
Building a friendship with the Lord - having an internal, loving relationship with God.
9)
Surrendering everything unto the Lord - surrendering one's thoughts, actions and deeds to God.
These nine principles of devotional service are described as helping the devotee remain constantly in touch with God. The processes of japa and internal meditation on the aspirant devotees's chosen deity form (ishta deva) are especially popular in most bhakti schools. Bhakti is described a yoga path, in that it's aim is a form of divine, loving union with the Supreme Lord. The exact form of the Lord, or type of union varies between the different schools, but the essence of each process is very similar.
(From Wikipedia)
Ever since I followed the bhakti philosophy for almost a year, I felt God's love much more frequent. It is extremely powerful and really works. You have to have a one-pointed focus on God in order to fill your being with God's love. I think about it 24/7. I devote my work to God. I do japa (mantra meditation) while cooking, cleaning, doing chores, etc. I unload all of my worries and frustrations onto God. I share my happiness and joys with God. I talk to God all the time internally and externally. I keep my mind focused as much as possible. I see all living beings and persons has having the Divinity within. What occurs as a result, God merges with you. This is what many of the Saints in many branches of Christianity experienced following this bhakti path.
~ Stacy