Love is found throughout Sacred Journey of the Peaceful Warrior, breaking down, as in Dan and Linda's marriage, when he becomes too involved in academia and depressed, and she finds other love interests. Paternal love is shown enduring in Dan's constant thoughts about his daughter, Holly, who he leaves behind in Ohio. A special spiritual love develops quickly between Dan and Mama Chia, the shaman who nurses him back to health on Molokai and undertakes to complete the training he received in California from Socrates. This guru lets him hug her affectionately, which Socrates apparently does not.