Understanding Spirituality
I feel called to open the universal understanding of Spirituality this morning, as it comes in many forms, appearances and lifestyles.
While most people in western culture view spirituality as being an image (i.e. photo of someone meditating, doing yoga, dreadlocks, wearing sacred symbols, adorning themselves and their homes with crystals, etc.), spirituality has more to do with the way you think, create, live and express yourself. People may wear certain clothes, own certain possessions and participate in certain "spiritual" practices, but do those things make them more enlightened or perceptive than the average person? No. These are simply tools they've chosen to remind themselves of what they wish to become, who they are or how they wish to express themselves to the world.
I am not discrediting or discriminating upon those who choose to live their lives and present themselves in certain ways, for I too express myself through material objects. I'm simply stating that any possession in the world will not make you more or less spiritual. In fact there are people out there who present themselves as a Guru or Spiritual Leader, yet on the inside are very manipulative, destructive, abusive, dark people. So its important to investigate before entangling yourself with people that you view to be "Spiritual".
Spirituality, in my understanding, is about living exactly the way that you are called to in a space of self care. If you wake up in the morning and feel like you should stretch, do yoga or meditate for 7 hours or 5 minutes that is YOUR choice and perhaps what you feel you need to align and center yourself for what is to come that day. But being spiritual does not mean forcing yourself to be who you are not and the things we need to do for ourselves can come in many different forms. Gardening, Writing, Singing, Playing or Listening to Music, Drawing, Painting, Doing Nothing, Hiking, Biking, Walking and Surfing are ALL forms of Meditation. The only key to make it a meditation is to be FULLY PRESENT with the activity. To just take the time to experience the activity and how it makes you feel. If you find yourself struggling not to overthink the whole time during one of these forms of meditation remember first: Not All Meditation is About Clearing your Mind. Some meditation has to do with simply observing the habits of your mind/thought processes. And Second: Set an intention for the activity. It can be as simply as "My intention is to be Present with Myself and to allow this to be a form of meditation for me". It is THAT simple. You just simply need to believe in what you are saying to yourself, and if not that's OK too. Because if this is all new for you any little step a positive direction will be a good one. The key is simply to tell yourself what your intent is and put it in your own words. Remember, Spirituality is about a deep connection and relationship with YOURSELF. No one else should be able to tell you what you "have to do" or "should do", because guess what?? THEY AREN'T YOU. They do NOT know the life you've lived, the hardships you've faced, the beauty you've witnessed and the Truth that resides deep within your soul. They are not looking through your eyes, they cannot read your thoughts and even if they could they STILL are not the special, amazing, unique individual you are. They are the special, amazing, unique individual they are.
If you've ever meditated or closed your eyes to tap into the "quiet", internal world of yourself there's a gentle, subtle voice there. The subtle, gentle voice most of us would hear and listen to if we didn't allow our mind/ego to take the reigns of our thoughts by sending impulsive and LOUD messages. The ego loves to be the predominant force if we let it. In our western culture being overrun by ego is not only more acceptable, but also encouraged by the forces that run this country. "Check Facebook" "Look at Instagram" "Check your Email" "Buy THIS" "Buy THAT" "Watch a Movie" DISTRACT DISTRACT DISTRACT. This is the voice of the ego, the very human aspect of us that is SO very excited by this amazing world and SO interested in experiencing the world. And let me be clear, this is NOT a bad thing. Where it become potentially hazardous is when we allow our ego to run our lives and keep us from giving ourselves the authentic, deep love and nurturing we need and desire. Most of us are so wrapped up in ego we think the thing its asking of us will in turn nurture our deep, soulful needs. But the thing we shove in the hole will only hold up for so long before it sucks right through and causes us to need all over again. So we put another thing there and the cycle goes on and on and on.
The more you allow your ego to run the show the easier it is for you to separate yourself from everyone else, see status as being important and yourself as "better" than another because you have a certain thing and for media to influence you to consume, consume, consume in the name of being Accepted, Liked, Appreciated, Better and Cared About in superficial ways. Having the "Newest and Best" and being perceived as "Strong and Wealthy" are natural pursuits of ego. When the ego is controlling the mind your emotions, thoughts, desires and experiences are all heightened. You're so fully submerged in your mind space to the point that you are at the will of your thoughts and may find yourself getting upset easily, feeling like you MUST have a certain item to feel happy or you may even feel trapped in your current situation or lifestyle with no hope of being happy unless you achieve a goal. Or the reverse, you have hope for happiness but your expectation of how it will be achieved relies on a series of things you intend to gain, rituals or lifestyle choices. These are just a few examples of how your ego creates distance between you and yourself and puts things right smack dab in the middle. Remember, without ego we would not have contrast (the law of this dimension) Yin and Yang. Without contrast there is no understanding this from that, no evolution, without evolution there is no learning, without learning there is no direction or reason for this existence, whatever that direction/reason may be for you. You discover what your direction and reason for existence is through learning.
In terms of spirit, there's no such thing as point a and point b, yet in this universe there is and we like it that way because it allows us to really explore deep into ourselves, our capabilities and either close ourselves off, open up or stay stagnant somewhere in between.
To me, Spirituality is about listening to your spirit. Yes, the ego is necessary and not something to attempt to escape. The escapism of the ego will create a spiritual ego and that ego tells you YOU are the only one with the "Right" answer, that only YOU will be the one to Enlighten the World and gives you the illusion of power to judge others in whether they are as evolved as you or not, making the right moves, living the right life, etc. When it comes to judgement and criticism you are simply bouncing off others and deciding what is right for you, it truly has nothing to do with them and whether or not you agree with their choices. If you have awareness of one of the basic rules of the Universe you will know that you can only know, see, understand and judge yourself, though you may perceive you are "looking outside yourself" such a feat is not actually possible. What you perceive is a part of your whether you like it or not. We are all capable of both Good and Evil. We are also equipped with Free Will and the Power to Choose which path we will follow and who we will be.
If this feels like a limiting rule you may have not discovered all that you are. Look around you... See the car, the tree, the flower, the stream, the sky, the stars, the clouds, the birds, the person, the computer screen or phone in front of you, the chair you're sitting in? All these things are a reflection of you and you possess the items you have in your home or room as an extension of your being. The things that you feel represent you best. These are all tools you have created for yourself, through interdependence, to help you along in this world. Whether its purpose is to make you more or less comfortable, achieve more or less communication with the outside world or whatever your intention or need be... all that is surrounding you is a reflection of you and how you feel about it all is the way you feel about the aspects of yourself they represent. In knowing that, all of life can become Spiritual. When you begin to view the outside world as a part of you (instead of something separate to escape) compassion, empathy, understanding, love, care and authenticity can form and a deeper connection with yourself grows. Imagine you enter your favorite place to get a drink, you purchase the drink and consume it knowing you will achieve some sense of comfort in doing so, and then someone comes in... You look at them and your brain begins judging.
In a space of spirituality you are Open to receiving that person and their energy. You may have judgmental thoughts about them, but you make the CHOICE to put them aside and discover who they truly are despite who you want to judge them to be. You are then able to learn about yourself through them. Spirituality isn't about tie dye, the flower of life and seed of life prints, mandalas, yoga, meditation, ritual, nature, ethereal clothing ,certain foods or lifestyle choices. Spirituality is about making the constant conscious choice to listen to the subtle, gentle voice and open yourself to the experiences you create for yourself (which are both positive and negative). You create those experiences to show yourself where you are at, what you need to work on, patterns you fall into, as well as the lessons you've learned and those to come. Spirituality is about being Present in this experience and allowing yourself the space to make mistakes, be imperfect and live EXACTLY the way you are and continue to follow your happiness without fear, anxiety and insecurity holding you back.
No matter what you are told there is NO One Answer. There is NO One Way to live or achieve your goals. Those who believe in One Way are those who have either achieved their goals through that path or expect and believe that THAT is the only way they will fulfill themselves. Another truth of the universe, and one of the main reasons people have issues with one another, is there are many paths to the same places. I could walk straight up the mountain to get to the top and you could walk the spiraling path, but we both reach our destination, each getting what we needed from the path we chose. Neither being better or worse, more or less than the other. In that knowing the Freedom to Exist is born.
To me, The Freedom to Exist IS Spirituality.
If you never eat a healthy piece of food in your life and believe you gain all the nourishment you need you will, but if your beliefs do not align with your actions the potential for disharmony is great and is showing you that you have something to work on internally. The path of Spirituality is typically Enlightenment. But what is enlightenment and why do you want to achieve it? In my understanding enlightenment is simple, Awareness of Self. Awareness of self does not mean that you will never have another challenging experience in your life or that all pain and suffering will cease, but you will be better equipped to deal with the challenges this dimension presents and treat yourself well in the process.
Everything is changing and evolving constantly. Energies change, morph, fluctuate, grow, shrink, stay stagnant, etc. Everyday is a new way to see things, to interact, to create. A new opportunity to learn about yourself and determine what you want to create next. There is no true destination on the journey of spirituality. Discover your capabilities, gifts and power of your mind in this lifetime, for you may have chosen it to be your last. Why not live your dreams here and now? There's no one but yourself holding you back or putting a block in between here and there. Give yourself the momentum to move forward, only you can change your mind or not. Reading this could be the first step that propels you into your truth or it could be the last or neither. All I know is if you're reading this you're already on the journey and I honor your path as Equal to mine.
EternaLove
While most people in western culture view spirituality as being an image (i.e. photo of someone meditating, doing yoga, dreadlocks, wearing sacred symbols, adorning themselves and their homes with crystals, etc.), spirituality has more to do with the way you think, create, live and express yourself. People may wear certain clothes, own certain possessions and participate in certain "spiritual" practices, but do those things make them more enlightened or perceptive than the average person? No. These are simply tools they've chosen to remind themselves of what they wish to become, who they are or how they wish to express themselves to the world.
I am not discrediting or discriminating upon those who choose to live their lives and present themselves in certain ways, for I too express myself through material objects. I'm simply stating that any possession in the world will not make you more or less spiritual. In fact there are people out there who present themselves as a Guru or Spiritual Leader, yet on the inside are very manipulative, destructive, abusive, dark people. So its important to investigate before entangling yourself with people that you view to be "Spiritual".
Spirituality, in my understanding, is about living exactly the way that you are called to in a space of self care. If you wake up in the morning and feel like you should stretch, do yoga or meditate for 7 hours or 5 minutes that is YOUR choice and perhaps what you feel you need to align and center yourself for what is to come that day. But being spiritual does not mean forcing yourself to be who you are not and the things we need to do for ourselves can come in many different forms. Gardening, Writing, Singing, Playing or Listening to Music, Drawing, Painting, Doing Nothing, Hiking, Biking, Walking and Surfing are ALL forms of Meditation. The only key to make it a meditation is to be FULLY PRESENT with the activity. To just take the time to experience the activity and how it makes you feel. If you find yourself struggling not to overthink the whole time during one of these forms of meditation remember first: Not All Meditation is About Clearing your Mind. Some meditation has to do with simply observing the habits of your mind/thought processes. And Second: Set an intention for the activity. It can be as simply as "My intention is to be Present with Myself and to allow this to be a form of meditation for me". It is THAT simple. You just simply need to believe in what you are saying to yourself, and if not that's OK too. Because if this is all new for you any little step a positive direction will be a good one. The key is simply to tell yourself what your intent is and put it in your own words. Remember, Spirituality is about a deep connection and relationship with YOURSELF. No one else should be able to tell you what you "have to do" or "should do", because guess what?? THEY AREN'T YOU. They do NOT know the life you've lived, the hardships you've faced, the beauty you've witnessed and the Truth that resides deep within your soul. They are not looking through your eyes, they cannot read your thoughts and even if they could they STILL are not the special, amazing, unique individual you are. They are the special, amazing, unique individual they are.
If you've ever meditated or closed your eyes to tap into the "quiet", internal world of yourself there's a gentle, subtle voice there. The subtle, gentle voice most of us would hear and listen to if we didn't allow our mind/ego to take the reigns of our thoughts by sending impulsive and LOUD messages. The ego loves to be the predominant force if we let it. In our western culture being overrun by ego is not only more acceptable, but also encouraged by the forces that run this country. "Check Facebook" "Look at Instagram" "Check your Email" "Buy THIS" "Buy THAT" "Watch a Movie" DISTRACT DISTRACT DISTRACT. This is the voice of the ego, the very human aspect of us that is SO very excited by this amazing world and SO interested in experiencing the world. And let me be clear, this is NOT a bad thing. Where it become potentially hazardous is when we allow our ego to run our lives and keep us from giving ourselves the authentic, deep love and nurturing we need and desire. Most of us are so wrapped up in ego we think the thing its asking of us will in turn nurture our deep, soulful needs. But the thing we shove in the hole will only hold up for so long before it sucks right through and causes us to need all over again. So we put another thing there and the cycle goes on and on and on.
The more you allow your ego to run the show the easier it is for you to separate yourself from everyone else, see status as being important and yourself as "better" than another because you have a certain thing and for media to influence you to consume, consume, consume in the name of being Accepted, Liked, Appreciated, Better and Cared About in superficial ways. Having the "Newest and Best" and being perceived as "Strong and Wealthy" are natural pursuits of ego. When the ego is controlling the mind your emotions, thoughts, desires and experiences are all heightened. You're so fully submerged in your mind space to the point that you are at the will of your thoughts and may find yourself getting upset easily, feeling like you MUST have a certain item to feel happy or you may even feel trapped in your current situation or lifestyle with no hope of being happy unless you achieve a goal. Or the reverse, you have hope for happiness but your expectation of how it will be achieved relies on a series of things you intend to gain, rituals or lifestyle choices. These are just a few examples of how your ego creates distance between you and yourself and puts things right smack dab in the middle. Remember, without ego we would not have contrast (the law of this dimension) Yin and Yang. Without contrast there is no understanding this from that, no evolution, without evolution there is no learning, without learning there is no direction or reason for this existence, whatever that direction/reason may be for you. You discover what your direction and reason for existence is through learning.
In terms of spirit, there's no such thing as point a and point b, yet in this universe there is and we like it that way because it allows us to really explore deep into ourselves, our capabilities and either close ourselves off, open up or stay stagnant somewhere in between.
To me, Spirituality is about listening to your spirit. Yes, the ego is necessary and not something to attempt to escape. The escapism of the ego will create a spiritual ego and that ego tells you YOU are the only one with the "Right" answer, that only YOU will be the one to Enlighten the World and gives you the illusion of power to judge others in whether they are as evolved as you or not, making the right moves, living the right life, etc. When it comes to judgement and criticism you are simply bouncing off others and deciding what is right for you, it truly has nothing to do with them and whether or not you agree with their choices. If you have awareness of one of the basic rules of the Universe you will know that you can only know, see, understand and judge yourself, though you may perceive you are "looking outside yourself" such a feat is not actually possible. What you perceive is a part of your whether you like it or not. We are all capable of both Good and Evil. We are also equipped with Free Will and the Power to Choose which path we will follow and who we will be.
If this feels like a limiting rule you may have not discovered all that you are. Look around you... See the car, the tree, the flower, the stream, the sky, the stars, the clouds, the birds, the person, the computer screen or phone in front of you, the chair you're sitting in? All these things are a reflection of you and you possess the items you have in your home or room as an extension of your being. The things that you feel represent you best. These are all tools you have created for yourself, through interdependence, to help you along in this world. Whether its purpose is to make you more or less comfortable, achieve more or less communication with the outside world or whatever your intention or need be... all that is surrounding you is a reflection of you and how you feel about it all is the way you feel about the aspects of yourself they represent. In knowing that, all of life can become Spiritual. When you begin to view the outside world as a part of you (instead of something separate to escape) compassion, empathy, understanding, love, care and authenticity can form and a deeper connection with yourself grows. Imagine you enter your favorite place to get a drink, you purchase the drink and consume it knowing you will achieve some sense of comfort in doing so, and then someone comes in... You look at them and your brain begins judging.
- Are they pretty or ugly?
- Are they nice or mean?
- How they are making you feel?
- What do you perceive of their energy?
In a space of spirituality you are Open to receiving that person and their energy. You may have judgmental thoughts about them, but you make the CHOICE to put them aside and discover who they truly are despite who you want to judge them to be. You are then able to learn about yourself through them. Spirituality isn't about tie dye, the flower of life and seed of life prints, mandalas, yoga, meditation, ritual, nature, ethereal clothing ,certain foods or lifestyle choices. Spirituality is about making the constant conscious choice to listen to the subtle, gentle voice and open yourself to the experiences you create for yourself (which are both positive and negative). You create those experiences to show yourself where you are at, what you need to work on, patterns you fall into, as well as the lessons you've learned and those to come. Spirituality is about being Present in this experience and allowing yourself the space to make mistakes, be imperfect and live EXACTLY the way you are and continue to follow your happiness without fear, anxiety and insecurity holding you back.
No matter what you are told there is NO One Answer. There is NO One Way to live or achieve your goals. Those who believe in One Way are those who have either achieved their goals through that path or expect and believe that THAT is the only way they will fulfill themselves. Another truth of the universe, and one of the main reasons people have issues with one another, is there are many paths to the same places. I could walk straight up the mountain to get to the top and you could walk the spiraling path, but we both reach our destination, each getting what we needed from the path we chose. Neither being better or worse, more or less than the other. In that knowing the Freedom to Exist is born.
To me, The Freedom to Exist IS Spirituality.
If you never eat a healthy piece of food in your life and believe you gain all the nourishment you need you will, but if your beliefs do not align with your actions the potential for disharmony is great and is showing you that you have something to work on internally. The path of Spirituality is typically Enlightenment. But what is enlightenment and why do you want to achieve it? In my understanding enlightenment is simple, Awareness of Self. Awareness of self does not mean that you will never have another challenging experience in your life or that all pain and suffering will cease, but you will be better equipped to deal with the challenges this dimension presents and treat yourself well in the process.
Everything is changing and evolving constantly. Energies change, morph, fluctuate, grow, shrink, stay stagnant, etc. Everyday is a new way to see things, to interact, to create. A new opportunity to learn about yourself and determine what you want to create next. There is no true destination on the journey of spirituality. Discover your capabilities, gifts and power of your mind in this lifetime, for you may have chosen it to be your last. Why not live your dreams here and now? There's no one but yourself holding you back or putting a block in between here and there. Give yourself the momentum to move forward, only you can change your mind or not. Reading this could be the first step that propels you into your truth or it could be the last or neither. All I know is if you're reading this you're already on the journey and I honor your path as Equal to mine.
EternaLove