What Is Spirituality

 You’ll be interested to learn about the fascinating history of spirituality. The concept of spirituality has been present in human civilizations since ancient times, evolving and adapting to the needs and beliefs of different cultures.

In ancient civilizations, spirituality played a significant role in people’s lives, offering a sense of connection to something greater than themselves.

Spirituality in ancient civilizations was deeply intertwined with their religious practices. People believed in the existence of gods and goddesses, and they sought to establish a connection with these divine beings through various rituals and ceremonies. These practices included offerings, prayers, and sacrifices, all aimed at appeasing the gods and receiving their blessings.

As time passed, spirituality evolved alongside human consciousness. People started questioning the traditional religious practices and began exploring new ways of connecting with the divine. This led to the emergence of philosophical and mystical traditions, such as Buddhism, Hinduism, and Taoism, which emphasized personal enlightenment and inner transformation.

Throughout history, spirituality has continued to evolve, adapting to the changing beliefs and values of different cultures. Today, spirituality is no longer confined to religious institutions but has become a deeply personal and individual experience. People seek spirituality as a means of finding inner peace, purpose, and connection in a fast-paced and materialistic world.

The history of spirituality is a testament to the enduring human need for transcendence and meaning. It serves as a reminder that, regardless of the form it takes, spirituality has always been an integral part of the human experience, guiding us on a journey of self-discovery and transformation...<<<Read More>>>...

Signs You’ve Had a Mystical Experience

 There is one particular state of consciousness that can change your life forever.

This holy moment can only be described as “ecstatic” in that your connection to life expands significantly.

In this profound state of being, you feel that life is full of beauty and sacredness – yet this feeling is not subjective but is instead an objective phenomenon that is outside your personal self.

Theologian Rudolf Otto called this experience “numinosum.” But in this article, we’ll refer to it as the mystical experience.

All throughout history, the mystical experience has been referred to as a “religious” or spiritual experience, where the few mystics that recorded their experiences reported it as a rapturous and undifferentiated sense of profound Unity with all of existence.

There have been many descriptions of the mystical experience throughout the ages. A few of my favorites are firstly the ancient Greek word and mystical Christian concept of Kenosis, or divine emptying. Such an intriguing word has been used for centuries to describe the state of divine receptivity that closely mimics what it’s like to have a mystical experience.In psychology, the closest terms that capture this mysterious state of being are Abraham Maslow’s description of “Peak Experiences,” and psychologist Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi’s concept of “flow.”...<<<Read More>>>...

Science and Spirituality Unite for Mental Wellbeing: New Discoveries

 Science, often celebrated for its astonishing discoveries and remarkable advancements, possesses the remarkable ability to awaken a sense of awe and wonder in the hearts of countless individuals. In a ground breaking and meticulously conducted study by a team of dedicated psychologists hailing from the prestigious University of Warwick, a compelling and captivating connection between the realms of science and spirituality has been unveiled, illuminating an entirely fresh perspective on the profound influence this bond can exert upon our mental wellbeing and overall quality of life.

Led by Dr. Jesse Preston, Associate Professor in the Department of Psychology at the University of Warwick, this research delved into the spirituality of science and its profound connection with our overall sense of wellbeing. Dr. Preston noted, “Spirituality is most often associated with religion, but science can be a powerful source of awe and wonder for many. It can provide a meaningful source of understanding oneself and the universe, and it can foster a sense of connection to others and our place in the world.”...<<<Read More>>>...

Physical Bodies on Earth

 We are on this earth, in our physical bodies, because our souls have things to learn that we could not learn in any other way. It is through our physical body and the physical world that we can experience life. Purely spiritual beings are just that — they are in a state of being rather than doing, in a place that is beyond the limitations of time and space. But when we incarnate on the physical plane, we are automatically subject to the laws of physics and the world of dualities. In this place, we know what happiness is because we have experienced sadness, and we understand the value and power of light because we have known darkness. Knowing this, we have the opportunity to let ourselves be spiritual beings having a physical experience.

There is no pain in the spiritual realm because we know we are one with the limitless source of the universe. But here, in the material realm, our sense of limitation and separation allows us to feel our emotions and to learn about love, forgiveness, and compassion. We go from a spiritual state of oneness to learning how to be in relationship with people who are different and distinct individuals. We learn to understand ourselves through our relationships with the world around us — its seasons and landscapes, challenges and opportunities. And through our journey to find our place among so many others, we begin to recognize our own glimmer of light in a constellation of stars.

Once we remember that we are spiritual beings, we can revel in the experience of being human while knowing we are all connected. We can live from the place of oneness while truly appreciating the beauty of diversity, the bittersweet feel of love and loss, and the elation of triumph over challenges and adversity. It is through these opposites that we experience life itself, and we can ride through the dark times with the understanding that it will help us to appreciate the light of life and love and spirit more fully. We are here now because we made the choice to experience an earth life, so now we can choose to enjoy the journey as completely as possible....<<<Read More>>>...

Understanding Spirituality

 Spirituality has evolved from all the ancient religions, cults and practices. It represents an interfaith appeal, with its emphasis on an individual’s spiritual growth. A difference does exist between spirituality and religion. Religion focuses on an organized set of written beliefs, stories, guidelines and rituals and is practiced by a group of people. Religion requires participation in a certain set of rules, for example, praying at specific times of the day, celebrating specific holidays or worshiping only the God of that religion.

The Foundation for Holistic Spirituality has defined spirituality as the natural human connection with the wonder and energy of nature, cosmos and all existence, and the instinct to explore and understand its meaning.

An integral part of spirituality is the idea that everyone can connect with and become one with the energy in the universe and all of its mysteries. This experience can happen to anyone, regardless of nationality or whether or not they are religious or an atheist. Gaining a sense of true spirituality can take place at any time in life. It deeply affects lives and allows for the development of an even stronger sense that one’s life matters and that it is worth living.

There is no set way to practice spirituality. It is a personal choice. Some people choose to congregate among themselves to share their common beliefs and to strive for a higher consciousness. New age style congregations might practice spiritual and/or physical healing. Others find their spiritual side by meditating, doing yoga, praying or just going outdoors and experiencing nature’s bounty. Others still, may awaken their spirituality through a self-help or life-empowerment program.

Many psychics and healers base their work on spirituality, which is particularly comforting to them and to the people they assist. Spirituality opens the door to the realization that psychic phenomenon and an afterlife exist. Take this further, and the door opens to the belief in after-death communication and that there is a spirit world comprised of spirit guides, animal guides, angels, archangels and departed souls. Even though not of the physical realm, we are all connected to that part of the universe.

Spirituality must be shared in a loving and comforting way. It does not seek to convert others to its way of thought. It is open to anyone who takes the time to discover it on his own terms and at his own pace. We all revolve with the universe, the universe does not revolve around us. Spirituality allows the freedom of belief about what your connection to the universe is.

Simply stated, spirituality teaches us that we are all one with each other. We are all connected together by a common thread, which is the universe....<<<Read More>>>...

Why It’s Worth Off-Ramping From Spiritual Bypassing

 Spiritual bypassing, a phrase coined by John Welwood and defined as a kind of spiritualized conflict avoidance that demonizes certain natural emotions like anger and can cause us to bypass our need for healing trauma, our activism, and our pain, runs rampant in spiritual and religious circles. It can make us feel good, even ecstatic, but just like any drug, the “hit” is temporary and the crash after the high can be catastrophic.

Some people bypass by meditating- first for a short amount, then increasingly escaping the world with more and more and more meditating. Some bypass by comforting themselves with positive thinking or spiritual teachings that deny and bypass more painful emotions, like grief, despair, anger, jealousy, helplessness, worthlessness, or shame. Some bypass the pain of reality with spiritual fantasies of utopia or benevolent aliens or angelic beings (not that there aren’t life forms in other star systems or beings we can’t see, just that we can get so caught up in imagining such beings that we fail to face the pain of reality on this planet.)

Some bypass by resolving uncomfortable cognitive dissonance with overly simplistic kinds of false certainty. For example, if it’s too uncomfortable to hold the paradox of a great darkening upon our potentially endangered species in contrast to an age of greater awareness of such darkness, we might simplify things into believing a delusion of a Great Awakening that will take us into the 5D and leave the darkness behind in the 3D....<<<Read More>>>...

How Science Arrived At The Doorstep of Spirituality

 Can thought, intention, and emotion influence the physical world? Many people believe that they can, but scientific models for testing and quantifying this idea often fall short. Classical physics has been very successful at understanding the physical nature of the universe, yet this world-view assumes that reality is limited to matter.

This leaves classical physics ill-equipped to measure or quantify non-physical phenomena. This has led to a movement towards post-material science. If you experience intuition and other non-physical phenomena, you will be excited to learn that science is beginning to validate this realm. You will be inspired to explore the quantum ways that you are connected with the entire universe

Spiritual practices like meditation, qigong, and yoga were considered forms of science long before Newton inspired classical physics. Quantum Physics flirts with realms of mystery that were traditionally reserved for mystics. There is no need to be on the sidelines as an observer because there are a few very interesting research projects happening in the interstices between science and spirituality which we will explore below...<<<Read More>>>...

What Does Being Spiritual Look Like?

 The idea that we have to suffer or live in poverty in order to be spiritual is an old one and can be found in the belief systems of many philosophies. Most of us carry this idea around subconsciously, and we may be holding ourselves back from financial or emotional well-being, believing that this is what we must do in order to be virtuous, spiritually awake, or feel less guilty for the suffering of others.

While it's true that there can be a spiritual purpose to experiencing a lack of material well-being, it is rarely intended to be a permanent or lifelong experience. What we are meant to find when material or emotional resources are in short supply is that there is more to our lives than the physical realm. Intense relationships and material abundance can distract us from the subtler realm of the spirit, so a time of deficiency can be spiritually awakening. However, once we recognize the realm of spirit, and remember to hold it at the center of our lives, there is no reason to dwell in poverty or emotional isolation. In fact, once our connection to spirit is fully intact, we feel so compelled to share our abundance that lack becomes a thing of the past.

If you find that you are experiencing suffering in some area of your physical life, perhaps your spirit is asking you to look deeper in your search for what you want. For example, if you want money so that you can experience the feeling of security but money keeps eluding you, your spirit may be asking you to understand that security is not to be found through money. Security comes from an unshakable connection to your soul. Once you make that connection, money will probably flow more easily into your life. If relationships elude you, your spirit may be calling you to recognize that the love you seek is not to be found in another person. And yet, ironically, once you find the love, your true love may very well appear. If you feel stuck in suffering to live a spiritual life, try to spend some time writing about it. The root of the problem will appear and it may not be what you expected. Remember, the Universe wants you to be happy.(Daily OM)

Spirituality

 Spirituality is a philosophy and personalized system of principles and beliefs. It is universal, yet is customizable. The American Academy of Family Physicians states, spirituality is the way you find meaning, hope, comfort and inner peace in your life. Many people find spirituality through religion. Some find it through music, art or a connection with nature. Others find it in their values and principles.

Spirituality has evolved from all the ancient religions, cults and practices. It represents an interfaith appeal, with its emphasis on an individual’s spiritual growth. A difference does exist between spirituality and religion. Religion focuses on an organized set of written beliefs, stories, guidelines and rituals and is practiced by a group of people. Religion requires participation in a certain set of rules, for example, praying at specific times of the day, celebrating specific holidays or worshiping only the God of that religion.

The Foundation for Holistic Spirituality has defined spirituality as the natural human connection with the wonder and energy of nature, cosmos and all existence, and the instinct to explore and understand its meaning.

An integral part of spirituality is the idea that everyone can connect with and become one with the energy in the universe and all of its mysteries. This experience can happen to anyone, regardless of nationality or whether or not they are religious or an atheist. Gaining a sense of true spirituality can take place at any time in life. It deeply affects lives and allows for the development of an even stronger sense that one’s life matters and that it is worth living.

There is no set way to practice spirituality. It is a personal choice. Some people choose to congregate among themselves to share their common beliefs and to strive for a higher consciousness. New age style congregations might practice spiritual and/or physical healing. Others find their spiritual side by meditating, doing yoga, praying or just going outdoors and experiencing nature’s bounty. Others still, may awaken their spirituality through a self-help or life-empowerment program....<<<Read More>>>...

Spirituality vs Religion

The word “spirituality” comes from the Latin word spiritualis, which means, “breath; of the spirit; air.”  Spirituality is connecting to the Divine through your own personal experience. It is primarily concerned with finding, experiencing, and embodying one’s true spiritual nature.

The word “religion” comes from the Latin word religionem, which means, “respect for what is sacred, reverence for the gods; conscientiousness, sense of right, moral obligation.” Religion is connecting to the Divine through someone else’s experience. It is primarily concerned with believing in, following, and obeying the rules created by a certain Deity or spiritual teacher.

Iconic singer David Bowie famously described spirituality vs religion in the following brilliantly irreverent way:


Religion is for people who’re afraid of going to hell. Spirituality is for those who’ve already been there.

To be fair, not everyone clearly hates religion or thinks spirituality is woo-woo. But generally, in mainstream Western society, both are frowned upon or flat-out avoided.

Since religion began its increasing decline in the early 20th century which was promoted by the Age of Enlightenment in the previous period and reinforced by the horrors of the world wars, the idea of “God” is now largely seen as not just infantile, but ludicrous.


In the words of Nietzsche, the well-known German philosopher who essentially prophesied the crumbling of religion in the West (“God is dead”):


What do we do with a human God, when we turn to God, precisely because we’re disgusted by mankind?

This kind of statement perfectly summarizes the kind of (rightfully justified) cynicism and disillusionment that we carry toward the popular patriarchal notion of a white dude sitting in the sky, judging all our actions...<<<Read More>>>...

Planetary Shift: Herd of Elephants in the Room No One is Talking About

[Wake Up World]: The shadowstate has done its job well. Most are distracted, or misinformed, as to the true scope and magnitude of the collossal earth shifts that have only just begun to gear up. Especially in spiritual circles it’s high time we address the pressing subject of the herd of elephants in the room that no one is talking about: 

Gaia’s energy field is shifting strongly, clearly witnessed in the ramping up of earthquakes, volcanoes and violent storms around the globe. I know the subject is not spiritually sexy, but it’s high time we get past that, and engage this crucially pressing issue of our time.

We’re sailing into the perfect storm of galactic, solar and earth-pole-shift cycles, which when complete, will leave no stone unturned on 3D earth. The evidence from the past is clearly available although the science has been purposefully censored. The current climate turmoil, when talked about, is put down to man made fossil fuel emissions. It’s like blaming the huge pile of elephants’ dung in your living room on a tiny mouse. As the shift now gears up, in the years ahead, this herd of elephants is going to make covid look like a minor inconvenience.

What concerns me most, is that we’re horrendously under prepared for it. Especially in spiritual circles there needs to be a coming together and working through the internal energetic impact of what is clearly building; processing through the karma of similar past life situations; and a preparedness to courageously support one another through tumultuous transition.

We can do it. There are enough souls here with the past life experience. Souls around the planet are beginning to reveal their marvelous light. We must help plenty more to stop focussing merely on the blinding show of the shadowstate drama. Let’s see past the charade....<<<Read More>>>...

Are You Addicted to Spiritual Escapism?

[Wake Up World]: Aren’t you sick and tired of running?

As a species, we’re always running and hiding from everything, whether we know it or not. We run from love, forgiveness, mental ideas, other people, beliefs, inner fears … but above all else, we run from ourselves.

We are always running AWAY from something and running TOWARDS something else. But what happens when we manage to catch up to that thing we’ve been running towards? Usually, the “finish line” that we’ve been working so hard to reach is a mirage. This “magical” special place we’ve wanted to reach ends up disintegrating before us, leaving us empty again.

As we progress through life, we always feel restless. How often have you sat down and just felt needlessly happy … not because you finished a goal, were complemented by another or bought something cool … but for no reason whatsoever? Just for the joy and honor of being alive?

Blaise Pascal once said, “All of humanity’s problems stem from man’s inability to sit quietly in a room.” Pay attention to this sentence; it is overflowing with wisdom. This simple, but unspeakably powerful observation, points to the heart of our problem: restlessness that comes from a fear of meeting ourselves.

Why are we so afraid to meet ourselves as we are? Why are we terrified to sit down with the thoughts and emotions that cause us great pain?

We are forever aiming for something else. We are forever trying to BE someone else. We can never quite be happy with us, as we are, right now...<<<Read The Full Article Here>>>...

Caring for Our Sacred Earth

[Wake Up World]: “We have been trying to go into the future as a human community in an exploitative relationship with the natural community without any sense of being integral with this natural world as a sacred community. From now on, that is just not acceptable, purely and simply, because it is a way, not of life, but of death.” ~ Thomas Berry

As the quotation by Berry highlights, there is a global cry for us humans to wake up and think about changes that embrace a wider vision of community. Yet the roads leading to and embracing a healthier and wider inclusiveness can be difficult, as it requires stepping out of current modes of thinking and entering new and unfamiliar territory. Various wisdom traditions teach us about stages of unfoldment where it sometimes becomes hard to grasp the perspectives of unattained levels of growth until they are reached (the contemporary psychological system Spiral Dynamics also teaches this).

This inability to understand wider perspectives is why some religious believers are unable to embrace those from other traditions and unite with them in the work that is needed for bringing about a lasting peace in the world and living harmoniously with Nature. Religions in the hands of narrow thinkers, as we know only too well, can separate people, whereas a global and Earth-centred spirituality seeks to unite humanity and include all. Inclusiveness not only helps us to truly come together with people, but also helps us to find unity with other species and the Earth. There is an unquestionable need to embrace what it is to be a member of a wider global community....<<<Read The Full Article Here>>>...

Spiritual Journey: 5 Steps to Discover Your Soul’s Path

[Wake Up World]: Most people in the modern world have resigned themselves to a cliched existence, indulging in endless distractions. They go through life with a minimal or pseudo-faith and avoid grasping the emptiness of their lives. They are endlessly haunted by the shallowness of their relationships, neurotic issues, and inescapable loneliness.

And yet there’s so much more to us as a species than what we really know. You and I carry the most mysterious and magnificent qualities within us imaginable, yet we unknowingly guard and protect the great gift that is our Souls from the world.

It’s so easy for us to feel meaningless when we perceive ourselves as mere cogs in society’s machine.

The truth is that we are much more than slaves of 9 to 5 jobs. We are capable of creating deeply meaningful, mystical, and fulfilling lives. We are capable of finding our true calling and personal destiny....<<<<Read The Full Article Here>>>>...

Exploring the Difference Between Being and Beingness

[Wake Up World]: There’s a good deal of emphasis in the spiritual mainstream about coming into “Being”, but what does that mean exactly and does the spiritual journey simply end there? Absolutely not.

When we come into Being, it unleashes a flow of authentic soul energy that is wanting to express as “Beingness” of which there are different qualitities, different harmonies, depending on the situation the Being is flowing into.


Understanding this dynamic is crucial to coming into full Enlightenment, which is far from a static phenomenon…

Beingness to Being is like Running is to the Runner

When you hit the hallowed space of Being for the first time, it makes all the sense in the Universe. It answers (at least temporarily) all of the efforting and seeking in the outer world. You’ve come back to your true home, the destination of every quest, the answer to every question. It’s heavenly and sublime. In its deepest state, you’re in the pure presence of the One. At Openhand we call it the Sacred Ground of Being. It feels simply divine....<<<Read The Full Article Here>>>...

How Science Arrived at the Doorstep of Spirituality

[Collective Evolution]: Can thought, intention, and emotion influence the physical world? Many people believe that they can, but scientific models for testing and quantifying this idea often fall short. Classical physics has been very successful at understanding the physical nature of the universe, yet this world-view assumes that reality is limited to matter.

This leaves classical physics ill-equipped to measure or quantify non-physical phenomena. This has led to a movement towards post-material science.

If you experience intuition and other non-physical phenomena, you will be excited to learn that science is beginning to validate this realm. You will be inspired to explore the quantum ways that you are connected with the entire universe...<<<Read The Full Article Here>>>...

“The soul essence is a timeless imprint of eternity.” ― Ingmar Veeck

Waking Up: Are Spiritual Experiences Becoming More Common?

[Wake Up World]: What are spiritual experiences? I don’t think of them in religious terms. I see them as moments in which our awareness becomes more intense and more expansive than normal, so that the world around us becomes more real and alive, and we feel a strong sense of connection to nature and other human beings.

We might feel a sense of joy or inner stillness, and feel that somehow the world around us is “in harmony” or has a meaning that we find difficult to express.

If a person from a religious background has such an experience, they may well interpret it in religious terms. They might see it as a gift from God, and believe that the aliveness and harmony they perceive is a glimpse of the divine, or of heaven. But if you’re not religious, there’s no reason to think in these terms. The experience is just a psychological one. It suggests that our normal vision of the world is limited and in some ways even aberrational. In awakening experiences, there is a strong sense of ‘seeing more,’ of expanding beyond limits and perceiving a more authentic reality.

My research shows that awakening experiences are connected to certain activities and situations. They are associated with contact with nature, spiritual practices such as meditation or prayer, sporting activities (such as running and swimming), and sex. They are also strongly associated with states of intense psychological turmoil. That is, paradoxically, they often occur in the midst of stress and depression, or in relation to traumatic life events such as illness, divorce or bereavement....read more>>>...

We Are Having A Spiritual Experience

Waking Times: Recent events, about which I won’t go into detail, have caused me to say, we are having a spiritual experience.

And we are learning what that experience is.

Certain people, extraordinary people, show us qualities that transcend life.

These qualities, courage and love.

In the common arena where we all live, there are sufferings, but we can see that certain people transcend that. They come here, not only with a message, but with how they live. And how they live is greater than this life.

These people—there are many more of them than we ordinarily suppose.

This spiritual experience we are having—it is something we are learning about. I want to repeat that, because I’m not talking about something that appears and then is final. We are, if we are aware, learning....read more>>>...

A Lone Spirit Watches On

Being given a different perspective on the nature of life, and existing on a different vibration to most, as a result of the dramatic insights .... can take its toll on an individual. Existing in isolation, being the loner, and being on the receiving end of a lifetime of ridicule, will make this individual question their very existence.

But with the isolation comes the realisation of the role, and of the nature of their spirit. Not being the cut of the popular figure, not vibrating like the norm ... hard graft for this lone spark in sea of apparent human existence. Especially when the left brain wiring makes human kind fear what they don't understand. Frustration too when the hapless and the naive prefer to listen to the ridiculous claims of the inexperienced and the deliberately misleading charlatans.

But with a shrug of the shoulders, the lone spark knows its because so few can even comprehend the vibration on which is stands. It is a witness to the ineptitude of the lesser flames, and an observer of the evolution of the growing spirits within the apparent human forms. They may be so short of where the spark stands, but an awakening has began. However slight ... there is an awareness there, no matter how mislead they are ...