How intensely do you live your spiritual life???

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 27 Jun 2002, and now archived in the Forum Library.

Ramses	27 Jun 2002
Hey folks....How are you??? Hope you´re all fine !!! Well, I'm back...lol...after some time away... So, my question is ...How do you face your apirituality?...I mean, How do you live it? But, I'm asking you to be really honest, and take some time to ponder about it, before you answer the question... What I mean is ...I see some people who seem to be kinda lost in the spiritual world...and I don't mean those people we think that are confused, but, actually, people that show a lot of conviction in their beliefs (at least apparently)... I'm saying this because I see people who are really engaged with the spiritual universe, but then they start mixing things up, sometimes very contradictory things....some people end up following only the superficial side of religion, and areas like this, and ignore (within their souls) the true aspects of faith,and commitment.... Well, I'm not totally against it...if it makes them happy, so ...be it ...but, sometimes I get worried....Aren't they fooling theirselves????...Maybe fooling theirselves in a way that may hurt them in the end??? I see many christians, sometimes, saying all about the virtues and the teachings of Christ, but most of the things they do in life go against what they preach....a perfect example would be the Inquisition...OK...there were political aspects involved at that time, not spiritual....but, I see some people that do it while believing it...alright...they do not burn other people, but....well, you understand what I mean, right??!! OK, I know...this post is getting way too long to read... What I mean is...Do you sometimes stop to think whether you´re really following the important aspects of your spirituality, or just the superficial ones??? Some people may say that it is only by trying and making mistakes that we can learn...I agree with that ...but only when we stop and analize things....a self-analisys... So...how about you???....How intensely do you live your spirituality??????

Ramses	27 Jun 2002
I'm sorry that I gave an example in the last post talking about christians, maybe in a not so nice way... I have nothing against christians, ok ?....I could have written about any other sort of religious system...that was only the first example that came to my mind... Just wanted to make that clear .... Thanks for the attention...

Sorceress_Jade	28 Jun 2002
I'm still learning mine (is a youngin) and I'm learning to live it and my philosophies at the same time. peace

Kiama	28 Jun 2002
I agre Ramses: There are people from all faiths and rligions ho live it superficially... The reason why we cite Christians so often is cuz they're the religion we are ost often cnfronted with. So don't wory about offending: I wuld have used the same religion as my example... But, y'know, when I see Christians who do that, Idon't see them as true Christians... Fo me, a Christian follows the teachings of Jesus, and lives by them... Anyway: Me and my spiritual life... I tend to be very involved with my spirituality, but not on n outward way anymore... I used to be very outward with it, y'know, writing alot about it, talking to others about it, doing very showey rituals... Now I am very inward about it, and I am constantly living spiritually in my heart... Eveything I do, in some way, is spirital... Even putting on my clothes in the morning or washing my face... I beieve taht anything can be made spiritual... Hope this answers your question! Kiama

wavebreaker	28 Jun 2002
I'm still learning too. I was raised as a Catholic, but only very superficially: I was baptised, took my Holy Communion, we went to church at Christmas and Easter, and that was about it. It didn't really mean anything to me in my daily life. I'm now in the process of discovering what my real spirituality is and how I can actually live it. I'm learning every day... ;)

MystiqueMoonlight	29 Jun 2002
My spiritual beliefs have become very important to me. I love this world and embrace the next process rather than fear it or see it as an ending to something. I tend to live my spiritual beliefs on the inside as well (I suppose being a solitary witch does that), however one thing I haven't yet learnt to do is exercise more patience with those who tend to trivialise the Craft or slot it into pidgeons holes. That is something that is going to take a bit more practice for me. I have an altar upon which stands representatives for Godess and God and my personal guide Ganesha. Every evening I light the altar flame and thank them for the day they have given me. I also use my altar for spells and meditation and so forth. It is an integral part of my spirituality and provides very poitive vibes throughout my home. I carry with me a set of runes daily which were a gift from an Aeclectic member and Gaia and I use Tarot for all manner of things. I love life and I love people. There is so much too learn and sometimes I feel a simple lifetime isn't enough, but gee what a rush living it is :) Blessed be

mondk	29 Jun 2002
I suppose I am very spiritual....but inwardly. I pray to my God (only capitalized because that makes Him personal to me, not necessarily the Christian god), meditate, and am a great humanitarian. I suppose "spirituality" is what the individual believes it to be. I have had many encounters with religion and have studied it intensely over the years, feeling like I really didn't "fit in anywhere". What I have recently decided, however, is that you don't have to "fit in". Whatever you believe in, should be enough for you, imo anyway. In the past, I was taking the majority beliefs of society and trying too hard to conform. Once you stop believing that, imo, is when your spirituality really takes hold of you. That is where I am at now. Blessings to all, Michelle

jema	29 Jun 2002
i have an altar in my bedroom, but i think of it more as a calm-spot then a place to actually worship. i guess one could say i do that outdoors, in the garden or out on a walk. that is my time of communication with the divine inside and all around me. for spells or meditation i use just about anyplce i find silent and free of cats for the moment:) i started out years ago with writing full-blown rituals, buying all the gear and did the daily devotions 5 times a day... for a week. i discovered i was too earthbound for that. and a while i thought i must be a bad bad pagan for neglecting my spiritual side like that. but i am not - i just have a different way of expressing my spirituality. it's not in what i do or write or read and pray or in the incense or candles. it's in my center. it's about being aware that i can never be anything less then a spiritual person. that no matter what i do - the goddess lives in me. now some would look at me and say - you don't live a spiritual life at all! but when i walk the soles of my feet kiss the ground and every step is a devotion to the divine. i don't really ground and center before i reading - i just am grounded and centered before picking up the cards. it's not so much what i do - as what i am.

MystiqueMoonlight	29 Jun 2002
How beautifully put Jema. Thank you for sharing that with us all. Blessed be....

wavebreaker	29 Jun 2002
Yes, that was really beautiful Jema, thank you for sharing it! I always feel like I have to DO something to be spiritual: rituals, prayers, etc. But you're right: it's not about doing, but about being. Come to think of it: I think my most spiritual moments are when I'm enjoying nature. When I'm sitting in my garden for example and see all the plants flower, or I see ants building a nest, or birds looking for food... :)

suzyspellbound	29 Jun 2002
Really lovely jema. Its living thats important, concentrating on getting the prayer/ or ritual right and you forget to live by it right. If you spend all your time chanting/ or singing etc you run out of time and energy to put it into practice. I think just remembring to take time to stop and think/ give thanks and listen to your guides when you can as well as when you need to. Don't get too chanined to it like some... I'm babbling sorry...thanks.

Shower	29 Jun 2002
I agree, Jema put it very beautifully! I have two examples in mind. The first is of what I think Ramses might have been talking about. I had a neighbor that went to Church every Sunday, and was sure to let you know that she and her family were very devout, but I found she was very judgemental, she projected very "unclean" thoughts onto other people. Sick things that she thought about and gossiped to others about. I thought maybe she was repressing something. On the other hand, my grandmother had a neighbor who I learned went to her church quite often and was very involved. She never talked to me about it, but had with my grandmother. This woman in contrast was the most serene, at ease person I'd met. She made me want to have what she had. She just had a quiet faith. She seemed at peace with the world. She felt very spiritual. I live by a pond now, and I find it a very spiritual place. I used to take walks by the ocean and felt I was very in touch with ...God...the earth...well Jema put it so beautifully. Shower

Shower	29 Jun 2002
I guess I would just like to add that I've felt that connection. I haven't yet learned how to *keep* that connection as Jema has described. Though with the Tarot I think I'm on the right track. I pull a card everday now to meditate on. Perhaps this will help so that one day I too will feel that "my soles kiss the ground, and every step a take is a devotion to the divine" May I use that Jema as a daily affirmation? or a prayer, I too think simple is better. Shower

VGimlet	29 Jun 2002
I want to get more in touch with my spiritual side, because right now it's off & on. Sometimes I am very in touch with it, and feel connected to the earth and its energy. At other times, I don't even think about it, and even feel a bit disconnected. I think much of that comes from me - how much I let the outside world affect my inner balance. Wow Jema, you put into words exactly how I want to feel all the time. :D

amyel	29 Jun 2002
Quote: Originally posted by VGimlet I want to get more in touch with my spiritual side, because right now it's off & on. Sometimes I am very in touch with it, and feel connected to the earth and its energy. At other times, I don't even think about it, and even feel a bit disconnected. I think much of that comes from me - how much I let the outside world affect my inner balance. Similar to VG, I am actually kinda "lost" spritually. I strive to keep an inner balance and to live by what is often called "the golden rule": Do unto others; or what some call the witches creed: Do no harm. If I am brutally honest, I sometimes find this difficult, especially when it comes to self criticism. But if you were to ask what faith I follow, I would have no answer for you.

Ramses	30 Jun 2002
really...wow... great lessons were shared here.... well...that´s exactly my point when I started this thread...many people buy lots of books, or go to places, and simply start making rituals, and lighting candles and incense...and, in my personal opinion, that´s wrong... people shouldn´t do those things just for the sake of doing them...I think one should just perform a ritual, or lighting candles and stuff after undertanding the meaning of that, and accepting it, and living it...or, if it makes one feel good about it... but, I see so many people performing rituals and stuff with no meaning given to that...only because they think it´s cool, or something... OK...who am I to judge anyone?...but, I really wanted that people gave more meaning to their lives, not fooling themselves, so that the world is a better place, and every being may be happy, and have peace... Well, that´s about it .... Thanks a lot folks...

Ramses	30 Jun 2002
I truely believe that one day, we´ll all realize we need no rituals, no candles, no incense, no nothing...'cause the true spirituality is within our hearts, our souls we are all living Gods and Goddesses upon the Earth, within the Universe... we should pray directly to our souls and spirits, not necessarily to some kind of God/dess, which might simply be the representation(s) of our "divine" nature... be whole...be your own spiritual guide...live the peace...live intensely...and learn to share, and to understand (yourself and others) ...etc.... that´s what I believe...and I hope I´m not the only one... ( I also hope I haven´t said any sort of rubbish )

Butterfly	30 Jun 2002
Actually Ramses, I love ritual. Growing up, white middle class Australian, I had no rituals in my life, or even exposure to them. I envied the religious and migrants for their deeply ritualised life. I yearned for ritual. That is what deeply attracted me to paganism. I see it connecting me to life and it's rhythms. I agree that ritual for ritual sake helps nobody. But when a ritual is personally meaningful- wow!

jema	01 Jul 2002
gosh, i made it sound like i am some kind of saint;) well, i am not. not even i am grounded and centered and divinly inspired ALL the time. but i try to be. i strive for it. oh and i too like rituals! they are fun and give me energy and a great connectivness to everything. but what i wanted to say is that i don't do ritual out of books written by others in english anymore. i write my own - or just do them on the spur and always in my own language. but instead of holding rituals at certain times - i try to make everything i do with a purpose. very zen-like in a way. (or rather i am hoping to achieve that)

Diana	01 Jul 2002
Ramses: I was absolutely thrilled to see your "Hey folks....How are you??? Hope you´re all fine !!!" I've missed it! (Still waiting for a signed copy of your book. Hope you've started writing it! ;) ) I was taught as a child to live my spirituality intensely, on a daily basis, constantly. It was a very inward thing - in my family, there were no rituals, but an absolute trust lived with gratitude towards what I called, at that time, God. What we called the Father-Mother-God. Then in my late teens, I kind of turned away from all this, except in times of need. In those times of need, I received some comfort, but it was never as deep as when I was a kid. I realised later that it was because I was using my spirituality as a crutch, and was not living it. Then I realised that it was because I had to discard some of what I had been taught, in order to find my own path. It took me a little while to do this, for I felt like I was betraying the gift that I had received as a child from my parents. But I grew away from some of my childhood beliefs, and discovered new ones, that fit my own particular journey on this earth. And now I am rediscovering again that awe and wonder that I had when I was a child. And more and more, I live my spirituality more and more intensely. Very few rituals, just like when I was a child. But I am discovering so many wonderful things, that it is hard not to be intense about it.

The How intensely do you live your spiritual life??? thread was originally posted on 27 Jun 2002 in the Spirituality board, and is now archived in the Forum Library. Read the active threads in Spirituality, or read more archived threads.