Tag: spirituality

Fertilizer (or, why we’re up to our necks in shit)

I’ve found a weird calmness recently about the stuff going on in this country (this world). There is such awfulness, but also so very many absolutely amazing, brave, and strong people. Remember that there are more of you than there are of them. And that what’s going on is forcing so many more to take a step back and consider whether what’s going on aligns with their values. And so our numbers grow. I am willing to believe that we’re seeing the birthing pains of a much better world. Age of Pisces is on its way out, but clinging for dear life.

Had an amazing conversation yesterday about the concept of “psychopomps” or grim reapers. Our culture is afraid of death and sees these constructs as something to be feared. In older cultures, they understood death was part of the natural cycle of things. The death and decay of winter is needed to enrich the soil of the spring sprouts.

A culture terrified of dying is refusing to just die off already. The healer we were talking to commented that people now “take so long to die.” Meaning when someone’s time is inevitable, that they cling to the last breaths of their lives and struggle to keep their hearts beating, with no other result than prolonging their suffering. As a world, we’re so spiritually disconnected that we don’t understand death is a release and relief when your body can not longer support life. This age of people and cultures who are terrified of dying, of course is hanging on for dear life and the death throes are grotesque. But I am certain this conflict is clearing the way for something better.

In case people don’t think I’m crazy yet

It has been so strange to start my adult life as an agnostic, even an atheist, and in looking at major religions, knowing that all man-made religions are wrong,… and yet end up being surer than ever that there is a higher power, a source that has connected everything that ever was and ever will be.

That is not to say that our religious icons did not, do not, exist. Jesus, Buddha, Shiva, Mohammad, all of them are very real. They just didn’t ask or need to be worshipped (though they deserve our respect). We’re the ones who created the cults and wrote the books saying they did. Their intention was, and still is, to help. To help elevate us. To help us let go of anger and hate and pain and shame and all of the things and beliefs and feelings that distance us from this source of pure love. They offer help whether or not you “believe in” them.

(I’m sure there are beings out there that do want to be worshipped – to me, that’s a sign for me to stay away. But it occurs to me that most religions focus on an icon that doesn’t need your worship. It is the authorities within those religions who benefit from it).

I’m left with really mixed feelings about organized religions. Buddhism is, to me, the one that has retained the most purity of message and intent, but like anything left in the hands of humans for thousands of years, it’s gone a bit off course too. And don’t get me started on the Abrahamic religions whose very intent is to divide us rather than to bring us together, to foster intolerance rather than love, by making non-believers the enemy and insisting there is only one path to the truth (One that you will not find following their faiths) and that everyone else is going to “hell.”

I’m trying to see that they serve a purpose, that despite the harm some of them cause, they still intend to bring people closer to that universal consciousness, that “holy spirit.” That many people in our modern world would not find that connection without the structure of religion and the familiarity of a paternal god figure. And that in addition to causing harm, it can help those who have become cut off from the divine.

I guess the point of my ramble is, for those of you who are disenchanted with the religion(s) you have tried, or who have viewed religion as a fraud… if despite this you still feel any faith that there is something greater at work in the universes, please do not give up. Please do not think that you need to have a church, or an intermediary, or even a particular belief system. You have direct access to Spirit because it’s already part of you. If everyone was could find that connection, our world could surpass any idea of “heaven” you’ve ever had.

The Journey

It just hit me, why people would work on shedding their desires. I understood it made clearer one’s spiritual path, but I always thought that must an impossible struggle. But I’m realizing the more content you are with yourself, your place in this existence, the less you seek external means of altering your mental state.

We all seek an ecstatic state. We catch fleeting glimpses of this happiness when we supplement our lives with things and behaviors meant to give a quick fix, be it drinking or drugs, buying yourself something, eating something decadent, or even sex. I’m not saying any of these things are bad. They do help for a small while – until you wake up the next morning hungover.

When you realize you can reach a similar state without any external stimulation, it’s less interesting to get there using ‘something’ to make you happier. I’d even say it’s easier to find contentment.

PS – this is not one of those smug ‘look at my wonderful life’ posts intended to make you feel less good about your own. My life is not ideal, and I’m working through some serious, pretty dark issues. But, I am absolutely happy with the progress I have made at this point in my journey.

What a difference a year makes

Geez what a difference a year of focusing on mental state helps. Last year, I bought the hidden vial crucifix like in Cruel Intentions, and now I’m oohing over malas.

 

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