While I understand that to “be” something, you must fit the criteria of what “being” that certain something actually means. But when it comes to Spirituality, who got to decide and why do we all just go along with it? I also get it that with increased self-awareness, intuition, centeredness, connection to Source, the Divine, God or whatever name you prefer to use there comes the draw towards certain activities, types of people and even thoughts, as well as the draw away from certain activities, types of people and again…thoughts.
But when we start to invest our own perceptual opinions onto something greater than ourselves; something that is meant to encompass everything and be bias to none (see all in love and everything as connected), to me it seems to not only defeat the purpose, but chip away at what is such an incredibly and personally beautiful experience to each and every one of us.
Lately it seems like I cannot go a day without coming across an article that either attempts to squeeze what it means to “be a spiritual person” into some tiny little boxes, or attempts to define certain practices as absolute requirements to obtain enlightenment (which personally I believe there are countless ways to get there). I even read an article earlier this week that listed 5 things that “spiritual people” do differently from things like doing drugs to vacationing. While I completely get the angle the author was shooting for, it left me feeling so tense, like I literally couldn’t move. And it was because I felt so limited, so confined, so DE-fined…it was like someone took all the magic out of the room.
I feel like while the point of the article was to shed light on a perhaps alternative perspective on 5 typical topics; come at them from a new “expanded” viewpoint to maybe open some eyes, ears and even hearts, I also was left feeling like one huge stereotype. Like these things were almost expected of me because I tend to resonate more with the “spiritual” side of life rather than “religious.” It was a lesson in just how powerful perceptions can be and honestly was the driving force behind me choosing this topic to write about this week.
These little storm clouds have been floating around my gray matter ever since and with each flash of lightning I was pushed to share my own opinion on how the boxes being passed around the “spiritual” community aren’t for me and I might even be so bold to suggest they are an illusion and do not exist at all (until we acknowledge them into our reality).
So…consider this my “take back” of acknowledging the boxes and giving myself my freedom of self-expression back. Actually, I’m okay with knowing they’re there, they’re just not for me and that’s okay. One box, in particular, is that in order to be spiritual, one must participate in certain practices like meditation. While I do meditate, if I stopped I wouldn’t for one second say that made me “less” of a spiritual person. And I just think there’s a lot of stigma around these type of things that people feel they absolutely must do them in order to BE spiritual.
I happen to know a ton of “spiritual” people who have never meditated a day in their life. I also know some who do once in a while; others daily. Each of them is spiritual in their own way. How so? Because to be so is to be truly undefined; merely authentically connected…to yourself and to others, seeing rawly through eyes of love and compassion rather than fear and judgment. Being innately guided by your heart rather than mislead by your ego. But ultimately…flowing with the acknowledgment of your own eternity.
When we let others begin to define us, is like letting them siphon our energy and personal power right out of us. We begin to see others as above us rather than merely our equals whom we can learn from and share knowledge with. True teachers always know they are first and foremost the student with the most to learn. And they never tell you what to see; only where to look. So, the endless flood of “New Age” gurus should be dealt with caution as another great less I’ve learned is that not everyone who plays in the spiritual boxes is automatically honest, sincere, or without personal agenda.
This lesson in itself is a great reminder to always trust your own gut instincts and if you feel that someone is trying to take advantage of you by claiming you are broken and cannot “fix” your life without them. Once you become dependent on someone or something outside of yourself, you are disconnected from your most valuable source of assistance; your spirit and your connection to the Universe and the Source. You can’t hear the silence when you focus only on the outside chatter…
I’m not saying to never take advice or get others opinions. Sometimes it is vital to get an objective take on something you are going through. However, the more “self-help” books I read, the more I realize that nothing is wrong with me…or ANY of us! We are ALL imperfectly perfect and no one, not even ourselves can deny the simple beauty in that! I’ve felt as much as the next person the pull to fit in and belong to something; something where people think like me and talk about more than the weather.
But after years of searching for answers outside of myself, I realized that there’s nothing wrong with talking about the weather! Sure deep, intellectual conversation stimulates my gray matter like nothing else, but there is also a simple beauty to be found in merely connecting with a stranger who so deeply wants to converse with you, but has no other common ground but to reflect upon how welcome the sunshine is today. Now if THAT isn’t truly spiritual, I dunno what is.
So, let’s remember that it’s not how many downward-facing dogs or inward breaths of positivity you take that make you a spiritual being. You are a spiritual being merely because you are YOU; a child of the Universe, no less a wonder than the stars or the cosmos themselves.
Tamara Rant is a Co-Editor/Writer for CLN as well as a Licensed Reiki Master, heart-centered Graphic Designer and a progressive voice in social media activism & awareness. She is an avid lover of all things Quantum Physics and Spirituality. Connect with Tamara by visiting Prana Paws/Healing Hearts Reiki or go to RantDesignMedia.com
Tamara posts new original articles to CLN every Saturday.
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This article was originally created and published by Conscious Life News and is published here under a Creative Commons license with attribution to Tamara Rant and ConsciousLifeNews.com. It may be re-posted freely with proper attribution, author bio, and this Copyright/Creative Commons statement.
