Spirituality - how being in touch with spirituality creates healing

[Pumpkinella]

Fellow peers,

After a brief conversation with a peer on the forums I was inspired to start a thread on spirituality.

For some, spirituality is a very important aspect of the human being and can be a source of great healing, comfort and peace.

I am interested to hear about peoples spiritual experiences and to share with each other on how spirituality has helped us grow and learn more about ourselves. For example you can discuss spiritual leaders that have helped you, quotes, experiences, philosophies etc.

I want to also welcome any form of spirituality and belief that has generated a sense of space and peace. Don't be shy!

I will start with a quote by Alan Watts (Buddhist/zen philosopher). This helped me challenge my beliefs on being not good enough, not better enough, not as I should be:

"What I am really saying is that you don't need to do anything, because if you see yourself in the correct way, you are all as much extraordinary phenomenon of nature as trees, clouds, the patterns in running water, the flickering of fire, the arrangement of the stars, and the form of the galaxy. You are all just like that, and there is nothing wrong with you at all."

Looking forward to hearing from you.

[therising]

Hi gloria

It's a beautiful thing to have answers or solutions naturally come to mind. I can't help but wonder whether you see solutions or hear them. Do you see the way forward in your mind through imagery or do hear the way forward through words that come to mind. With that 2nd one, it's kinda like throwing out the question 'I just don't know what to do anymore. What do I do?'. What suddenly comes to mind might be 'If you keep doing the same thing nothing will change'.

Hi there Geoff 🙂

I've found there are times where I'm sitting in meditation, meditating on a solution when what comes to mind as a solution may perhaps be 'You need to ask your brother for help. He'll know what to do' or 'You can't do this on your own. You need to speak to someone'. So you could say, in prayer, the answer may actually be to seek help or guidance from someone. While that sounds perfectly logical, I think sometimes it may only be prayer that leads a person to seek help because in prayer ego is largely put aside. You know that ego based part of us that can often dictate that we should be able to manage on our own, without help. In prayer, pride is often put aside in favour of the best form of guidance. I should add, ego is an absolute mongrel at times; just when you settle on agreeing to ask for help, up it may come with 'Yeah, that's fine, but what are people going to think of you. What if they see you as weak. You can't be seen as weak'. Ahh, to be in 2 minds, the constructive one and the destructive one. Can be a battle, that's for sure.

I think, at the end of the day, it doesn't matter what we call that aspect we pray to or meditate on (God, The Source, The Universe, The powers that be, our own higher consciousness etc) what matters is finding a connection to whatever it is that offers the best form of guidance.

[CMF]

Hi all,

I'm tagging to look at when I have more time.

Thanks

Cmf

[gloria10]

Hi Therising,

It is odd when it happens. I’d describe it as ‘putting it out to the universe and see what comes back’. This was something a naturopath once said.

Recently, I was stressed about not being able to pay for my car and asked for help. Within a few days I did some temp work that helped.

It could be a coincidence, but it’s a nice one. In answer to your question, I guess it’s more like it happens through every day events. Such as who I speak to, choices I follow; hard to explain:)

[Petal22]

Hi gloria10,

I totally understand it’s unexplainable.

When I was in the grips of OCD I was in so much distress that I’d find myself praying.

One of the things I prayed for was a re newed mind and yes in time I received this.

Our life journey is really unexplainable sometimes I look back at mine, at the time I didn’t know why I went through what I did.

But now I can see why my path has been the way it has.

I believe that God needed me to see what he needed me to see and endure, I had to go through what I went through so I could come through it and help others with the valuable insight I now have.

🙏

[smallwolf]

What difference is there between prayer, reflection, meditation, talking in head, listening, etc.

Depends on how you do it?

If it is prayer, who are you talking to or with? There are plenty of options here also.

What if it were just a case of slowing down and being in the present moment?

[therising]

Hi gloria

I believe part of the journey comes down to finding meaning in things. Simple coincidence (2 or more things coinciding) or meaningful ways of things coinciding, it's our choice how we interpret. Interpret it as a kind of magical or miraculous thing or not. Again, it's a choice.

Personally, I love the magic. When people say to me 'You see something in just about everything', as a statement of ridicule or an expression of gullibility, I used to take it personally, feeling foolish. Nowadays, if someone says to me 'You see something in just about everything' I tend to respond with 'Why would I choose not to?'.

Can remember the day when I began to be more true to myself. I'd been to see someone who has been a reassuring influence in my life, in this way. His advice to me was something along the lines of 'You're often led to turn to people who fill you with self doubt. You need to stop. You need to wash off the mud and s*** they throw at you and practice being yourself'. On the way home from meeting him, I was still filled with elements of self doubt. You know the kind of internal dialogue that sounds like 'But what if they're all right, what if I am simply foolish. What if I am being stupid'. I recall stopping at a red light when something insisted I look over to my right. There it was, a billboard for washing detergent which read in big bold letters 'WASH OFF THE MUD'. Couldn't help but smile. While some may say 'You really think the powers that be put that billboard there just for you?'. I don't imagine so but what I do imagine is what came to mind, 'Look to your right', was for me. That moment, that coincidence held meaning and great amusement.

When I think of people who report, after a loved one has passed, of getting some sign like seeing butterflies everywhere or a certain type of bird etc that relates to their loved one, it upsets me to hear how others will say 'You're reading into things. Don't be so ridiculous. They're just butterflies/birds/etc'. Why take the magic away from someone who's experiencing terrible grief, especially if such things offer them a touch of joy and a hint of relief from their grief?

I choose the magic and enjoy hearing others talk about their magical moments 🙂

[gloria10]

Lovely post therising. It’s great that you are following what’s true to you, I’m trying to as well. Sounds like you have a great mentor in your life.

Sometimes I’ve seen things I can’t explain and feel like someone is around me (we’ve had a few family pass due to illness). It’s comforting thinking they may be around:)

Keep choosing the magic!

Gloria10

[geoff]

Hello Gloria, sorry can I rephrase my comment, 'wouldn't it be more useful to talk with someone who can give you an answer or different strategies ----------'

Sorry.

Geoff.

[geoff]

Hello Smallwolf, 'What difference is there between prayer, reflection, meditation, talking in head, listening, etc.', well I'm sure people will have different views on how to answer this, and I'm not going to shed my thoughts on this matter, although I am not religious at all.

Geoff.