Celeste has a bone to pick with the need to divide between "secular" and "spiritual." (Celeste is also having a wee crisis as a spiritual companion who hates the word spiritual).
Thank you for writing this. I have recently left my religion and I would argue the hardest part has been understanding who/what God is to me now. Reading this helped me so much. I love that I can re-claim the word spiritual and let go of all the things it used to mean to me before. No more black and white.
I love the paragraph where you talk about the tulips and the fact that you can’t call yourself a companion. Hilarious! I think that spiritual for me is a connection to the larger, to the thing that is bigger than all of us. I also find my spiritual connection through nature. I think that whatever journey one takes it needs to be more about questions than answers. I think it’s cool that you are posing questions for yourself and for others.
I suppose the words god and spiritual, mean so many different things to so many people. It can be hard to use the words without someone getting the wrong end of the stick.
Genrally, the human way is to divide things into one bucket or another as we are too much focused on the micro existence of life on earth.
However when we look at the macro, the earth is just part of our solar system, which is part of the milky way, which is part of a group of galaxies, which is part of the universe.
Instead of seeing it as all part of one thing (the universe), we make it into many (the diverse). My own view it is both at the same time. All part of one thing and an infinite number of opposites.
I know what the words god and spiritual mean to me? and that's the important thing. At the same time, I also allow others to have their definitions of these words.
I find taking a deeper look at my reactions to the words others use that trigger me, provide more insights into who I am more than my reactions do.
When you think about it, why does someone making a sound make us recoil at all? If they were speaking, another language I wouldn't have the same reaction. Meaning it's not the other person or a word itself causing my reaction. It's something in me asking to be looked at.
Thank you for stirring thoughts in my head with your words, and I hope you have a great 2024.
Thank you for writing this. I have recently left my religion and I would argue the hardest part has been understanding who/what God is to me now. Reading this helped me so much. I love that I can re-claim the word spiritual and let go of all the things it used to mean to me before. No more black and white.
YASS! Reclaiming spirituality on our terms is the best!!!
I love the paragraph where you talk about the tulips and the fact that you can’t call yourself a companion. Hilarious! I think that spiritual for me is a connection to the larger, to the thing that is bigger than all of us. I also find my spiritual connection through nature. I think that whatever journey one takes it needs to be more about questions than answers. I think it’s cool that you are posing questions for yourself and for others.
Thanks Mary and I totally agree with your thoughts on spirituality!
Loved reading your words, thank you.
I suppose the words god and spiritual, mean so many different things to so many people. It can be hard to use the words without someone getting the wrong end of the stick.
Genrally, the human way is to divide things into one bucket or another as we are too much focused on the micro existence of life on earth.
However when we look at the macro, the earth is just part of our solar system, which is part of the milky way, which is part of a group of galaxies, which is part of the universe.
Instead of seeing it as all part of one thing (the universe), we make it into many (the diverse). My own view it is both at the same time. All part of one thing and an infinite number of opposites.
I know what the words god and spiritual mean to me? and that's the important thing. At the same time, I also allow others to have their definitions of these words.
I find taking a deeper look at my reactions to the words others use that trigger me, provide more insights into who I am more than my reactions do.
When you think about it, why does someone making a sound make us recoil at all? If they were speaking, another language I wouldn't have the same reaction. Meaning it's not the other person or a word itself causing my reaction. It's something in me asking to be looked at.
Thank you for stirring thoughts in my head with your words, and I hope you have a great 2024.