Personal Spirituality
by D.J. Conway

Most people give thought to spirituality at some time in their lives. Unfortunately, often the many definitions of constitutes spirituality create divisions, animosity, and even hatred among people. The truth of spiritualty is often a long way from what is really professed and practiced.

Too many people base their idea of spiritualty on the number of members, the extent of the power they weild through their church, synagogue, temple, circle, whatever, the success they have trying to convice others to believe as they do, the appearance and/or cost of their meeting place, or the level of social class who attend their functions. They have lost sight of the true meaning of spirituality; the personal, private search for growth, contentment, and communication with the Supreme Power of the Universe.

The spiritual journey of any person, regardless of belief system, has nothing to do with institutions or groups. You can reach a certain level of spirituality through these, but after a time the growth stops. From there on, the journey is a lonely, personal one, if one wishes to continue to progress.

The very first step on this journey must be to truthfully answer the question: What do I seek, and why am I seeking it? You can dress your answer in all kinds of verbose and high-sounding blather; however, if you lie about your true reasons, a part of you still knows the truth. Inner doors will remain closed, however much you beat on them. The only answer that will open those doors is that you truly hunger for spiritual knowledge and seek to be a better person.

Many people subconsciosly sabotage their own efforts by attempting too much too soon. Spirituality isn't measured by meditating for an hour every day, becoming a vegetarian, practicing strange (and sometimes painful) yoga positions, giving away all your money and possessions, letting some high mucky-muck tell you how to live your life, dressing in strange garb, or refusing to speak to anyone who isn't if your faith. The true spiritual level of a person is seen only through actions, words, contentment, and the way he or she generally lives life.

You do need to have a fairly consistent routine for spiritual endeavors, however. Start your morning by silently saying, "Thank you for what I have. Help me do good things today." Meditating once or twice a week is good, if you are into meditation. If not, substitute a prayer session. If you are Pagan, do a little candle ritual for yourself or someone else who needs a boost. If you aren't Pagan, just light a candle and say a prayer. Don't tell anyone what you did, however. This teaches you humility.

Treat your body like the marvelous machine it is by not overexercising, overeating, putting anything harmful into it, and basically not overindulging. Keep it clean and healthy without becoming a fanatic. Like the Chinese say, live and eat eighty percent healthy eighty percent of the time.

Set aside a time each week for an hour or so of study in a spiritual subject that interests you. Read something uplifting and inspiring. If you do this just before you go to bed, the subject will sink into your subconscious mind and have the best effect.

Try to be understanding and patient with those with whom you come in contact. If you're having a bad day, watch carefully what you say; you could be sabotaging yourself with negative words. If others are rambling on in a negative manner, excuse yourself (if possible) and refuse to take part. Words, positive or negative, build the envelope of energy that surrounds us, and that we carry with us everywhere we go. This energy can have positive or negative effects on all of your life. Don't be a doormat, however.

Whatever spiritual path you have chosen, don't proselytize. Proselytizing means that you actively seek to make others convert to your belief in order to gain followers to your cause. This is actually only a membership drive for an institution or person's ego, and has absolutely nothing to do with spirituality. Don't be shoving your religious material in anyone's face, and don't allow others to do it to you.

The religion or belief system you choose to follow has nothing to do with your personal search for spiritual growth, This journey is all done within the mind and heart and soul of each individual in private. The judgement and opinion of others on our progress is not important. Deep within, we each know how well we've made the effort.

When we've stretched ourselves to a new spiritual level, we discover an amazing result. We deeply desire to continue with the spiritual journey. There are so many posiitive side effects that we enjoy the journey, even when it becomes difficult, which it does at times.

Although we are temporarily living in finite, physical bodies, we don't always do so. The part of us that is spirit will some day release that body and try to find its way back to the source. Through our personal, private efforts of taking a daily spiritual journey, we will find we already know the way home.

Thank you, Lady Elaine!  This is wonderful, and very helpful!

I especially like this:  "The true spiritual level of a person is seen only through actions, words, contentment, and the way he or she generally lives life."  So true!!!