Spirituality.

In general terms the word refers to recognizing the ‘Spirit’ that animates the world that we inhabit.

In basic terms, we and our world, are composed of more than what we refer to as the physical matter.  Science, in the modern age, tells us that we and our world are made of energy; that there is really no solid ‘ matter.’  Furthermore, since we share this sea of energy with everyone else, we are fundamentally interrelated.

In a Spiritual, interrelated world, we are intimately connected to everyone.  How we act and re-act matters.

Why practice?  Principally, because by practicing we become better. We can become better human beings.  We can become better at acting and re-acting in this interconnected world.

In a way you might think of Spiritual practice as practical training.  It can show that there are alternative choices possible in challenging situations.  It can provide tools and practices that we can use in order to work on these issues in our life.  It can remind us to Remember and Celebrate our interconnectedness with all Life.

If someone insults you, how do you feel?  Bad, mad, anxious, etc?  You don’t have to feel anything.  You can choose how you feel.  We all have instinctual reactions and emotions.  Once you recognize that you may have a quick temper, that’s a perfect time to practice. You can practice recognizing when your temper or emotion is rising; and you take steps to reverse and control it.  You apply this practice repeatedly and you can train yourself.  Eventually you can become an expert;  an expert at managing the complex wonderfulness that is You.

Astrology can be a helpful guide to assist you in achieving this goal.  At it’s most basic, astrology can show you a wiring diagram for your psyche.  An astrology reading can provide some insight into instinctual behavior patterns.  It can also suggest possible ways to achieve better balance.

It can be challenging to love your enemies.  Why do you practice loving them?  Because you realize, through Spiritual practice, that everyone is a part of the Whole.  They may look differently.  But reason, and spiritual practice, can enable you to interact with the world in an entirely different way.

What does a world informed by Spiritual practice look like?  Happy.  Balanced.  Healthy.  Functioning from a principal of Love instead of force.

The proof is in You.  Once you start to practice living is this way, a more conscious manner, you can feel the difference.

It’s relatively easy to start.  You probably know something about yourself that could use some re-training.  Is it your temper?  Or do you criticize yourself and others in your thoughts?  These are just habits.  They can be overcome.

“The true heaven is everywhere, even in that very place where thou standest and goest…” The Confessions of Jacob Boehme, by Jacob Boehme

You can also practice Spirituality because our daily interactions on this wonderful good Earth give us great opportunities to do so.  We can read the news, meet new people, handle difficult or tedious communications, love, get mad, get sad, and interact with an amazing amounts of different situations, emotions, and people.  It’s a perfect environment to practice.

If you wish to start interacting with yourself and the world differently, you can just start doing so.  Then keep doing it.  That’s the practice.

Related:

If
By Rudyard Kipling

If you can keep your head when all about you
Are losing theirs and blaming it on you,
If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,
But make allowance for their doubting too;
If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,
Or being lied about, don’t deal in lies,…

Read the rest @ the poetry foundation

Image from Unspalsh by kazuend