In this age of technology and materialism, when many wonder what
tomorrow will bring, the resurgence of spirituality is a normal
phenomenon. For centuries, people have turned to religions or other
belief systems for support and understanding. Yet it never resulted in a
better world on a global level. An improved personal life perhaps, but
not a better planet. So one can wonder why, after centuries of religious
or spiritual teachings on love, forgiveness, presence or service, the
world situation has not improved spiritually; why acts of sharing and
forgiveness are the exception, not the norm. We can guess that the big
majority of people weren’t ready for these teachings, that the failure
to bring peace, love or the end of suffering on earth is the failure of
humanity.
After all, the spiritual realm did its job, didn’t it? So why are people not listening?
The answer lies in each one of us. Our
perception of the world is a very personal thing, it involves our mind
and the infinite interpretations it can make about our experiences. This
is how most of us lead our lives: We base our actions on what our minds
are telling us. Yet many spiritual teachings tell us to go the other
way: love, meditate, watch your mind, forgive, practice compassion, open
your heart. The discrepancy between the teachings and what we do with
them is as wide as the gap between faith and belief. Faith is the
mysterious spiritual touch which brings a sacred dimension to our life.
Faith doesn’t abide by rules. Unlike belief, it has nothing to do with
religion and everything to do with following one’s heart. Faith is our
personal affair with our spiritual Self. Are we in a relationship with
our soul or are we cut off from it?
We can tell by the quality of our life: A person who has faith acts
from a place of trust and inner knowledge. A person who doesn’t have
faith acts from the mind, this person doesn’t trust life and often
second-guesses himself.
Faith is this indescribable feeling of knowing what’s right for
oneself and acting on it. That’s what soul work is about: the inner
knowledge of what one has to learn and do in this lifetime. Every soul
has its purpose, every heart its calling. The work required to discover
it is a spiritual journey some feel drawn to take. As you embark on this
path, the real adventure begins, a new perspective slowly arises, old
attachments vanish to leave room for new experiences. Your outlook on
life shifts to incorporate spiritual realities and your inner
transformation is mirrored in the outer world.
Every spiritual journey leads to a better understanding of your place in the world.
Spiritual practice helps you connect with your Self, which is a drop in
the sea of consciousness. As you connect with consciousness, you slowly
learn that there is an intelligent design underlying your life, and
that the spiritual realm contains all you need to know. So why not pick
up a spiritual practice?
How do we define spiritual practice? A
spiritual practice is the very simple act of getting in touch with your
Self. Not with your mind, your feelings or your body, but with this
sense of presence or being behind them. How to go about it is a matter
of personal preference. A few things should guide your choice: Religion
or tradition do not matter, except to your heart, so it is very
important to follow your intuition, not your mind (or another’s).
Practice will make all the difference: Spirituality is an experience,
not an intellectual pastime. Discouragement is common, the best way to
deal with it is not to expect anything from your practice. Flowers only
bloom in the right season, provided they were well taken care of.
Your spiritual practice also will bloom in the right season.
Sophie Rose is the author of The Way of The heart, Teachings of
Jeshua and Mary Magdalene. She is a contributing author of The Sacred
Shift, Co-Creating your Future. Sophie is not aligned with any
particular religion or tradition and has always favored a direct
experience of spirituality. She can be contacted through facebook or Twitter
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