Open to the Spirit

SARK Poster

“Then Miriam the prophetess, Aaron's sister, took a tambourine in her hand, and all the women followed her, with tambourines and dancing. Miriam sang to them: "Sing to the LORD, for he is highly exalted. The horse and its rider he has hurled into the sea." Exodus 15: 20-21, Bible

“David and all Israel were celebrating with all their might before the Lord, with castanets, harps, lyres, timbrels, sistrums and cymbals…..  Wearing a linen ephod, David was dancing before the Lord with all his might.”  2 Samuel: 6:5, 14. Bible

“Joy is the grinning inside.”  ~Melba Colgrove

“Joy is the holy fire that keeps our purpose warm and our intelligence aglow” ~ Helen Keller

Miriam Dancing

Growing up in the Christian tradition I heard a lot about feeling the spirit move you.  People were quick to give me of examples such as Miriam, King David or the disciples feeling the fire at Pentecost.    I sat at many church youth retreats watching my friends cry, sing and hug – telling me how the spirit was moving through them.  Me?  I waited patiently for this divine knock your socks off feeling to occur.  Waiting to dance like King David by flinging off my clothes down to my undies (which due to my modesty values would never occur), but nothing ever happened, not even a giddy toe tap.  I also didn’t want to feel left out with this emotional crowd so I’d end up claiming: “Oh yes I feel it.”  And, then I’d wonder: “Is something wrong with me that I don’t feel anything?” or “Why isn’t it happening to me?”

It wasn’t until I began expanding my spirituality toolkit did I fully understand what it means to be “Open to the Spirit.”  I remember it happened during a Baptism ritual, the congregation was asked to remember and honor their connection to the source, Motherfather Spirit.   The minister asked us during a moment of silence to say: “Hey” to the Spirit.  He assured us that the Spirit is present in everyone – those Baptized or not – we were all filled with the spirit; we need to take time out of our busyness to acknowledge our connection.  Baptism was just one ritual recognizing our connection to Motherfather Spirit and an identifiable starting point where our relationship began.  And, for those already Baptized, it’s an opportunity to start afresh if we have forgotten our relationship.

The sermon continued on the theme of being opened to Motherfather Spirit.  What struck me was how I had been lead to believe that those filled with the Spirit acted in an otherworldly state like the descriptions of St. Teresa of Avila or Native American Shamans.  Sure some people had outward behaviors, jumping around or waving their hands showing they were connected, but I found out its more inner, personal and private – each person it being something different.  The minister saw our relationship to Motherfather Spirit crucial to having infinite love, happiness, peace, and laughter in our life.  He equated it to that spark or passion that gets us going expressing our deepest purpose of life (expressing love); and we’d never have to do it alone.  I sat realizing I was already connected and opened to the Spirit.

~#~

“The Wild Woman isn’t a workhorse….The Wild Woman needs aired out.” ~ Z. Budapest

A RECENT DREAM:  My family was being evacuated from our island.  I was deeply upset.  I loved my home with a Maine Vancouver feel.  But, the sirens were blaring and the police were telling us we needed to go: “The fog was coming in.”  I told them I wasn’t afraid of the fog.  My neighbors were in a panic and packing everything they could get into their mini vans and SUVs.  Begrudgingly I grabbed the family heirloom, an oversize glided mirror and loaded this into our Smart car. This was very out of character for me being “Ms. Ohio Preparedness.”  A mirror isn’t on my disaster evacuation list.  Sleeping bags and a tent, YES.  Mirror, No.

Coming back from my Bright Angel Labyrinth experience, I’ve been really focusing and examining my Spiritual Tool Kit to sync my heart, mind and spirit up.  Being at the half-way point of this yearlong blog, I’ve realized I’ve been coasting.  Sure I’ve been doing what I’ve written, but coasting.  The dream to me reinforces this message.  It is my wake-up call for self-reflection. 

I’ve been comfortable with this coasting; it has kept me safe and isolated – thus not wanting to leave my home.  And, by getting too comfortable, I realize the things in my life aren’t as solid as I’d like it.  My joy was kind of flat like day old Ginger Ale with no fizzie.  The mirror urges me to do an honest reflection.  Yes, there are places in my heart that aren’t able to express love because they are filled with other things or past experiences that have left me burnt.  And, if I wanted more love and joy in – I needed to declutter some stuff, get out the polishing cloth, and bless things away.  My messages from Motherfather Spirit – boring…. Yawn… you can do better.  These messages have been going on for a long time and I've been ignoring them.

Z. Budapest would say my “Wild Woman” (or “Wild Man” if you are a man) was bored.  And SARK?  My Succulent Wild Woman - was on the sofa eating too many chocolate creams.  In the meantime - the creative juices have been shrinking.

~#~

I googled “opening spirit pagan.”  I found not much was written.  I tried several other topic searches and laughed when up popped SARK, Z. Budapest and Clarissa Pinkola Estes.  Women who help me begin my Spiritual Quest.  All have written about this connection with spirit and describe it as a place within that is connected to the source.  That inner wise-place that is playful and passionate and joyfully creative.  All three have described our connection with Spirit as having a life filled with peace, love, happiness and laughter.

Another ah-ha moment during this self-reflection was my need to meditate in community.  I’ve been doing it on my own for 7 years and there is something more connected when you meditate in community.  I signed-up for the 21 day meditation challenge with Deepak Chopra – another person who laid a stone on my spiritual journey.

Nurturing Spiritual Wellness – more infomercials please

"Life is not a struggle or a contest.  There are no winners or losers.  There are no superior or inferior beings.  There is the process of participation and personal effort and attainment.”  Cheryl Kolander and Cynthia Chandler. 

“Ok people. This is the moment, and I am saying this out loud, in front of the moon and everybody. Everyone who reads this and agrees with it, please lend your energy to this truth: IT IS CRITICAL THAT YOU ARE WHO YOU SAY YOU ARE. LIVE UP TO YOURSELF, TO YOUR POSSIBLE GLORY, ON AS MANY LEVELS AS POSSIBLE, EVERY DAY. ACCEPT NOTHING LESS OF YOURSELF. THIS IS YOUR BIG CHANCE. THIS LIFETIME. DO NOT WASTE IT WORRYING WHAT YOU LOOK LIKE. SPEND IT BEING ALL THE BEST PARTS OF WHO YOU ARE.” ~ Yessherabbit Mathews

“There is one protection against both kinds of disproportion: that we should not move the body without the soul or the soul without the body, and thus they will be on their guard against each other, and be healthy and well balanced.” Plato, Timaeus: Disease and therapy of the soul

How do you lower the risks of heart disease? 

If you immediately rattled off examples such as: eating low fat foods, eating fruits and vegetables, stopping tobacco use, or getting your 10,000 steps in – put a star by your name.  Your answers are up to par with many health professionals.  I’d conclude that you’ve been listening and learning to prevention tips given by the news, PSAs (i.e., American Heart Association, US Dept. Health and Human Services), and TV shows.   But, people aren’t just their bodies. 

As I wrote before, we are made up of 4 energy bodies.  Our physical bodies are just the shell that carries our soul or spirit – the essence that makes you – you and me – me and the other energy fields.  Research is showing that spiritual health has an influence on heart disease and is related to your overall health (Ornish).  Even with this research, the public remains focused on the physical.  It’s measurable, it’s understandable and you can see and touch it.  The commercial industry finds it a whole lot easier to make money off selling vitamins and minerals with a juicer or a DVD to dance your way to fitness with Zumba or Hip Hop Abs by Shaun-T than on learning the steps to spiritual growth.  (Google infomercials on spiritual growth/nurturing - not much)

When I talk about nurturing spirituality, I tend to use the US National Institutes of Health’s definition: “the feelings, thoughts, experiences, and behaviors that arise from a search for the sacred.”  I believe each person has their own plan and for some it may include religious practices, values and beliefs.  My definition of nurturing spirituality also includes seeking peace, compassion and forgiveness within myself and striving to have an empathetic and altruistic attitude towards the world around me.  As I've walked on my life path returning to Motherfather Spirit, I've had good and bad experiences, met new people and said good-bye to others each of these has left it's mark on my spirit.  I’ve learned that some beliefs are important and other can be transformed.  And once again, everyone's path is different.  

Confessions:

I haven’t reached enlightenment.  I’m not perfect and sometimes find myself a hypocrite when it comes to practicing what I preach.  Specifically, I find myself a hypocrite when it comes to being compassionate and forgiving of myself or having empathetic attitudes towards people that strongly don’t carry the same values and beliefs as me.  What I've learn is each day is a new day that allows me to reflect on my mistakes and try again.  Meaning, feeling empathy or putting myself in their shoes.  

It’s been my experience that just because a person is a season ticket holder at a church, circle, temple, mosque or coven doesn't mean they’re practicing spirituality.  There was a point in my life I was going to church because it was the social thing to do, it was expected that I’d go, I felt guilty if I didn’t go – meaning I was disappointing my family.  I liked the church calendar and I like the rituals and singing, but actually it wasn’t doing anything for me.  It really wasn’t bringing any meaning to my life.  And, I really had no sense who the heck I was; where I was going; or why I was here in this world.  So I took a step back and re-evaluated.  I added some items to my toolkit and changed things up in order to explore these questions.  I took from other faith traditions what made me grow spiritually.  Thus is the reason I call myself a Celtic Christian Wise Witchy Woman.

My Toolkit for Nurturing my Spirituality – you may find them similar to yours or not.  This is okay.  Everyone’s toolkit is different.  My life lesson is being open to explore other ways to get close to the sacred.  It’s about being engaged.

For me, I need to do something daily that honors the sacred piece of me. My toolkit includes:

Reading Findhorn Inspiration Daily.

Walking outside and feeling the earth.

Saying Grace at meals

Journaling

“I love you” self-blessing after the shower

I believe in a higher power.  I believe that this power is far greater than what I can imagine.  Just calling this being God, felt one sided.  I didn’t feel comfortable calling God, Goddess either.  I went with a more gender neutral name.  My name – Motherfather Spirit.  The change brought me closer.  We have a daily conversation.

Gardening puts me in a contemplative state. 

Yoga at least 1X a week.

Other goodies: Meditation and Quigong.  Lighting candles, reading an inspirational book.

Inspirational books/authors
The Alchemist - Paulo Coelho
The Cost of Discipleship - Dietrich Bonhoeffer
The Silent Spring - Rachel Carson
The Hiding Place - Corrie Ten Boom
I Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee - Dee Brown
Death Comes for the Archbishop - Willa Cather
Tuesday with Morrie - Mitch Albrom
The Celestine Prophecy - James Redfield
Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe - Fannie Flagg
The Prophet - Kahil Gibran
Writings of Julian of Norwich
Enchanted Garden - Elizabeth von Arnim
Personhood: the art of being human - Leo Buscaglia

I attend a ritual or services weekly.  My favorite types of rituals are in silence or there's singing.  If I don't go - I spend at least a hour walking in the woods silently.  The following authors influenced my spiritual practices - Lynn Andrews, Mary Summer Rain, Z. Budapest, Diane Stein....  

I try to do something nice for another daily.  It is my time to put others ahead or pay it forward.  I’ve worked at the food pantry, helped clean up trash, volunteer for a community event, write a note to someone who is shut-in, sing happy birthday to a friend on their answering machine, leave homemade blueberry jam on a neighbor’s doorstep, knitting hats and scarfs for seniors...

Activities:

Take a Spiritual Assessment

Take a moment to assess your own spiritual health by circling the words in each column that best describe your current spiritual condition. You decide which column more accurately describes where you are in your spiritual health.  This assessment is from the University of Northern Iowa.

Spiritual Health

•hope

•positive outlook

•acceptance of death

•forgiveness, self-acceptance

•commitment

•meaning and purpose

•clear values

•sense of worth

•peace

•worship, prayer, and meditation

 Spiritual Atrophy

•emptiness

•anxiety

•loss of meaning

•self-judgment

•self-condemnation

•apathy

•long "dry" spells

•conflicting values

•needing to improve myself

•worried/annoyed/acting in haste

•without rituals that touch me

Build your own Toolkit

References:

Glass-Coffin, Bonnie. “A Mother’s Love: Gender Altruism, and Spiritual Transformation.” Zygon. 41.4 (Dec. 2006). 893-901.

Holt-Lustad, Steffen, Patrick, Sandberg, Johnathan, Jensen, Byran. “Understanding the connectin between spiritual well-being and physical health: an examination of ambulatory blood pressure, inflammation, blood lipids and fasting glucose.” J Behavior Med. 34. 13 April, 2011. 477-488.

Hawks, Steven. “Spiritual Wellness, Holistic Health, and the Practice of Health Educaiton.” American Journal of Health Education. 35.1 (Jan/Feb. 2004). 11-16.

Kolander, Cheryl, Chandler, Cynthia. “Spiritual Health: A Balance of All Dimensions.” Paper Presentation.  Annual Meeting of American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance. New Orleans, LA. 1 April. 1990.

Lee, Virginia.  Interview with Dean Ornish. Common Ground. Summer 1998. Web. 8 July, 2012. http://www.soulfriends.com/soulcircle/content.php?176-Dean-Ornish-Spiritual-Heart-Disease

Siegel, Bernie. Love Medicine and Miracles. Harper and Row. New York. New York. 1985.