In an earlier post, I commented on how I had abandoned the religion of my youth. While this is not entirely true (I still “talk to God” – a.k.a. praying in religion-speak), I have for the most part rejected the doctrines and practices of Christianity. I really feel that organized religions are not the avenue to spirituality that work for me anymore. Having said that, I do realize that there is more to life than the material world and that I need some form of “practice” to feed my spirit. This was reiterated today on the CBC program Tapestry, one of the things I do as a part of my aforementioned “practice”. On today’s program, there was an interview with Oriah Mountain Dreamer (a flaky name to be sure but: books, covers and all that). In the interview, she quotes a saying:
It’s too late to dig a well when your house is on fire.
The meaning here of course is that you need to have an well developed spiritual practice in place before disaster strikes so that you have something to help carry you through. While agree with this in one respect, I also think that anything that you do on a regular basis can turn into an empty ritual. So I guess the trick is to have a habitual spiritual practice yet somehow keep it fresh and meaningful. What are your thoughts on how to do this?
Hi Chris… I still do the prayer to god thing…. It may just be what is keeping me ‘sane’.
I don’t have the answers to keeping it fresh and real. I just know that organized religion is nuts and an excuse for far too many people. Maybe exploring all religions to make up your own mind is a way – everything from Egyptology to Greek Mythology and everything that vaguely resembles something in between.
The key factor is that deep down you believe in something that makes you who you are.
It was really great to see you and Michelle and the families. Wow… that was some trip!
Love
D
I’m catching up on my blog reading in my sick days at home.
Anyway, good question regarding spirituality.
On a side note, as you know I have also rejected most of the Christianity mumbo jumbo but I notice that when I’m sick, as I’ve been especially yesterday and feel all awful and out of control, I want, a) my mother and b) someone to lay hands on me and pray! Aargh, old habits die hard.
Nonetheless, I am in a 12-step group, an A.A. small women’s group. I’m not an alcoholic but am there for other reasons as it is an open group. I didn’t know what to expect and was my usual skeptical self. But I’d seen amazing changes in a friend so I thought wby not.
And it is really, to me, a spiritual group without ANY of the – pardon my french here – BULLSHIT – of Christianity and other religions. I am beginning to see my “higher power” in a way that is healthy and empowering. Sure, I’m starting to use “A.A. speak” and some people would say A.A. is a type of religion unto itself. Nonetheless, it is a radical thing.
Spirituality is a fascinating concept.