Spirituality
What is spirituality? And why does it matter to me now? I have been trying to figure this out, both alone and within a Circle of Women, facilitated by Jo Royle.
My interest in spirituality is connected with my ageing, I feel. It matters to me more now, what it is, and what it means on a personal level. Partly I think is because I’m more aware than ever, that my life is finite and I have lived more years than I have left. Plus I have the time and energy to read and reflect on spirituality, which when I was younger, wasn’t available to me.
I feel that for me spirituality is about connectedness: connectedness with all people, with all living things and creatures, with our planet and our universe and beyond. It’s about relationships with myself and others. Personally, I think it’s about beauty and awe, something greater than me, not necessarily a God or even a Higher Power, and it’s about serendipity and laughter, genuineness and vulnerability.
My reading has led me to, amongst other authors, Pema Chödrön and in her book, ‘’When Things Fall Apart: Heart Advice for Difficult Times’’, she says, ‘’Embarking on the spiritual journey is like getting into a very small boat and setting out on the ocean to search for unknown lands . . . . . . . . Like all explorers, we are drawn to discover what’s waiting out there without knowing yet if we have the courage to face it’’.
This is exactly how I feel, curious and motivated yet also feeling insignificant and vulnerable doubting my courage on this journey and wondering what I’ll discover. But despite this, I am enjoying focussing on the journey, reminding myself that the journey itself is significant and important to me and that it doesn’t matter where I get to or even if there is a destination.
I am realising that the path is the goal. As Chodron says, ‘’Now is the time. If there’s any possibility for enlightenment, it’s right now, not at some time in the future . . . . . we can aspire to relax and open our heart and mind to what is in front of us right in the moment’’.
Edith Eger in ‘’The Gift: 12 Lessons to Save Your Life’’ says that fear and love don’t co-exist. Cleo Wade in ‘’Heart Talk: Poetic Wisdom For a Better Life’’ says, ‘’We can only step into love when we leave our fear behind’’.
This is what I’m practising, operating from a place of love instead of fear, opening my heart and mind to what is in front of me right at the moment and it’s not easy! I’m working on staying open, seeing beauty, not being critical or fearful or defensive, being kind to myself, allowing my path to emerge, sticking with it, trusting, learning, relating to what’s happening with gentleness. And being aware that I’m a work in progress.
