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In retrospect, it feels like I have spent my whole life wondering "What is Universal" as I was exposed to a multitude of different spiritual paths and colors whilst growing up.
And, they were all dressed in very different robes, each of those spiritual traditions.
So now when writing this text, pondering the esoteric lessons of my childhood, it feels like I was being taught to recognize the divine in everything.
The deep learning was to see and understand that a certain someone would only recognize the divine in him or herself, through a teaching, or a grain of wisdom, when ‘it’ was clothed in, let's say, red for example. And then that another certain someone would only recognize ‘it’, see his divine reflection in it, if it was clothed in, let's say blue. And also, that those colors could or would change over time for them. That at one point in their lives, the Indian teachings of North-America would unlock something magical within them, a remembering would occur, a quickening happen, then at another point in their life, they would feel drawn to the Indian teachings of the East, to Hinduism, or Buddhism or to another Eastern wisdom tradition, just to give an example. They wouldn’t be able to explain the shift, only that it was unlocking a new piece of their 'wholeness' to them.
This is all so natural. Everything, every path has a teaching. It catalyzes an unfolding. ‘Becoming’ is occurring for that person, a notion I touch upon in my poem, The Spiral of Becoming. This whole post actually echoes the essence of Songs of Anu Poetry from the Heart where the main topic is the question about what is spiritually Universal.
Ultimately we may come to a point where the paths have become layers, spiritual layers that may have started to inhibit us, like being dressed in too much clothing, which restrains our movements. Then the many different belief systems have started getting all mixed up, like threads getting tangled up in a knot, or around us, and we simply get stuck. All the different beliefs we have accumulated have become like spiritual restraints.
This may happen if we jump from one system to another, never giving ourselves the permission to slow down and devote ourselves to one specific path for a prolonged period of time. Never allowing ourselves to delve deep with a specific wisdom system and start practicing its essence. If that’s the case, that we’ve piled on so many different spiritual belief layers that we feel we are drowning from the heaviness of so much accumulated knowledge, an alternative route to diving deep, is to simply drop it all ~ find ourselves beyond any belief at all.
My stance on this whole thing, is that I believe (yes, pun intended with the word choice ;) that what is most important for us all, and for each individual, is to find inner peace. And, yes, that it can just be so darn difficult to experience peace when working with many sets of beliefs in one’s life.
So yes, I do think that ultimately when we have journeyed as spiritual seekers for a while, and we feel the journey has helped us in discovering many deep truths about ourselves, that the next move is to call off the search! We can of course keep on journeying, we will always keep on journeying, that is the nature of life, but that the next phase of the journey must be to decondition.
Though it's been said that what you seek is already within, the seeking is such a big part of the journey - and we shouldn't be discouraged to go on that spiritual journey by anyone who believes he or she knows better. Yes, the journey of self-discovery may well be the journey of zero miles as they say, but in order for us to live and experience, and taste the fruits of life, the journey, the seeking is essential, it broadens our horizon, matures our understanding and hopefully respect of others' beliefs and traditions, and that is awesome! Without exploring, we wouldn’t reach our own individual quiet space inside. Peace. What we learn on the ‘seekers spiritual road’ is among other glorious things, perseverance and endurance. Stamina. And through getting to know so many different spiritual belief systems, which at their deepest core, may be, in overt or covert ways, paths supporting our flight into freedom, each one deeply authentic in its own way, the journey has hopefully taught us the essential art of discernment. True and soulfull discernment is rooted in broad -and open-mindedness, healthy humbleness and open-heartedness. Both toward others, but perhaps more importantly toward ourselves in the long run. Hopefully we have learned to show ourselves patience, acceptance and tolerance. Love. Soothing softness. It is the medicine of the strong. And that medicine finds its way, weaves itself up (yes!) and down generational lines. Healing spiritual medicine can cross the boundary of time and space. So when we may have called off the accumulative search, and we’re sitting comfortably in the center of our own lives, wrapped in loving self-compassion, our strong inner core working as our compass as we journey on, we feel how empty we have become, but yet so full! Hallow, hollow, holy. We’ve made space inside for the sacred, for the divine to flow through us. Fill us with grace. ♡
And on we go on the path, children with sparkling wise eyes, as the adventures of life continue, and we are absolutely fully on board, enjoying the fullness, and the soulfulness of being supported, and supporting others as our energy grants, as Life keeps unfolding each day.
♡
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Photo: Artem Kovalev on Unsplash
