When you think of spirituality what comes to mind for you? And, do you use the terms religion & spirituality synonymously?

As I have come to understand the difference between the two terms I find it best explained as such:

Religion is a framework used for one to explore their spirituality.

This can reiterate the personal nature of spirituality. With that being true I find that it takes out all need for judgement since no two people are the same, therefore no two paths to a spiritual existence can be identical. This even substantiates a persons right to 'believe' in nothing whatsoever.

However, when exploring a neutral approach to this topic I came upon these points to describe spirituality in regards to wellness:

Identify and live by your core set of principles or values that you look to for moral and spiritual guidance & structure.
Live with the intention to be fully present as often as possible.
Spend time in nature.
Spend time alone in order to think deeply/ connect with your true nature.
Develop a meditation practice, or other ceremony for acknowledging and offering gratitude for the life you are given.
Aspire to show respect for all things, animate and inanimate alike.
Exercise Faith, whether in yourself or in something greater.
Explore the origin of any judgements you may hold and resolve to heal them to the best of your ability.
Acknowledge and respect the sovereignty of each & every living being.

Woah! There is a lot to think about, yes? Is there anything that you would consider adding to that list?

The one thing that I keep getting drawn to is the idea of Faith. I imagine that we have all experienced that it's easy to have faith in the good times. It's when things things begin to crumble that faith tends to be the most valuable, and the most illusive!

To look further into the concept of faith it seems only natural to ask the following questions:

1) What is faith?

2) Is it only relevant in a theistic belief paradigm?

3) How does one go about developing faith?

In a fascinating article posted by the Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy on the topic of faith several models of faith are presented; theistic, non-theistic, and pertaining to both**. That right there suggests that faith can be seen in both a theistic and a secular realm. For the sake of our discussion I will stick to a more neutral concept, the 'purely affective' model.

According to the article this model of faith is seen as "a feeling of existential confidence". This concept requires a general sense of trusting in the value, meaning, and outcome of existence. The venture of trust could be directed towards oneself, a divine being, human kind in general, or even some far fetched notion based on the ideals of quantum physics that challenges ones perception of reality. You've heard the phrase, "I'll believe it when I see it". What about Dr. Wayne Dyer's version, "I'll see it when I believe it." This, I would guess, points to that type of faith that comes from a very broad feeling of trust without needing proof to validate it.

In another article I came across, Faith, Spirituality, and Religion: A Model for Understanding the Differences, it speaks of faith being impossible to define as it means something different to each person individually.

To circle back, it appears that trust is necessary for faith, and faith is a required component of spirituality.

Now, to the last question... How does one develop faith? That, again, is going to be unique to each and every person seeking it. The short answer... get to know yourself and trust what you find!!!

One theory I have developed over the years is that how we value ourselves, and how willing we are to allow ourselves to know true peace, is in direct relation to whether or not we adopt beliefs that would bring us such peace. If we see ourselves as deserving punishment and pain we will adopt 'hellfire and brimstone' ideals that will substantiate that notion.

On the other hand, if we see ourselves as deserving of love, grace, and acceptance we will align with ideals that bring us those very things.

What are you willing to allow for yourself? How does your concept of spirituality support or distract from that?

**'Faith' Bishop, John, "Faith", The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy (Winter 2016 Edition), Edward N. Zalta (ed.), URL = <https://plato.stanford.edu/archives/win2016/entries/faith/>.**

YOUR Sacred Ceremony

I offer you this mindfulness exercise as an opportunity for you to get acquainted with your own unique concept of spirituality.

With that being said how would I go on to suggest even the first steps of this process without it being a projection of my own thoughts and ideals? I'd say it's impossible. Never the less, I'd like to give you a bit of direction to try on for size to see if you find it helpful...

Let's start with the basics for creating a support environment for this endeavor:

~ Quiet,

~ Comfortable,

~ Void of distractions,

~ Journal and pen to write down your findings.

Then, set your intention.

~ What would you like to learn about?

~How do your current beliefs, or lack thereof, feel for you? Peaceful, anxiety inducing, hard, heavy?

~ How did you develop your current beliefs?

~ Are your concepts of spirituality truly yours? Or, are they simply the programming you were raised with?

~ What are your core principles and values?

~ What would you like to add to your current spiritual practice, or adopt as a new practice?

~ ETC... Take it away... You've got this.

This feels like a pretty intense exercise that I am posing to you. It is my absolute hope that it leads you to an exciting and enlightening exploration bringing you a rich and nourishing new way of being. If I can be of support to you in any way, please don't hesitate to reach out.

Until next we meet be healthy & stay safe!

With you on the Journey,

~ Cheryl ~