The Importance Of A Spiritual Practice
The Importance of Spirituality
Having a connection to something greater than the self has helped thousands and thousands of people heal themselves into a new or better life, for as long as 12 Step Programs like Alcoholics Anonymous have been around. But it goes back a lot further than that.
We humans have done subsistence living for centuries, and it’s been a world where survival of the fittest, smartest, strongest – that has, until quite recently, determined our gene pool and our ongoing survival on this planet. But there is something else beyond food and shelter that we have always sought. That something is what I refer to as the Spirit Connection.
Having a connection to Spirit can support us as we try to make sense of, and move through the struggles and losses that are a part of normal life. Likewise, being able to ‘hold’ the energetic potency of the miracles and the beauty that are presented to us from time to time. How we ground all of that and are able to continue moving forward, or stay standing strong is through, I think, this connection to God, or Spirit in whatever form is appropriate for you.
You know it yourself, or you’ve seen it at some point I’m sure, that once we have borne and raised children, or done whatever it was that was our core or initial mission this life-time – once ‘it’ has been done, it is meaning and purpose – a higher calling that keeps us here, being and doing this journey we call life. In truth, if there wasn’t that pull, or that sense of Spirit, or an agreement to uphold the Christian principles that we were raised with (or the system we have aligned ourselves with in adulthood), without a spiritual mission if you want to call it that, most of us wouldn’t bother to stay here in the School of Life now would we? Cause it ain’t always a walk in the park.
My mind moves to Maslows Hierarchy of Needs, his ‘motivation model’ which shows that the basics need to be addressed; food, shelter, we need to be loved, and to belong, to have a sense of self and so on. It is at the tip of Maslows triangle that values beyond the self, like service to others and the need for profound or mystical experiences exist, and are sought through the occult, sexual, or religious practices. Maslow refers to this stage as Transcendence, and when this becomes the driving need in a persons’ life it is most commonly after achievement to some degree in fulfilling the lower needs. So, we seek sustainability on a physical, emotional and mental level and then reach upward and outward for a connection with Spirit and the higher values. This certainly seems to be the norm, and I’m sure you’ve experienced it yourself.
Even the researchers recognise the importance that a connection to Spirit brings in when healing and ongoing health are an issue. There are so many papers you can read through, many of which can be found in the National Library of Medicine, that explore and demonstrate the power of Spirit in the healing process. Here are just a few of them;
The importance of spirituality in medicine and it’s application to clinical practice: Recognition that keeping patients beliefs, and spiritual or religious needs separate from their physical health care is counterproductive.
Impact of Spiritual Behaviour on Self-Reported Illness: A Cross-Sectional Study among Women in the Kailali District of Nepal: This study concluded that spiritual behaviour is effective for better health and low risk for disease occurrence. Read it yourself here.
Spiritual Care for Individuals with Cancer: The Importance of Life Review as a Tool for Promoting Spiritual Well-Being: Reliance on spirituality as an untapped supportive resource for patients and their families when dealing with a cancer diagnosis.
The role of religion and spirituality in mental health: Studies show that religion and spirituality can promote or reduce mental health and that this difference is dependant on the awareness of practitioners.
Body and spirit: Religion, spirituality, and health among adolescents: Identifies that greater religiosity/spirituality may be associated with less involvement in high risk behaviours and more involvement in health promoting behaviours.
Now obviously, I am not a doctor or medical professional, but I am a Healer. When Ive sat with someone in the counselling space who is grieving the loss of a loved one, and when sitting at a table with Tarot cards turned face up – it is always about home. How do I find my way home after ‘this’, home to the fullness of Me, to my core, to my connection with God, Goddess, Great Mother, or Spirit? Being truly present with someone who is seeking answers to these kinds of questions is an honour and a gift, but it also takes a hefty measure of conscious presence and understanding of place ie: where your own feet are placed and a deep knowingness and connection to what supports and sustains you. To be in this exploratory, reaching space with another is also an important reminder that without that connection to Spirit, to our wild free self, we have no hope, no drive, and no reason to Be.
We must be connected.
There are hundreds of ways to connect with Spirit, to reclaim the light in the heart which is I believe, our true ‘life’. For some that requires a long taxing outward journey that provides time for deep reflection. For others it is a simple decision to make space to connect into source through a regular meditation practice, attending kirtan, doing yoga, going to church, regardless of whether that is to tap into community, to pray, or to sing with the members of the congregation and in so doing bring a higher vibration into the body. It can be any, all, or none of those things – something completely different even, maybe an ayahuasca ceremony or a shamanic ‘calling back’. Whatever it is that brings you home to yourself, whatever it is that creates, deepens or renews your connection to Spirit – you must do it.
Many are ‘believers’ in the bad times and refuters when things are fine, so I say, do your research. Get clear on what you believe and why you do. Know it. Then hold strong so you can stay and do what you are meant to do here. Now is always the best time.
PS: If you’re interested in looking at the validity of past and future lives as a way to process the existence of a life other than the one we see here, check out this link - very interesting stuff, oh and if you are wondering, the answer is yes, I do offer past life hypnosis for those that feel genuinely drawn to it.