As a self proclaimed lover of spirituality, I have a feeling that I personally associate with the word, but it seems to be attached to everything these days.
It’s gotten to the point where I still consider myself to be a spiritual person, but (big but), it feels like it’s losing its meaning.
When you use the same word to describe too many things, you lose the potency of it.
Rad. Epic. Ahhhhh-mazing.
I’ve wondered, what does spirituality f*cking mean anyway?
I came across an article in Entrepreneur called “The Spiritual, Successful Business.” There’s a story about a group of monks that were brought in to bless the employees and customers of a bridal shop. Afterwards, “relations between clients and staff were wonderful and open. Problems are [now] resolved with more ease and grace.”
Is this the power of spirituality in business? Or is this the power of being present and loving in how you conduct your life?
After exploring articles in Psychology Today, Mayo Clinic, and digging into the definition in Merriam-Webster (which is ‘of or relating to a person’s spirit; of or relating to religion or religious beliefs; having similar values and ideas’) it’s clear there’s no one definition of spirituality.
‘Spirituality’ is a hot word a lot of people are throwing around right now. Spirituality is ‘in’.
What is Buddhism versus yoga versus shamanism versus animal totems versus religion versus versus versus. Is this all spirituality? Is none of it spirituality if you’re not approaching it in a spiritual fashion? And what the heck does that mean anyway?
What about tattoos versus fixing motorcycle engines versus performing surgery versus hunting versus day trading? Is this spiritual? If not, why isn’t it?
How about we say, ‘I choose to fully show up in my life every day”? I choose to be present.
If you didn’t call your morning practice your ’spiritual practice’ would it still bring you to a place of inner peace, calmness and connection with the more that exists around us at all times? What distinction do you get by adding the word ‘spiritual’ in?
Would a rose by any other name still smell as sweet? (Thanks, Shakespeare, you said it best.)
So what is spirituality anyway? Is it the art of be-ing in the world?
Let me ask: Are you being true to you?
We’re all blueprinted to become the person that we’re meant to be. You don’t get out of that. It’s like planing an oak seed. You’re going to get an oak tree.
Granted, you have to be in the right environment to thrive (you’re not going to grow an oak tree at the bottom of the ocean), but the thing is, if you’re fully present and showing up in your life, you’ll know if you’re not in the right place. And you’ll know when you are.
So what is spirituality anyway? Is it the art of paying attention?
Past life regressions, hypnosis, healing your childhood wounds, floating in sensory deprivation tanks. Some people quit jobs to hike the Appalachian trail. Others have a favorite lounge chair and watch the clouds roll by. Are any of these activities more or less spiritual than others?
I take time to smell the roses, literally. If you’ve ever been out and about with me, you may notice that if I see a flower, I’m going to take the time to smell it. There are too many delicious scents to pass up on the chance to experience whatever is in front of me in the moment.
We smell flowers, om our way to presence, grab green smoothies, practice The Artist’s Way and little by little, we find out more about the way we uniquely interact with the world.
So what is spirituality anyway? Is it the art of knowing yourself?
Sam Harris eloquently states in “An Atheist’s Guide to Spirituality” that the “deepest goal of spirituality is freedom from the illusion of the self”.
I see it as a quest to find personal truth.
You’re here right now, show the f*ck up.
You have the gift of life. Use it or lose it.
My dad, a devout Catholic, goes outside on his porch, overlooking his backyard in the Spring, Summer and Fall, with a cup of coffee sometimes, and simply sits. He enjoys the birds flitting from tree to tree, their song, and the quiet of the morning. It energizes him and it sets his day off. He does this, in addition to praying the rosary and going to mass; yet, the porch sit, is a ritual that leaves him quiet. This has something to do with his spiritual experience and practice. It comes from an inner place.
Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche, a Tibetan lineage holder who came to the West, wrote a book with “spiritual materialism” in the subtitle. It seems that from his perspective, in the West, we can treat “spirituality” as a commodity, something that is bought and sold. I would say, spirituality is something that is not for sale….if spirituality is “hot,” in a commercial way, it is to be questioned as authentic. When we are connected to our “spiritual self,” in whatever its form for us, there is no need to speak. “That which can be named, is not the Tao,” Lao Tzu It’s more like that, sitting on a porch, experiencing joy, in quiet reverie. Thanks for your thoughts.
I love how you speak about the practice of being quiet and also the reminder of Trungpa’s “spiritual materialism”. It’s an authentic inner experience that allows us to feel connected to our world. Thanks for sharing your thoughts! Xo.
This was fantastic!!!! <3 you! so….
"What about tattoos versus fixing motorcycle engines versus performing surgery versus hunting versus day trading? Is this spiritual? If not, why isn't it?" To me the answer is yes!!! Spirituality or the act of being, feeling and doing spiritual things depends on what makes your individual spirit (that little spark inside)sit up and scream hallelujah!!! So spirituality can be covering your self in tattoos or riding a motorcycle and feeling the wind whip by. Just as much as it can be chanting om daily with a singing bowl.
Yes, Miranda! It’s all about *igniting* that inner spark. Whatever it is for you. I love how you say it sits up and screams hallelujah. Such a great visual. Keep igniting your inner spark, dear one!
Great article Justine! Does it really matter in the end what it is? Or how we define it? “You’re here now, show the f*ck up.” I love that line. Perhaps our distraction with trying to define such things as spirituality keeps us from showing up and doing the WORK of spirituality (whatever that means ha ha).
Hey Mairead! I love your questions – “does it matter what it is or how we define it?” In the end, I believe it’s an internal journey. Sometimes in the naming of a thing, we take the mystery out of it.