There was a time when I regarded spiritual practice primarily as employing specific systems for spiritual sustenance. After exploring several practices including yoga, meditation and breathing techniques, prayer, journaling, ritual, and a weekly observance of the Sabbath, I settled upon an eclectic mix.
When my life was on a joyful, even keel, I attributed my well-being to my spiritual practice. However, when life presented particularly difficult losses or challenges, I blamed my troubles on an insufficient or inconsistent spiritual practice. I have come to realize that spiritual practice goes beyond formal procedures that constitute a practice. Spiritual practice includes discerning and expressing the dynamic, Creative Intelligence, the Source of all—Spirit as the foundation of our lives for ever and a day—even when life throws a curve ball.
Knowledge vs Practice
As an avid student of spiritual principles since the 70s, I have heard myself respond, “I know that!” to current teachings and wisdoms shared through others that I recognize as “original” ideas that occurred to me decades ago. Yes, Deborah, you know that, but do you practice that?
On the spiritual path, the “I know syndrome” can be a deterrent if knowledge is not grounded in practice—using knowledge to encourage beliefs that inform, heal, and transform the unexamined feelings and erroneous beliefs that congeal into lives we claim not to want.
Spiritual practice goes beyond what we know or believe intellectually. It involves trusting moment by moment in the foundation of that which is true eternally, beyond circumstances or custom—Spirit. Spiritual practice is using our innate wisdom to help us lead lives that zing with authenticity.
Don’t Fight the Feeling
Spiritual practice involves more than just what we say and what we do, but how we feel; allowing, owning, and honoring all feelings as they come up; acknowledging that if a feeling happens in us, we are the originators or incubators of those feelings. Powerful feelings and emotions such as rage or obsessive love might portray and reveal “complexes” (unresolved and/or unintegrated energy excesses). Rationalizing, defending, and blaming such emotions on others could point to beliefs that are insufficient and flawed.
Even when an upsetting experience happens to us and something or someone else seems to be the cause, how we feel and what we do or don’t do is according to our own power. When our feelings are involved, spiritual practice encourages looking within and seeking to know what our feelings tell us about our true needs. It involves taking responsibility for getting our own needs met or determining how we will cope and resolve the tensions within (especially if the time for getting those needs met is irretrievable.)
When Life Hurts
Spiritual practice includes reminding ourselves to discern Spirit as a force for good within every life circumstance or condition—even those that are painful—and seeking within for that which we seek to be or have (peace, love, right work, wealth, etc.). Spiritual practice helps us to stop identifying outer conditions as evidence of either success or failure and locate the Kingdom within. This practice isn’t necessarily easy; sometimes it’s tasty to lash out at whomever or whatever seems to be the source of our pain. However, in any moment, we can choose to turn our ears to hear in ways that we can understand, the sound that endures in all sounds, the ineffable voice of Spirit.
Our capacity for hearing and following Spirit can help us deal healthily and powerfully with whatever seems to be harming or sabotaging our well-being.
Practice Makes Joy
Drop any ideas that you might have that practice makes perfect. Perfection is not a goal of our spiritual practice any more than it is for artists who seek flow as an unfoldment of their potential for genius. Indeed for many visual artists, the artwork they produce is viewed as a byproduct of what makes them feel alive and makes the soul sing! Usually, it is in hindsight that we realize we have slipped. We snap at someone before we catch ourselves and then remember to check within for the source of our anxiety. At that moment you practice forgiving yourself. In time you will find yourself snapping less.
Practice Momently
Ideally, we practice the presence of Spirit or the Divine from moment to moment. However, sometimes we forget to practice and become boxed in unhealthy emotions or states of mind. In that case, we simply notice and practice again. An immediate way to get back into the Creative Flow is to breathe with deliberate awareness of this awesome gift and to remind ourselves that the ground upon which we walk, even at the moment of our despair, anger, or anxiety, is sacred, holy ground.
Wisdom from George Washington Carver,
Scientist and Mystic
“My prayers seem to be more of an attitude than anything else. I indulge in very little lip service, but ask the Great Creator silently daily, and often many times per day to permit me to speak to him through the three great Kingdoms of the world, which he has created, viz.—the Animal, Mineral, and Vegetable Kingdoms; their relations to each others, to us, our relations to them and the Great God who made all of us. I ask him daily and often momently to give me wisdom, understanding and bodily strength to do His will, hence I am asking and receiving all the time.”
If you are interested in exploring your spiritual beliefs and learning to develop your faith and your innate wisdom to get through a challenging life passage, you are invited to call Reverend Deborah Singletary at 718-398-4616 or email: visioncarriers@aol.com.
Above: Within the Eye Divine Eye, Oil on Wood, 36″X36″ by Bianca Dorsey, http://bianca.dorsey.brooklynartist.com/
practice makes joy. wonderful! thank you