Among some of us who deem ourselves spiritual, the use of the word "spiritual" causes blushing and anxiety. What a pale word it is in the face of what earned spirituality actually provides. No single word, however potent, can tap the pure light and color of a cosmic mindset. The green vistas and pinkish sun rays of such a mind lie beyond the reach of labels and terms.
Ironically, despite my hesitation in applying language to elevated states of consciousness, I reached such states through language itself. To explain: I discovered my "spirituality" through the pure act of writing. Since I'd grown up under the impression that divinity could only be tapped in churches or temples, my own arrival was quite surprising.
As I said, writing is a pure act. It's borderline immaterial. I say borderline due to the necessity of pens, paper, keyboards, monitors, staples, ink, bindings, and the like. Despite such material pinnings, writing remains an endeavor to ethereal spaces. Said spaces can swell with warmth or bend with terror, but they're always ...Other. The forceful charge of authentic inscrutability cannot be denied when composing language.
Prose calls up imagery, emotion, sound, and fire. When reading (or writing, which requires reading as it occurs) we recede into ourselves, we re-enter the womb. Our senses are at the mercy of an intricate arrangement of tiny symbols-- letters and punctuation marks-- that open corridors within us. We find ourselves amidst strange faces and rooms. As the journey deepens, so does the reader's inner texture. The prose has refined our very selves. And when said refinement advances, something resembling the "spiritual" might emerge.
Again, I have no strong terms with which to label this process. No formal religion summates my findings. The realm of the spirit is fleeting and slippery, and can at best be viewed through squinty eyes. But I know I see something. And I intend to keep looking.
About The Author
Eric Shapiro is the author of "Short of a Picnic," a collection of fictional stories about people living with mental disorders.
detailed home cleaning Park Ridge ..Divining Rods, also known as Dowsing Rods, have been used... Read More
Mother Nature has this uncanny tendency to turn upon herself... Read More
The fundamental aim of spiritual study is to get facts... Read More
Some say praising Jesus is just singing. Others say it... Read More
Back in the days of the old law of Moses,... Read More
The Bible tells us that we must be led by... Read More
Everyone is busy nowadays. It's hard to find time for... Read More
Job was a spiritual man who loved and obeyed God... Read More
Believe it or not most astral Attacks are not caused... Read More
Anyone who tells you that the path to self-actualization is... Read More
Action dakini gets everything done. When wanting and grasping hold... Read More
We want to hear from God so that we may... Read More
A Nathan type prophet sees with his eyes. A Samuel... Read More
"Let me tell you why you're here. You're here because... Read More
By invoking an external God to whom we look for... Read More
Some may ask why in a disaster some people are... Read More
When my dad was nearing the end of his life... Read More
Dreams take us not into ourselves, but out of ourselves.... Read More
Recently it has come to my attention people are noticing... Read More
Does this ever happen to you? You ask God for... Read More
Over the past few years I have watched the popularity... Read More
Coming face to face with yourself in the space between... Read More
The truth revealed as we read about Hazael also reminds... Read More
Forgiveness breaks all bounds of repression and depression. It liberates... Read More
As you grow in wisdom, you will release, more and... Read More
express cleaning service Des Plaines ..Have you ever thought about how your orientation to time... Read More
Chaos: "complete confusion" and "the formless void before the creation... Read More
Before Donna was born she took with her a dollar,... Read More
Are you facing some challenges in your life right now?... Read More
Let me explain my approach to the practice of ritual.... Read More
How many Christian people do you know who are bearing... Read More
Why Abandon Religion?It is so commonly believed today that religion... Read More
Sometimes we're already free but we don't realize it. We... Read More
Part Two ContinuedIn addition to numerous philosophical problems relating to... Read More
"They're crazy!" That's what they're saying about us. The majority... Read More
He knew it was going to happen. He wasn't really... Read More
Prayer from a child's simple bedtime prayer, to the prayers... Read More
In today's world we worry about everything, food, jobs, clothing,... Read More
A spiritual event is what happens in every moment of... Read More
I'm weary of saying No to my children. Not just... Read More
The question, "Is God Dead?", first entered my consciousness when... Read More
I often ask myself this question. Not in the times... Read More
Lately, I have been asked a lot of questions in... Read More
While it isn't my intention to insult anyone (Alright, for... Read More
Often, in being dishonest about our own faults and failures,... Read More
I love rivers. I have for many years lived away... Read More
As I sit here and ponder my existence my heart... Read More
Karen was the name of the reception person, who sat... Read More
It's not always easy to stand in the midst of... Read More
Actually, loving does not take any great effort on our... Read More
Spirituality |