Spirituality and feeling connected to the divine seems to be built into my nature. I love meditation, Prayer, studying about many paths to the Divine, and the Devotional path to being present to the Divine. Naturally this is one of my favorite sections of the wheel.
Spirituality. 100% is feeling really rockin’ and connected with the Divine. For some it may mean going to church, or having a regular meditative practice, etc. 0% is feeling that you are blocked in your connection with the Divine.
I have always loved God. In my childhood, the God of my heart was Jesus. I was raised in a traditional German Lutheran home in Minnesota. We prayed at the table and had daily scripture reading. My church, the Holy Nativity Lutheran Church was really my second home, I was there so much. I sang in the choir, was active in the youth programs, and lead the youth services. My pastor, Pastor Pete (Ronald Peterson) was my mentor. He was a charismatic preacher who loved serving God. His compelling message packed the pews to the brim, then chairs were added and finally people stood outside the door to hear his sermons. It was a small suburban church filled to the brim and often out the doors. I read my Bible daily and breathed the word of God into my heart.
When I married at 18, I continued my intense activity in the church and became a youth counselor as well as participating in the choir, women’s circles and a Sunday school teacher. I loved the activities of the church and I loved the God of my Heart.
When I became terminally ill, it became clear to me that the dysfunctional dynamics of our marriage were unhealthy. A large contributing factor for the breakdown of my health was the profound unhappiness I experienced in the marriage. Despite my belief at the time that divorce was an unforgivable sin, after painful consideration I did leave my husband. As I filed for divorce I was asked to leave my church.
The pain of that day affected me for years. But the blessing hidden in the event revealed itself a few years later. As a spirit seeker I could not stay away from the love of God, so I found unique ways to feel the presence of the Divine, out-of-the-box experiences that led me to my spiritual questing and transformation.
I reached out into my new community and discovered the Aquarian Light Church, Lake Harriet Community Church and Unity. My heart began to heal and open. I was no longer on the single track of one religion, but my spiritual path had begun to open in ways I could not have predicted. I began to travel to South Fallsburg, New York to sit with Gurumayi at her Ashram.
Then the door open full wide and I step through the precipice to my awakening. I found myself on a spiritual pilgrimage in India, traveling with a holy Man, learning the ways of a Pujari (Priestess). I studied with the young Brahmin priests and learned Vedic scripture, a rite reserved only for men.
I went from my youthful experience of God through organized religion, to the expansive experience of the Mystical all and ever presence of Divinity. I did not become a Hindu; I expanded my awareness to reach higher to the cosmic oneness of all and everything. I was no longer trapped in a belief structure, I had moved to a gloriously free and open exploration of all the beautiful ways humankind experiences the Divine. The world became simpler and the experience of divinity could be experienced now in every moment!
Simple and Easy steps to a Healthy Spiritual Life:
- Pray and meditate daily
- Be connected with others in spiritual community
- Practice kindness and generosity of thought
- Have an Attitude of Gratitude in all things
- Bonus; Make God Your Partner!