Let’s break this down.
When I first sat with this message from Spirit, I sought various sources to supplement how I define Spirituality (because words and context mean things) and found a different explanation just about every place I looked.
The first source I saw attributed Spirituality to two things: religion and beliefs. Religion is where this state of being and dogma intersect to create constructs that govern those who follow that belief system. And, beliefs? Those are personal before anything else. A presumed truth independent of knowledge. A level of trust, if you will, in however you perceive God/Souce/Spirit in relation to self.
When we break down what the root word ‘Spirit’ actually means, we see there is a bit more to take note of beneath the surface.
mid-13c., “life, the animating or vital principle in man and animals,” from Anglo-French spirit, Old French espirit “spirit, soul” (12c., Modern French esprit) and directly from Latin spiritus “a breathing (of respiration, also of the wind), breath;” also “breath of a god,” hence “inspiration; breath of life,” hence life itself.
word-forming element making abstract nouns from adjectives and meaning “condition or quality of being ______,” from Middle English -ite, from Old French -ete (Modern French -ité) and directly from Latin -itatem (nominative -itas), suffix denoting state or condition, composed of -i- (from the stem or else a connective) + the common abstract suffix -tas (see -ty (2)).
If Spirit relates to breath, it makes sense to connect that breath with life. With being. Ergo, this means Spirituality literally translates to, ‘the state of being.’
Spirituality is filled with pivotal ‘make or break’ moments, from the first awakening to every elevation thereafter. Where people learn what they’re really made of. It’s the moment where we find out if we’re capable of really looking in the mirror instead of daydreaming at the window waiting to be saved. Instead of looking for that next big savior, Spirituality says, “save yourself.”
What I have been seeing more of lately are people conflating Spirituality to some moral code or compass. Hey, I get it. But what we can’t do is judge someone else’s ‘state of being’ by our own metrics. For example: if ‘Jane’ believes in ‘‘an eye for an eye’’, it doesn’t make ‘John’ ‘wrong’ for not believing in it. Or, if she believes it’s ok to read people’s energy without consent and he doesn’t.
Controversial? Yes. Right or wrong? Well, that’s for you to decide for yourself. Actually, I love when people show you first hand exactly what they’re about so I can make informed decisions on whether or not I want to interact with them.
What Really Matters
Spirit is not concerned with who did what ‘right’ or ‘wrong’. Spirit cares that your actions align with your beliefs. Think of someone you know who has done terrible things, seemingly without repercussions. They get away with it because they see no wrong in it. But when you step on that path, you know it’s wrong and you reap what comes of it. This is the reason why I personally do not argue and I’m careful with where I’m vulnerable.
Spirit requires authenticity. What way of being is true to you? In those given scenarios, it matters most that we practice what we preach. It’s inauthentic when your ‘way of being’ and your actions contradict each other. What good is it to believe one way and live another?
What we’ve experienced as socially acceptable morals and ethics is independent of Spirituality at its core. Liberation comes when the heart and mind are in agreement. Enlightenment and self-mastery comes from being your most authentic self. Now, this isn’t a license to throw caution to the wind. We are spiritual beings in this human experience, which means we still have to be mindful of action and consequence. But I do hope this frees something in you that feels like you have to ‘behave’ instead of ‘be.’
Final Thoughts
Spirituality doesn’t give a damn about morals if our actions say we don’t either. Our practices, our rituals, they reinforce who we are at our core. Instead of wondering what’s right or wrong, ask, “is this authentic to me?”
You don’t have to perform, take plant medicine, lie prostrate for days on end, or whatever applies here IF those things don’t align with you. Spirit meets you exactly where you are, where magic truly begins. Hope this helps!
With love,
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