Natasha

Spirituality is different for everyone. It is defined by our interpretation, experiences, expectations, and the lenses we look through.

For me, spirituality is the essence of me and the exploration I choose to seek each day. In my life, it is not tied to or defined by one religion. I learn and experience new things each day, and as I grow in my peace of seeing the value of surrendering my desperate desire for control, I’m learning to surrender to the process and trusting the path that unfolds before me.

I know some people believe that religion and spirituality are one and inseparable, and so they define spirituality by their religion and bind themselves to their religion, based on how they see spirituality. Some people choose to place higher authority toward religion —minimizing spirituality to whatever utterances they find in their religious texts (that they discriminately choose), to acknowledge its existence. Some people don’t acknowledge spirituality at all, seeing only humanity. Some people want to pick and choose what elements and layers of spirituality they deem appropriate, acceptable, and palatable. They try to filter spirituality by using what they know about religion. And there are some people that don’t believe in religion or spirituality.

I have opinions about all of these beliefs, and I won’t fall into the trap of saying my beliefs are right and theirs are wrong, for I don’t have and will never have the authority to do so. I will stay in my lane and leave the big stuff to my Creator, and all delegated higher authorities.

Since this blog is my safe space, I will share my opinions.

For me, spirituality is an individual journey, even if we are side-by-side with others. It is not capped off or boxed in like humans have blundered religion. Some people try to place spirituality in a box by using religion, but I don’t think it’s possible. I think they only gather a small piece of energy that they try to manipulate and shape into their ideas and ideals.

I believe the original architectural design of religion was to create a bond amongst us, to show us our connectedness and responsibility to each other (and to every living creature), and it formed a relationship with principles. To help with order, laws were formed to help us shift out of the prison of chaos into desired harmony, to help us develop a rhythm with routine, and to build muscle memory to remember our truth— and live it.

But unfortunately, the human desire to not feel weak and powerless tends to lean towards a desire to control everything and everyone while having no self-control—being reckless—and thereby, what we now see is a perversion of principles and laws and a bloodthirst for the trappings of the world.

For a species that claims to hate labels and being placed in boxes, it’s amazing how many millions of people keep labeling themselves and squeezing themselves into those teeny tiny boxes associated with religion, politics, etc.

Spirituality is the freedom that religiosity claims to provide. Spirituality is all-ness and limitless. Every element of life is woven in, and the vastness is incomprehensible and incalculable.

Religion says “us versus them,” and this is underlined by the divisions and numerous denominations within the divisions and the constant in-fighting and external wars and martyrdoms. While spirituality says “we” and that “we” includes every living thing, from an atom to the largest being, we each play a role in protecting, respecting, valuing, and uplifting the “we” in its entirety.

Religion can restrict itself to the belief of “Either/Or,” while spirituality simply IS and will always be, so its power includes the “and.” It lives and thrives no matter what. It is not restricted or diminished. It IS whether we acknowledge it or not. Spirit is power; it is Source. There are no pretenses. Just an IS. Religion is only possible if fueled by human engagement. Religion is limited by time and space. Spirit was here before humans were an idea. Spirit has no limits and is timeless. Spirit can be both here and there and then and now.

Let that sink in.

Religion jockeys for position and often demands to be seen and heard, while spirituality is seeing and hearing. Religion is the practice, but spirituality is the way. Religion is made up of laws, but spirituality is the order. Religion can bring people together, but spirituality forms the bonds of those relationships. Spirituality shapes the core values that guide you through life, religion (if you choose it), and the unknowns.

Religion demands there is a leader (or several). Spirituality reveals that we neither lead nor are led; we merely gravitate to similar, cooperative energy. We are not dependent upon one or a few; we are dependent upon all, and since we continue to choose to exclude, we continue to thirst and hunger for what we don’t know that we don’t know.

Spirituality is neither good nor evil. It simply IS. Spirituality is both black and white, and every shade and color between. How you harness that energy will either heal or harm, build or destroy, form bridges or walls, set free or enslave, include or exclude, create equity or inequity, unify or divide, and enlighten or stultify.

When we read in the Bible to “pray in the Spirit,” it’s not saying “pray in your Jewish/Christian spirit,” it’s not praying in or by the religion, for the Spirit is greater than and more powerful than all religions combined. Religion is a bubble. Spirit makes the bubble possible.

For me, spirituality is the Armor of God as described by Ephesians 6:10-18 in the Bible.

“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.

Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.

Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.”

The purpose of religion was to join you with others who willingly walk beside you on the battleground, to fight those spiritual forces mentioned throughout the Bible and other religious texts. The purpose was to remind you that you are not alone, your experiences are not unique, and you have a safe space for interdependent learning and recharging.

But of course, all that I’ve shared in this post is based on my opinion and experiences. You may have a different opinion with vastly different experiences. And I respect those differences, with no desire to change you or convert you to my side and my ways.

All I want for you is to be all that you were created to be, and you can do that without trying to control or dictate how anyone else chooses to embrace the journey to their truth.

That’s the balance spirituality provides and one major reason why it’s so important to me.

~Natasha

Copyright 2023. Natasha L. Foreman. All Rights Reserved.