I have been asked many times what is the nature of spirituality. How does one become spiritual? where does one start? what should I study?
This is my best attempt at answering these questions. It is a calling, something that is known by many as the sacred calling. You dont chose it, it choses you. You find it in the most difficult of times. There is a beliefe that one must suffer to become a Shaman. Someone born with a silver spoon in their mouth that has never suffered in life will never be spiritual. I do believe this, even Buddha had to suffer in the world in order to find enlightenment. Without these experinces one doesnt understand life. In Martial Arts we are taught that if you are dangerous, but chose peace and love, that makes you truly peaceful because you understand the value of peace. A farmer has an easier time choosing peace than the Samurai does. A warrior appreciates peace and love much more than the farmer. The greatest Buddhists have truly lived in this world, they have felt anger, depression, they have seen violence, and experinced many things in their lives. They haven't been sheltered.This world is full of pain, sadness, suffering, horrors, and some would say evil. A true spiritual calling comes from a mix of laughing and crying they say. Just like in Asia they have the Yin and Yang, or the great balance. However, many misunderstand the true meaning of Yin and Yang.
Imagine a hill. On this hill you see one side that is shaded, and the other side that is illuminated by the sun. This is the original meaning behind Yin and Yang. The animals and even bugs move along this hill following this cycle of the sun and shade. Nothing on this hill remains the same minute to minute. It is always changing, and revolves around the natural cycle of the sun and the moon. Nothing in nature remains static, it is constantly changing and adapting to the environment. This is the true maning behind being spiritual.
The Taoist Masters in the Wudang Mountains have a beautiful belief when it comes to how to live a healthy life and become an immortal as they say in Wudang. It follows the Tao Te Ching. This classic text isnt written in a scholarly manner, it is written based on life experinces. At its core is what is known as The Way. We call this holistic medicine. Keeping ones mental, physical, and spiritual paths active and healthy. If one of these is out of balance the others will suffer. The moment one wakes up you start what is called Dao Yin. Dao Yin is waking the spirit up before the body, self massages, acupressure, using sacred numbers such as 6/9/36 to bring as much good vibes into ones day. Once fully awake you go and meditate to center your mind. This can be done sitting, standing, moving such as Tai Chi. You have breakfast, which is very close to the Mediterranean Diet. You must eat healthy watch the show Live to 100: Secrets Of The Blue Zones. This show really delves into the importance of what you put into your body. You just kept your mental, spiritual, and physical body healthy and it isn't even noon yet. The Way is very easy to follow. You make sure to laugh 20 times a day, watch things that make you smile and laugh. Surround yourself with people and things that make you happy. Learn to not worry about what might happen. Meditation is not used in a temple, but when you are angry and choose to breath through it and not react. This is the meaning of learning to Meditate. Play a musical instrument. Music is an expression of the human soul. Express yourself in dance, music, singing. In Shamanism we have soul songs, where we just sing our souls into the room. Be in nature every single day and breath the fresh air. This is the way, not to quote The Mandalorian.
If you follow The Way then you will feel much more connected to your body and energy. It makes it much easier to feel spiritual if you are mentally, and physically healthy. You must work on these two first to have the spiritual side. I have heard many say I dont feel very spiritual, what should I do?
Well, you smoke a pack of cigarettes a day, eat fast food every day, drink 4 beers every night, dont sleep very well, don't drink enough water to keep yourself hydrated which causes you headaches, you don't exercise at all, you don't meditate, your anxiety is out of control, you argue with your spouse all the time, and you spend little to no time in nature. Work on these first, then go back to trying spirituality. Balance what is out of balance first before adding more into your life.
It is a ladder you must climb step by step to do it right. Once you have the first two elements of the way mental and physical in practice, then, there is a world of resources at your disposal for becoming spirtual. It is as simple as googling shamanism workshops, meditation workshops, breathing workshops, yoga workshops etc. Ill list a few here that are near and dear to my heart.
The Shift Network
Foundation For Shamanic Studies
Qi Gong For Vitality
Gaia
Order Of Bards Ovates And Druids
Qenti Wasi: House Of The Hummingbird
The Shamans Cave Podcast
Sounds True
This path is not about the end result, you have no idea where this path will lead you, it is about the journey. Like myself, you could be in workshops with the Foundation For Shamanic Studies, then, out of nowhere, be introduced to Peruvian Mysticism and spend the next 3 years devoted to that practice. Just walk the path, be open to anything and everything that unfoldes in front of you from it. Whatever path you choose follow it with all of your heart, attention, love, and dicipline. It is like college, to pass the tests you must study and know the material inside and out.
If you read a book about how to do a backflip, but never go and practice doing it, you will only have knowledge not wisdom. You must practice what you study, otherwise, like the backflip the first time you attempt to do it you will fall on your face. Everything you learn in Spirtuality you must practice everyday, it must be that important to you. Wisdom comes from doing something 10,000 times.
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