Maintaining Spirituality

Spirituality: the quality or state of being spiritual.
  • of or relating to religion or religious beliefs
  • of or relating to a person's spirit
When I think of spiritual the second definition comes to mind. I do believe in God, but I do not think of myself as a highly religious person; one who follows a specific religion. However, I am a very spiritual person. Spiritual in the sense that I try to remain connected to the earth and nature. I do believe we are linked far more than many may think.

Those outside the Native American culture often confuse religion with spirituality. Native American spirituality includes a strong reverence for animal life, the environment and each other. Although many tribes practice different spiritual ceremonies and rituals, the main feature is the relationship of man with the land.

There are times in my life when I begin to feel I am losing my way, or when outside forces seem to easily impact me. These times are also when I have become disconnected from the earth and nature. If I am not open and aware of what is occurring, the downward spiral can start to take over. The longer I disregard these feelings the longer it takes to rise above it all.

When I take time to unite with the earth, then I become more self-aware of how my actions and words affect others, or how theirs affect me. Even a few minutes sitting silently to quiet my mind will allow me to reconnect spiritually. As I envision being grounded to the earth I can feel all the negative forces being pushed away and being replaced by positive, light energy. Ideally sitting outside where I can hear the water splashing on the lake, the wind in the trees, or the birds singing can bring on a sense of peace and spirituality very quickly.

If you find yourself feeling lost or in a negative place, take some time to sit quietly and clear your mind. Not only will you find it to be a blissful experience, but you may also become reacquainted with your inner spirit. What a wonderful place to be.





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