Soulful Spirituality

1. Spirituality is essential for becoming fully human and alive

The glory of God is men and women who are fully alive, fully human.

Spirituality and humanity intertwined. Contrary to popular belief, spirituality is not about escaping our humanity, but embracing it fully. It is the path to becoming deeply human and fully alive. This journey involves:

• Developing our unique personhood
• Cultivating awareness and presence
• Embracing our emotions and bodily experiences
• Living with authenticity and integrity

Universal human journey. Spirituality is not limited to religious people or specific personality types. It is a fundamental dimension of all human beings, shaping how we orient our lives in relation to that which is beyond ourselves. Our spirituality guides our response to our deepest longings, channels our vitality, and provides the framework for making sense of our lives.

2. True spirituality embraces our humanity, not escapes it

Without wonder we approach life as a self-help project. . . . Without wonder the motivational energies for living well get dominated by anxiety and guilt.

Grounded in reality. Authentic spirituality is not about escaping the human condition, but fully embracing it. This includes:

• Accepting our bodies, emotions, and sexuality
• Facing our limitations and vulnerabilities
• Engaging with the mundane details of everyday life
• Finding meaning in suffering and struggle

Integration, not separation. True spirituality integrates all aspects of our being - body, mind, and spirit. It does not create false dichotomies between the sacred and profane, or spiritual and material. Instead, it seeks to bring wholeness and alignment to all dimensions of our lives.

3. Spirit and soul are interconnected aspects of our being

Spirit is the fire in the belly that we need if we are to live as humans, not machines. It is the vital life energy that Freud called the life instinct.

Spirit as vitality. Spirit represents the dynamic, energizing aspect of our being. It is associated with:

• Passion and enthusiasm
• Creativity and inspiration
• Transcendence and self-expansion
• Connection to the divine or ultimate reality

Soul as depth. Soul, on the other hand, represents the grounding, containing aspect of our being. It is associated with:

• Depth of experience and emotion
• Reflective capacity and meaning-making
• Connection to our authentic self
• Rootedness in the realities of life

Both spirit and soul are essential for a balanced, integrated spirituality that supports our journey of becoming fully human.

4. Awareness and wonder are foundational to soulful spirituality

Awareness is the doorway to both the present moment and the transcendent.

Cultivating awareness. Developing our capacity for awareness is crucial for soulful living. This involves:

• Paying attention to our bodily sensations and emotions
• Being present to the current moment
• Noticing the details of our environment
• Observing our thoughts without getting caught up in them

Nurturing wonder. Wonder opens us to the extraordinary within the ordinary. It involves:

• Approaching life with curiosity and openness
• Allowing ourselves to be surprised and delighted
• Seeing the sacred in everyday experiences
• Cultivating a sense of awe and reverence for life

Practices like mindfulness meditation, contemplative walking, and artistic expression can help develop awareness and wonder.

5. Honoring the otherness of others connects us to the divine

Honoring otherness has always been a central aspect of Islam, Judaism, and Christianity, each of which understands that beyond the immanent other is the Transcendent Other.

Embracing diversity. Truly honoring the otherness of others involves:

• Respecting different perspectives and experiences
• Cultivating curiosity about those different from us
• Resisting the urge to make others like ourselves
• Recognizing the sacred in each person

Dialogue and hospitality. Genuine encounters with others require:

• Openness to being changed by the interaction
• Willingness to suspend our assumptions
• Creating space for authentic sharing
• Practicing deep listening and empathy

By honoring otherness, we open ourselves to encountering the divine in unexpected places and expand our capacity for love and compassion.

6. Embracing reality grounds us in authentic living

There is no greater disaster in the spiritual life than to be immersed in unreality, for life is maintained and nourished in us by our vital relation with realities outside and above us.

Facing what is. Embracing reality involves:

• Acknowledging our limitations and vulnerabilities
• Accepting both pleasant and unpleasant experiences
• Confronting our shadow aspects and inner conflicts
• Letting go of illusions and false narratives

Living authentically. Grounding ourselves in reality allows us to:

• Develop genuine self-awareness
• Make choices aligned with our true values
• Cultivate integrity in our relationships
• Find meaning in the midst of life's challenges

Practices like journaling, meditation, and honest dialogue with trusted others can help us embrace reality more fully.

7. Presence and surrender open us to transformation

Presence is a gift, but it is also a practice. It is something we can do that will enrich our inner life and allow us, simply by our being, to do the same for others.

Cultivating presence. Being fully present involves:

• Developing inner stillness and silence
• Letting go of distractions and preoccupations
• Opening ourselves to the current moment
• Offering our undivided attention to others

Practicing surrender. Surrender is not about resignation, but about:

• Releasing our need for control
• Accepting what we cannot change
• Trusting in a larger reality beyond our ego
• Opening ourselves to transformation and growth

Both presence and surrender require ongoing practice and a willingness to let go of our habitual patterns of thinking and reacting.

8. Soulful spirituality integrates body, mind, and spirit

Spirituality becomes explicitly religious when it begins to involve a personal relationship to a self-transcendent reference point for life.

Holistic integration. Soulful spirituality seeks to integrate all aspects of our being:

• Honoring our bodies and physical experiences
• Engaging our minds and intellectual capacities
• Nurturing our emotions and intuitive wisdom
• Connecting with transcendent or divine reality

Embodied practices. Integrating body, mind, and spirit involves:

• Engaging in contemplative movement (e.g., yoga, tai chi)
• Practicing embodied forms of prayer or meditation
• Cultivating awareness of our bodily sensations and emotions
• Expressing our spirituality through art, music, or dance

By integrating all dimensions of our being, soulful spirituality supports our journey of becoming fully human and deeply alive.

Last updated: November 25, 2024