With whom can you discuss spirituality?

[japple]

I was having a conversation with myself today, wondering why I chose to be born into this family and to live in this community at this time. The answer that came to me is that I am here to help others awaken from their slumber. Like many of you, I've always been thought of as a weirdo, someone who believes in new age stuff (voo-doo, mumbo-jumbo, woo-woo, whatever you want to call it). There aren't many people with whom I can discuss my spiritual beliefs, especially within my extended family and certainly not within my immediate family. But since I received the answer that my mission is to help awaken others, I need to find the way to do it. How do you discuss your beliefs with others? Are your family, friends, etc. kindred souls or do you have to watch what you say? Thank you for any guidance you can give.

[oxbow]

1. What is it about your beliefs that you think is so weird?

You don't need to water down who you are to make other people comfortable! In my opinion, the best thing you can do is live a life in joy and love and light. When you are shining, being happy and at peace in the world, people can't help but see that. They will come to you, and not vice versa.

Missionary work works for fundamentalists because theirs is a religion of dogma and control. You can't teach what it is that we have. The best you can do is lead others to the path, and let them walk it themselves. Whoever you're supposed to help awaken will seek you out when the time is right. The best you can do is to stay open to opportunities and just let the voice of God prompt you. Ask God to lead you to those that need your help, and I am sure that you will receive. Such a prayer can't help but be answered!

Also, consider joining a reiki share or other healing group. It;s a great way to meet other likeminded people if you're just looking for kindred spirits to talk to :)

[Bluestar]

2. I Can Relate

My entire family is fundamentalist Christian, as I was raised. Their belief system never made any sense to me, so I started exploring new age belief systems. It was easy for me because I moved 1500 miles away from my home to California where many people have a new age belief system.

I found some really good friends and hooked up with people I knew in past lives when I took some courses. You can usually find these courses at your local new age bookstore. If not, try the web and travel to something just for the experience. Plan to take classes on a regular basis. You will bond quickly with the people in the class and it will start you in a whole new direction. Don't allow those who need to be awakened to make you feel strange or different--make your own support group. Even if your new friends are far away, you can use email or phone to keep in touch. It will make a world of difference in your life and take you farther along your path.

Sending you good energy to fulfill your life plan.
And sending you love and light.

Bluestar

[LaurenG]

3. I could have written this myself

I moved from Colorado to Ohio in 2000 and I have been virtually on my own since then (my husband is on the exact wavelength with me so I'm lucky). Boulder and Denver have so many people to be with where as Ohio is mostly closed to alternative thinking by comparison. I watch who I say things to and I study and go to any health fairs or psychic fairs that come around. I think it really depends on where you live and if they are totally afraid of what spirit is/means. I've found that most people are too afraid to find out.

However, if you know what you are supposed to be doing you have to find a way IMHO to help without scaring the people you are trying to serve. It's an individual thing. I pretty much sense who I can say what to and I come here for support. (seriously this is where I come). There are people out there who are very open to alternative ways you just have to root them out. In the meantime practice on us and share what you know, we can always use the knowledge and fresh point of view. :hi:

[DemExpat]

4. I have stopped being surprised when someone

I am talking to professes affinity to spirituality and alternative thought....mostly people I meet walking our dogs - animal lovers are often very spiritual and loving people.

It happens all the time lately....:shrug:

But you know, it really is down here in this group that I really feel the freest to talk about my experiences.

I think I raised my 2 children "in the spirit" of this way of experience without teaching it to them....without my children being very woo wooy, they have a silent "knowing" that I feel I imparted to them as they were growing up.

DemEx

[japple]

8. Yes, yes, yes, Ohio Blue. I moved to GA from a very progressive

community 1-1/2 yr. ago This is a very, very GOP, baptist area, and I work for Adventist Health Care. There is an herb shoppe, but no new age bookstore, no natural foods store, no spiritual community, no reiki practitioners, no alternative medicine within 50 miles. I always feel like I have to be very careful about what I say. My family members are quite progressive socially and politically, but most are southern baptist and go to church every Sunday. I think I am meant to help them wake up, but not really sure how to go about it. That's what I was trying to say. It's not that I think my ideas are weird, but my family has always thought of me as being "odd." I love your idea about practicing on fellow DUers. That's what is so great about the exchange we have here in this group. Thanks a million.

[DemExpat]

5. According to my personal horoscope

my main task in this life is to find a way to share all that I have learned with others.

I seem to be able to quickly feel if the person I am talking to is open to stuff like this, I kinda engineer the talk to go in a direction and then when they say something as an opening, I jump to share and to learn from them as well. :D

These conversations all seem to flow into pure joyful recognition.

DemEx

[Shine]

6. I talk about spiritual things with people all the time, in varying degrees

as they say, we're ALL "spiritual beings having a human experience."

I talk about it in different ways, depending on who I'm with.

:hi:

[I Have A Dream]

7. I'm lucky because my husband is a Buddhist. We met in a...

spiritual group, so spirituality is the foundation of our relationship. My best friend in real life is also extremely interested in New Age spiritual things. In fact, she and I began our metaphysical journey together. If it weren't for them, I'd be a much sadder person because I can talk to them about anything. (Much like this group.)

I am very different from my family, although I credit my mother with allowing me to see alternative things as being acceptable (i.e., not sinful, which was important to me back then) because she was interested in astrology. (In other ways, she was very traditionally religious.) However, even though my family's not at all into metaphysical things, I do feel that they appreciate the person that I am. I feel as though the Universe uses me to show them what is possible in life. (Living life with integrity, respecting yourself and others, being able to change your life for the better, etc.)

In reference to awakening others, I've figured out that I'm supposed to be a candle rather than a lighthouse. In the darkness, even a single candle makes an amazing difference. Maybe you're also supposed to be more of a candle than a lighthouse, japple, especially given where you live and the environment into which the Universe placed you. I never watch what I say, but I never push people to discuss metaphysical things. I mention metaphysical things in my regular life where appropriate, and then if someone's interested, they know that I'm open to discussing alternative spiritual paths. This has worked well for me. I feel that I am called in this life to be an example to people who are beginning to awaken.

I wish you luck figuring out what works for you, japple. :hug:

[Ariana Celeste]

9. Nobody really...

I do have a friend who is starting to doubt her faith, and we discuss light subjects now and again.
When I was younger I had a circle of friends who all believed the same kinds of things as me... but things started to get a little bit crazy and I eventually moved away from the area and lost contact with all of them.
So that's why I've been lurking here. :).

As far as awakening others.... I think that you will know deep down when the time is right, and how to go about it- if that's what you are here for, it will come to you. :hug:

[I Have A Dream]

10. Someone mentioned in another thread about being able to find...

kindred spirits at classes/lectures given at New Age/metaphysical bookstores. Do you have any New Age bookstores where you live, Ariana? Maybe this would be a way for you to also get some real life people with whom you can share your spiritual journey. My city has a New Age quarterly magazine that has all of the upcoming events. Maybe your town has something similar.

[Ariana Celeste]

11. Not within walking distance

My friend that I mentioned might be interested in going to something like that though... I'll have to talk to her about it. :)

I hadn't even really thought of that, so I googled, and there are a couple places in Indianapolis that could have something going on.

[Ecumenist]

12. I'm surrounded by people with whom I can discuss spirituality...

The main one is my husband. I live in northern California and there are millions just like me. I would say that I am what would be known as a mystic Christian. I see answers to prayer, specific answers every day. One of my best friend is an astrologer and another is a reader who follows the old ways of wicca. Yet another is a santera who lives in New York, more aptly described as Christian Pentacostal Santeria practitioner...don't ask. It's almost impossible to explain. I have always felt free to discuss all things spiritual and mysterious with the majority of my family and have a brother that a chat with most everyday who is always asking me to help him with things by using as he jokingly characterises,"my witching powers". Of course, I always speak to those who are currently without possession of a body. So, no matter what, I always have people to speak to no matter where I am. :toast:

[leanin_green]

13. Japple, japple, japple.

Dear soul, it isn't your responsibility to awaken anyone but yourself. Anyone who has truly awakened knows that. You must trust that everyone has a pace that is set for them by their own soul's evolutionary intent. To set yourself up as someone who is to be an agent of awakening for others is the first step onto the path of self-righteousness and hubris. If your are truly awakened, then your life will be a testament to those around you. And their spirits will seek you out at the appropriate time if you are to be of any service to enlightenment. Let your life be the light that you would use to open the eyes of others. Learn to love and accept all creation that it is as it should be, right now, in this moment. Those who seek to walk in light find each other and the light is increased by the sheer magnitude of their numbers. Celebrate your life and allow for those who close their eyes against the approaching light. God will care for them as well. You have naught to do but to bank your own light against the coming storm. Be at peace. As the proverb says, "Be still and know that I am God."

[japple]

14. Thank you, leanin-green, for your words of

wisdom. I've always been a collector of lost waifs, stray animals and others to feed and nourish, probably to prove my worthiness and feel loved, but I am working on learning to love myself and I appreciate your gentle reminder. Much better than a hair shirt, eh?

[leanin_green]

15. Hair shirts, hah! A distortion of the Piscean Age intent.

The twisted vision of those who view themselves as unworthy, unclean and impure and therefore not good enough to bask in God's love. Our whole society and the world in general has been set by this sado/masochistic model of what the Piscean Age and the Virgo sub-age energy is all about. Just remember, worthiness is a trap set by the priests and religious leaders of this age. Do not fall into the mistaken idea that good works denote worthiness. You are worthy by virtue of already being a part of creation. You are here and you are worthy.