EVOLVING OR JUST REVOLVING?
So, what’s happening in the world, spiritually speaking? Is the search for the Meaning of Life still ranking high on peoples’ to do lists?
Have those formerly radical “New Age” beliefs from the ‘60’s become old age obsolete cliches? Have new tenets arrived to define a Newer Age of enquiry?
Is the upheaval and deep social divide we’re sitting in forcing us further away from spirituality and more toward material, survival, tribal concerns? Can spirituality withstand, or even guide us, through this current trial by fire?
When spirituality emerged from its mystic cave, much of it became platitudes embossed on wooden signs, with offers of fast-food formulas to attain that elusive enlightened state.
But, the message remained the same: Evolve to Love.
History and Now
Back in the 17th century, the Age of Enlightenment promised that through science, reason and a more materialistic worldview, we could solve all life issues and get answers to our Big Spiritual Questions.
Gee golly, that sure didn’t happen.
As a transformational teacher emersed in understanding spirituality for decades, I’ve witnessed some not-so-subtle changes lately. Even though some appear like we’re going backward, but, like Tarzan swinging from vine to vine to get where he’s going, backward is really gaining inertia to swing forward.
In other words, all that's being exposed is waking us so we can swing forward and ultimately discover our sacred connected “oneness,” our ultimate spiritual goal.
New Spirituality
Remember the start of the “New Age” movement in the 1960’s? It brought the idea of a "new spirituality,” characterized by an eclectic mixture of Eastern and Western traditions, as well as ancient indigenous influence. Through the years, it’s evolved into a theology without borders, leaders or dogmas.
As we rejected formalized institutions, snubbed the cultural values of our parents’ generation and questioned religious institutions, we took spirituality into our own hands. We advocated that there’s no one “correct” way to pursue spirituality, aiming to have a personal experience of the divine, whatever that meant to us.
It flourished by exploring, understanding and harnessing profound messages from all sources and techniques. Other notions were organically incorporated from books such as The Secret; holistic, natural approaches to health; motivational and positive psychology research; studies in consciousness and awareness; and scientific principles such as quantum physics.
When meditation and yoga were introduced, standard devotional practices for centuries in the East, they were viewed as radical. Now, with added research touting their physical, mental, and emotional benefits, many use these techniques for relaxation and well-being.
"New" concepts were Westernized and inserted, such as “mindfulness” (being aware and present without judgement), “decluttering” (letting go of material attachments), etc. This allowed even more sophistication and clout to the movement.
What many assumed was a temporary trend became a dominant cultural shift that’s still shifting and dominating. There’s willingness to accept some “woo-woo” concepts that, in the not-so-distant past, were butts of jokes: Reincarnation, supernatural events, energy healing, empaths, etc.
Those referred to as “Indigo Children,” who arrived with an innate wisdom to transform the planet’s consciousness, are nearing adulthood.
Spiritual life coaches are an accepted profession.
Lovingkindness is in the top 8% of looked up words.
Amazing Oprah continues espousing personal empowerment.
Even messages from important social movements such as #MeToo and #BLM are part of the awakening to spiritual goals.
These politically charged times brought the importance of taking action from a loving place. “Sacred Activism,” a phrase coined by Andrew Harvey and adopted by Marianne Williamson, reminds that spirituality is no longer just about personal manifestation, affirmations and vision boards.
It’s All the Same
All sources of spirituality have been teaching that there are essentially four Universal Needs: 1) The need to find meaning and purpose, 2) The need to love and be loved unconditionally, 3) The need to forgive and be forgiven, and 4) The need for hope.
As the consciousness of the world shifts, attaining planetary peace and love-for-one-another is our ongoing spiritual challenge. But as long as we believe we are different and therefore separate from one another, those goals will perpetually elude.
However, as one with undying hope for humanity, committedly living a True Spiritual Way of Life offers what could be the key.
But, it’s up to us to be the shift, even with, especially with, the challenges of life right now.
Otherwise, this planet will just continue re-volving as usual...rather than evolving.
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Royce Morales, a renowned transformational facilitator, developer and teacher of Perfect Life Awakening, offers unique, breakthrough, spiritually-based tools to discover and resolve the roots of self-sabotaging, negative inner programming. This profound inner work awakens and transforms you by overcoming limiting beliefs, shifting your consciousness and resolving what's keeping you from a life of deservingness and true joy.
Royce offers remote group classes, an e-course and private inner journey sessions using her empowering spiritual clearing techniques.
Contact Royce for a free fifteen minute consultation to see if this inner-journey work is a good fit.
Royce is the author of three fascinating books about her teachings: “Want: True love, past lives and other complications;” “Know: A spiritual wake-up call;” and “Back: Rebirth After Stroke,” all available on amazon.com
Her website is www.RoyceMorales.com and Twitter is @RoyceMorales. She can be reached at LvsreaL@aol.com
