Discovering My Spiritual Fingerprint
Spirituality has changed for me over the years. When I was young, I went to church with my mother, attending Sunday school and gathering at the front of the sanctuary with the other kids to sing "Jesus Loves the Little Children." I even attended confirmation classes, although I managed to forget the date of the confirmation ceremony and ended up watching all of the other girls receive their blessings in all white. My mother pretended to be mad, but if it really mattered to her, I'm sure she would have reminded me.I grew distant from the church as a teen and eventually I decided to call myself "spiritual" and not religious. For one thing, my interest in equality and freedom began to emerge in high school and I couldn't understand what the repressive, judgmental vibe I felt in church had to do with God. I believed in a higher power, but I was disgusted by organized religion. In my European history class, I learned about priests taking indulgences to erase sin and women being drowned and burned at the stake in the name of Christianity. Teachings like love thy neighbor, forgiveness, gratitude, and faith all aligned with my world view, but I couldn't accept the man made constructs that only seemed to cause violence and pain.Recently, I've rediscovered spirituality. This time, I'm determined to create a personalized spiritual life that fits my needs and life purpose as precisely as a fingerprint. I found an inclusive church that combines Christianity with mindfulness and metaphysics. I go when I'm available to go (no more guilt, shame, or feelings of obligation to an organization), and I practice outside of that space with a variety of tools meant to help me connect with both myself and the universe.The universe is basically made up of the same four elements; carbon, oxygen, nitrogen, and hydrogen. This includes us humans. We are all built from the same essence, so to know yourself is to know the universe, to love yourself is to love the universe or God. My meditations are mixed with prayer. Grounding exercises are meant to increase my feeling of connectedness with the universal essence of love. I use crystals to connect with different energies that are innately present within me. For example, my new Citrine is meant to:
...awaken creativity and imagination, and sustains the process of transforming dreams and wishes into tangible form. With its pure yellow energy, Citrine encourages fullness of life, fresh beginnings and new pursuits...https://www.crystalvaults.com/crystal-encyclopedia/citrine
These are all changes that I'm trying to manifest in everyday life.
Crystals have different shapes, colors, and their own unique properties. Just as I am a unique spiritual vessel with gifts to share, these crystals have natural gifts as well.My spirituality is still developing. As I learn more about myself, I learn more about my spiritual needs. I believe that the pursuit of general wellness is a multifaceted one. As I take care of my mental health, I must also strive to care for my physical and spiritual health. My goal is to bring my mind, body, and spirit into balance. We each have our own unique recipe for a happy life. Only by knowing ourselves can we find the proper ingredients.