Tuesday, July 29, 2014

The Importance of Prayer, Meditation and Creativity



We are spiritual creatures invested in this physical world.  Each of us embody a soul which transcends this physical plane from birth to death, from life to life.  Ensconced as we are by the mendacity of the mundane, it is often difficult to ascertain the importance of feeding our spirits and nurturing our souls.  When we become so entrenched in the tedium of life, of paying our bills, of securing our relationships, of keeping abreast of the news around us, we oft forgo the most primary piece of ourselves: The evolution of our soul’s purpose.

Each of us are in a different place in the timeline of existence.  Each of us perceives our world through different eyes.  What may be judged ineffectual by one person, may be the key to success for another.  Knowing what is right for you on your personal evolutionary journey requires a concerted effort to be open to receiving this information.  Prayer and meditation, conscious thought and an open heart are all the tools that one requires to recognize and evolve into our fullest potentials in life.

Throughout history, mankind has sought connection with the divine.  This search can be seen in the up-rise of religious and esoteric study, through the creation of art, and by our desire to intimately connect with others.  It is when we become so separated from our soul that we begin to falter in life.  We may lose our temper, we may become sick, and we may become complacent or depressed when we are misaligned.  We become imbalanced when we lose faith and hope.

Each of us has been wounded.  None of us escapes life without having our heart bruised, without wondering if we are worthy of being loved, or really deserve to be given all the good things in life that we truly do desire.  Our fears keep us trapped.  We lock ourselves into our own self-made prison with worry, over-thinking and despair.  Perpetuating these fears are the voices that replay in our mind from our parents, our friends, the neighbors and the news.  So fearful we are of upsetting others that we forget about the still, small voice that is within each of us, reminders that we are holy, eternal and loved by our Creator.  

How do we shut out the noise and regain our centering?  How can we recognize what it is that truly matters?  We must consciously take the time to reflect and allow ourselves to open up to the eternal tether by which we all are connected.  As individual as we all are, with as many perspectives that we each hold in our existence, there is no singular “right” path to achieve this common goal.  

When we let go our judgments of what is right and what is wrong in how one may peruse awareness and subsequent unity, we are left open to receive enlightenment.  Sometimes this comes through venues which are surprising to us such as pondering symbolism, stories and scenarios.

Our world is riddled with symbols, all there as opportunities for us to see and mull when they present themselves in our lives.  Because we are eternally linked, ancient symbols have been given great power by our collective unconscious.  This is why herbal remedies work and why tarot readings can be helpful.  Our centuries of belief in them is what gives them the power to transform us.

Mythology, fables, and fairy tales all have the thread of our human plight woven within.  How many variations of the story of the Flood have we discovered?  How many tales of gods and goddesses, heroes and villains are told for generations?  Why are we so riveted by stories that have a protagonist, antagonist and challenge to be overcome?  Our human struggle is universal.  It is why these sagas endure and are adopted and reworked by different cultures through time.

Daily situations we encounter are also gifts given to us for further enlightenment.  Imagine taking a walk in the park with a friend.  What you see and what your friend sees may be the same scene, but how you internalize it can be vastly different.  A simple example: A mother scolds her child.  One person may believe that this is good parenting.  The other may disagree.  It is not for us to judge these things, but rather to acknowledge that each of our perceptions and how we react to them is a tool for better understanding ourselves.

It is only when we become blase about life that we start to get into trouble.  We may become inconsiderate of others.  We may succumb to mind-numbing addictions.  We may start to take our value from how we believe others view us.  Each of these detours will lead us away from ourselves and take us on bumpy, often heart-wrenching pathways.  To right our course takes concerted effort in initially altering the well-grooved patterns of fear, trepidation and judgment.  

Connecting with our divinity requires only one thing: the willingness to do so.

When you stop, open up and listen, you will discover that there are a plethora of tools for us to utilize in this endeavor.  

Here is a list of methods that people have productively used to regain awareness and enlightenment:

  • ·         Prayer
  • ·         Meditation
  • ·         Creativity

Each of these things are internal, personal ways to reconnect with the divinity that we all have and that we all are.

Prayer is a means by which we can give gratitude and thanks, and to also submit requests for our highest fulfillment.

Meditation is the clearing of the clutter of the mind, affording us the space to hear, recognize and then rejoice in the knowing.

Creativity is the extension of ourselves through art, a gift of awakening for us during the process and a gift to others with whom we share it.

As all thoughts are energy, what you think matters.  Guard your thoughts.  Let not your mind wander into places of judgment and despair, fear and worry, for what you put out there is what you will attract and also perpetuate.  Instead, use your energy to pay attention, to listen, to learn and to take heed of these useful guides and tools that will enable you to better move through life with grace and with love for yourself and for others.

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