The (gospel songs) Psychical Role Of Spirituality
No commentsBy Fred Gimino
What is spirituality? Very simply put spirituality is the core of our belief systems. These belief systems are often based on deities, supernatural forces, or universal energies. The purpose of which is to provide a deeper meaning for our physical existence. Furthermore, the need to define our existence beyond the five senses is deeply rooted in the fundamental development and differentiation of our id into the ego and super-ego.
So, why is spirituality so deeply rooted in our human development? To answer this question we need to first look deeper into the psychic connections we form as infants. These psychical connections, as you will see, form the core of our spiritual “self”. They in fact truly determine our ability to differentiate between good and bad.
Now let us take a look at why the need to understand or define our existence starts in our infancy. As our id develops and the ego evolves from it we are able to differentiate between “self” and “other” by forming the “repressed”. The “repressed” is formed during the Primary Repression phase of our development and is cut off from the ego via repression.
However, the repressed may still be accessed via the id. During this period of development we also form our ability to differentiate between good and bad. Furthermore, this ability to differentiate between good and bad forms the core of our spiritual nature by creating the means of forming the super ego.
Secondary repression brings about the formation of the super-ego. This is primarily caused by the anxiety produced, in direct response, to certain desires. This anxiety acts as a negative stimulus or punishment and causes the desire to become repressed. Once the threat of negative stimulus has been internalized it forms the super-ego.
This evolution from the somatic instinctual id into the “evolved” id/ego/super-ego complex is the ongoing developmental process that leads to the formation of our adult spiritual belief system. In addition this spiritual belief system allows relief of ongoing stress and anxiety without forming complex neurotic coping mechanisms of continued repression.
So, it should be apparent that spirituality not only gives a deeper meaning to our existence but also provides an important outlet for stress and anxiety. Stress and anxiety unchecked or repressed wreaks disastrous consequences, in our lives. Leading to unhealthy neurosis with devastating repercussions.
Consequently, without spirituality we would truly be a society of neurotic individuals with a plethora of maladaptive personality traits. These personality traits can manifest them selves in many forms. From anti-social behavior to alcoholism the list of potential pathologies are beyond the scope of this article.
So, embracing spirituality is not only morally right but also a healthy practice. Whether you choose to worship a deity or talk to a tree for spiritual guidance the ability to transcend this world by unplugging your inner self and connecting it to an external “force” is an integral part of good mental health. It allows us to release the stress and anxiety that we cannot handle or process. Thus discharging it in a healthy manner rather than repressing or “stuffing it” to fester and malinger.
In summation spirituality is not only the core of our belief systems. Even though spirituality does form the core component of our religious and cultural beliefs. It also is an essential component of our psyche. Even more importantly spirituality forms the core of our psychical ability to cope with stress and anxiety, in a socially acceptable manner.
Fred Gimino owns and opperates the Free Psychic Network. His site provides advice and insight in the hopes that people may live happier more satisfying lives. Content including Psychic Readings oracles in genres like Astrology, Numerology, Tarot, And Horoscopes may be accessed on and through his site. Why not talk with a live Psychic Today?
Activating the Soul of Your Business
By Mary C. Davis
There was a time when I would have been sceptical, even cynical, at the thought of connecting the concept of soul with business. After all, what does soul have to do with business? Soul is the spiritual, invisible aspect of human beings; business is the activity of buying and selling in the physical world. What could these two seemingly disparate things possibly have in common?
As a spiritual entrepreneur, I now recognize that soul and business are inextricably linked — there is no duality. Soul is the kundalini, chi or vital force of business. It’s the animating principle behind every business system, strategy and transaction. So, how do you activate the soul of your wellness business, and what does this have to do with your bottom line?
When you operate your business from a consciousness of faith and love, you’re harnessing or activating the invisible power of your soul. This is the seventh step of inspired business planning. Not only will it increase your financial bottom line, but it will bring you more joy, opportunities, support and fulfillment than you could ever imagine.
Operating From Faith and Love
Faith and love are what spiritual teacher Leslie Temple-Thurston calls “ascended balance states”. They’re heart-centered emotions and states of mind and as Leslie says in her book, The Marriage of Spirit, “they reflect a rare level of balance, stability and maturity.”
Operating your business from faith means that you trust you can create the prosperous business you desire and are supported. It means surrendering your worries about how you’re going to meet this goal. It also means letting go of fearfully looking for the results (e.g. sales, new clients, etc.) and being anxious if they haven’t shown up yet. Faith requires a firm belief without physical proof. It’s one of the most significant internal shifts a spiritually-oriented entrepreneur can experience, and it will have a big impact on your business.
Another important shift is to align every aspect and action related to your business with the consciousness of love. Love is the highest vibrational energy that creates and manifests results that are truly joyful for all. As John Randolph Price says in The Abundance Book, “What is expressed in love must be returned in full measure.”
Clearing your limiting and lack-oriented beliefs, thoughts and feelings will enable you to operate your business from faith and love more easily. Consciously invoking these heart-centered states using spiritual tools will support this process. Some of the more common tools are prayer, visualization and affirmations.
Prayer
Scientists, theologians and laypersons have been documenting the power of prayer for years. As we deepen our understanding of the different ways of praying, we’re able to use it to produce specific results. Two modes I’ve found particularly powerful are meditative prayer and active prayer based in feeling.
Wayne Dyer speaks of meditative prayer in his book, There is a Spiritual Solution to Every Problem. He says, “I’ve used prayer as a way of residing in that one power and not asking God to do something, but rather to be in God consciousness where thoughts of scarcity simply dissolve and I feel directed to attract the missing pieces of my life like iron filings to a magnet.”
In The Isaiah Effect: Decoding the Lost Science of Prayer, scientist Gregg Braden talks about an active form of prayer based in the technology of human feeling. He comments, “Rather than thinking ‘please let this prayer be answered,’ this type of prayer invites us to feel as if the prayer has already been answered.”
How can you use these modes of prayer to anchor your business in a consciousness of faith and love?
Visualization
Visualization is the natural power of the imagination and the basic creative energy of the universe. Ninety per cent of the brain’s sensory input is visual and about half of the stored memory. It’s no wonder that visualizing is an inherent human ability!
You visualize constantly, whether you’re conscious of this or not. You may think you can’t visualize, but everyone can. For example, you may think you’re “feeling” something rather than “seeing” it. However, if you feel that a colour is purple, then you’re visualizing it. And like any other skill, you can develop your visualization abilities through practice.
Visualization is a faith and love-building technique that will help you create a prosperous and fulfilling business. In the book ThetaHealing, healer, intuitive and teacher Vianna Stibal remarks, “Expecting a vision to become reality is something more than just an act of visualization. It is an act of creation. Deciding upon something that we really want to happen, and visualizing it with concentration, faith and desire, sets great powers into action.”
How can you incorporate visualization into your day-to-day business-building practices?
Affirmations
The words we speak provide the fuel to take our prayers and visualizations and propel them into reality. Author and Unity minister Catherine Ponder describes it this way in Open Your Mind to Prosperity: “By first listing your desires and then picturing them, you create your good on the invisible plane. You gather the substance of the universe together on the invisible plane. But it is through the spoken word of prosperity that your words then move on that invisible substance, form it as definite results, and give birth to it in the visible world.”
To invoke a consciousness of faith and love, it helps to understand how to use affirmations effectively. The key to using affirmations is that they must be in harmony with what you truly believe. As Shakti Gawain says, “they fail miserably when you use them to suppress negative thoughts or feelings.” You’ll know that an affirmation matches your core beliefs if you feel good when you say it.
So, one way to work with affirmations is to use an approach author and minister Joan Gattuso developed called “progressive affirmations”. Start with a statement such as “I would like to believe I can have a prosperous, fulfilling business.” Repeat this affirmation until you reach a place where you feel good and have no resistance to it (this may take some time, depending on your level of resistance). Then repeat the same process with the following statements:
- “I am open to believing I can have a prosperous, fulfilling business.”
- “I have faith that I can have a prosperous, fulfilling business.”
- “I have a prosperous, fulfilling business.”
Spiritual tools such as prayer, visualization and affirmations all become more effective when you simultaneously clear your limiting beliefs, thoughts and feelings. As you get into the habit of using these techniques, you’ll begin to trust the results they can bring you, and they’ll become an integral part of your business strategy. Using them will activate the soul of your business.
Copyright 2008 Mary C. Davis
Entrepreneur, Coach and Prosperity Guide Mary C. Davis helps spiritually-oriented wellness professionals build prosperous, fulfilling businesses. Get tips on how to build your wellness business, with ease and joy, by subscribing to her FREE e-zine The Prosperous Healer at http://www.anamturas.com
Dating Someone Who Practices A Different Religion
By rodrigo rehn
If you are like a lot of people, you have probably dated a lot of people who share the same or similar spiritual beliefs as you. In many instances this is not even discussed if a relationship does not go very far, but if you have been dating someone and you really like them and you just found out that there faith is much different than yours you may have a lot of questions. What if you get married, what sort of ceremony would you have? How would you raise children? How would you spend the holidays?
These are fair questions but before you totally weird out, you need to slow down a bit. You need to spend some time thinking about whether or not you are comfortable proceeding with someone who does not practice the same religion as you.
Some people feel very strongly about this, and there is nothing wrong with it. But, before you have a knee jerk reaction you should really stop and think about the possibilities in front of you. You may find that you are more accepting of someone with a different religion than you may have ever thought you would be.
Dating someone of a different religion doesn’t have to be a negative thing, even if you are a very spiritual person. Instead, this can be something that helps you grow as a person and become even stronger in your faith. You can learn more about their religion and what they believe and you can teach them about yours. You may find that you had a lot of misconceptions about their religion and you will be expanding your mind as well as opening your heart to something new. You don’t have to take on their religion, but you can both share with one another.
Through this sharing process you may find that your religions have a lot of things in common. You may find that you are both able to keep practicing your faith without impeding the others beliefs. This can be a growing experience for the both of you, and many people have been able to build successful relationships despite differences in their religious beliefs.
If you get married you can make compromises, if you have kids you can teach them both religions, and on holidays you can each incorporate both of your beliefs. You just need to be honest about the way you feel and let your partner know how you are feeling. Being open will allow you to both ask questions, voice concerns, and plan for the future. Religion does not have to impede your relationship, in fact it may allow you to grow in new and interesting ways!
Rodrigo Rehn is a Relationships Expert, Linux Systems Administrator, Web Programmer, PHP Developer and CEO of FaceRomance online dating for singles.
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