Tag: spiritual awareness

  • The Self

    God met me as a father
    God met me as the son
    God met me as friend,
    As each and everyone
    God met me as a stranger
    The stranger on the bus
    Without any pretences
    A slob like one of us
    He met me as an angel
    Or devil in disguise
    He showed me forms I chose to see
    Through my half open eyes
    He waited for me patiently
    Prepared for us to meet
    But when I saw him in the mirror
    He swept me off my feet

  • The Key

    Somewhere not too far away

    Is everything for which you pray

    Someday you will realize

    All the dreams that filled your eyes

    Someone whom you love and need

    Will be with you at Godspeed

    Somewhere is HERE

    Someday is NOW

    Someone is YOU

    Accept, Allow

    Within you is the world contained

    Forever it has so remained

    An endless fountain made of joy

    Why cannot everyone enjoy?

    What is the possibility?

    Can’t everyone this treasure see?

    Why does it hide there deep inside?

    If there’s a lock, where is the key?

    You look within your heart and mind

    Yet you seek, but do not find

    Look within!

    Not your body, not your brain

    Deeper still,

    Let no thoughts your vastness fill

    Be the light

    Let no darkness hide from sight

    To find the key

    Lose that little thing called ‘me’

    Look beyond that little you

    To get the real self in view

    All the stories that you told

    Was not who you were at all

    You are not your past,

    That was the moment you saw last

    You were not born on a date of birth

    That is not when you came to earth

    Know your inner truth sublime

    You have been here since the dawn of time

    You are the One

    You are All

    You are who this world is for

    You are the soul of the universe

    You are key, the note, the verse

    You are the music, the dance, the life

    You give, create and energize

    Because of you is everything

    You are the song creation sings

    You are the love that planets turn

    See yourself as everyone

    Seek no more and nothing need,

    You are truth, Be… Just Be!

     

     

  • Twelve Positive Symptoms of Spiritual Growth and Ascension

    Twelve Positive Symptoms of Spiritual Growth and Ascension

    clouds-806637_1920

    Spirituality is all about discovering our inner self, the part of us which is beyond the physical, mortal or limited existence. While there are many of us who discover our spiritual truth through regular meditation and spiritual training, some of us experience an awakening all of a sudden, whether through dreams or near death experience. With proper practice and wise guidance we can gracefully handle all the new awareness being opened up throughout our journey.

    Here are a few pointers to help us understand the inner changes we experience as the real symptoms of spiritual growth. If we are experiencing these changes in our life to some or the other extent, it is a sign that we are following the right spiritual path and practice. If yet to experience them, especially if stuck in negative symptoms or experiences …then it is merely a matter of time we will move on to the next level, provided we keep meditating and learning constantly from the right sources:

    1. From Outer to Inner Awareness: Spiritual growth is accompanied with psychic, emotional, physical and mental changes as our inner senses are opened up. We become more perceptive and sensitive to the hidden nature of reality. Before spiritual awakening people saw the world with only their limited five senses, dismissing any spiritual information given by others as ‘unscientific’. After spiritual awakening we can more easily experience the astral or subtle dimension, see more meaning in dreams and receive messages in meditative state.  The unconscious is made conscious helping us in healing unknown blocks as they are revealed to us.
    2. From Negativity to Positive Transformation: As hidden blockages and negativity are brought up into our conscious awareness it can be uncomfortable to some people at first. Through the right spiritual training and inner work we learn how to release our fears. Slowly psychic disturbances reduce, whether insomnia, nightmares or disturbing visions, physical pain or discomfort as blocks are being healed, or emotional highs or lows as we shift from material to spiritual awareness. We accept new and positive changes in our hobbies, career, relationships, beliefs and attitudes as our inner vibrations transform for the better. We attract more positive people, situations and energies.
    3. From Stress to Peace: Before spiritual awakening people usually saw the world as a fixed reality that they had limited power over. Day to day life was stressful and fearsome for many of us then. Through the right spiritual study and meditation we gain inner stillness and peace of mind. We begin to see how peace is always within us and can be found anywhere and at anytime regardless of situations. Slowly our inner peace starts radiating all around us to create waves of peace everywhere we go. At times people can automatically feel and sense the calm and healing waves of peaceful energy flowing in and around us too.
    4. From Anger to Understanding: Before spiritual awakening we would have felt upset at others, whether family, teachers, colleagues, society, politics, god or deity….blaming them for all problems and difficulties. As our spiritual awareness rises we begin to realize how we create our own life experiences at a deep inner level. We understand that everyone is going through their own cycles of learning just like we are. We can empathize and understand the reasons for their issues, their fears or worries while remaining detached at the same time; allowing them to learn and focusing on what we must learn. We begin to also detach from our own expectations from them thereby putting ourselves in a place of real power.
    5. From Victim to Magickal Being: Spiritual awakening helps us see how we are manifesting our own life experiences from moment to moment. We are no longer victims of fate or destiny, helpless and incapable of influencing our own life situations. Instead of blaming stars and planets for the patterns of our life we begin to realize how celestial bodies and everything in nature merely guides us through intuition and symbolism, toward our own inner psyche. We start applying this wisdom to transform our own inner energy, our beliefs and our vibrations with the result that our own life improves and transforms from inside out.
    6. From Pity to Respect: With enhanced spiritual awareness we are less likely to feel sad or unhappy about the state of the world. Instead, we start feeling more positive about the potential and capacity of the world to change. There is a sense of respect for everyone as a divine being who has their own positive energy or power hidden within them. Instead of seeing people as under-privileged, lesser-fortunate or vulnerable, we recognize their potential for complete and total transformation. We serve them best by helping them realize their own power instead of merely handing them some spare change.
    7. From Guilt to Self-transformation: Being spiritually aware also helps us gain power over our own hidden blockages, addictions or fears. Instead of feeling guilty or regretful about something we did or did not do, we focus on the present moment from where we can create transformation. When we see our problems and mistakes as lessons and learn what we should from them, they stop bothering us repeatedly. Our own inner patterns are reset through this learning. We replace our own self-limiting ways of thinking, feeling or behaving with those that serve our highest good.
    8. From Disease to Wellness: Spiritual work and meditation enhance and improve the energy flowing through us. When we know that it is energy that is manifesting as our physical life, we begin to master our own inner state. This leads to a better well-being and deeper healing that unites our mind, body and spirit as one. Through proper and dedicated practice we learn how to be less affected by the outer world and how to maintain inner balance. Dependence on medication and drugs reduces automatically with the right meditative practice.
    9. From Hunger to Contentment: Those who lived solely in the material dimension and seldom tried meditation were likely to be engrossed in the endless search for pleasure, entertainment, fame, wealth and status, life after life. On the other hand by enhancing our spiritual awareness we discover a deeper part of us which is forever happy, peaceful and content in itself. Instead of seeking constant stimulation through food, sex, internet, socializing or shopping we start feeling more and more satisfied from within. This way we discover the true meaning of abundance consciousness.
    10. From Ego to Humility: Most conflicts, enmities and power struggles were caused due to a feeling of separation between ‘me’ and ‘the rest of the world’. Our ego was hurt easily when we were spiritually unaware of who we are. Spiritual practice helps us learn that the world and our personal self are deeply interwoven; that everyone is somewhere connected to us, and we to them. We see a great divine being in every person and thing uniting us as one greater Self. This way there is no scope for pride, egotism, inferiority or superiority – just a recognition that everything and everyone is simply here to teach us the higher truth.
    11. From Selfishness to Love: Spiritual ignorance has been the root cause of all evil, having manifested as hate, attacks, corruption, lack of ethics or anything that was harmful in nature. Through spiritual awareness we all are now realizing the real meaning of love. We have truly begun to grow as spiritual beings when we discover unconditional love and compassion. Instead of trying to serve our lower, limited, physical selves at the expense of others, we begin to realize the value of being harmless, kind, forgiving and positive towards every being regardless of how they are.
    12. From Illusion to Truth: Spiritual realization and awakening are the real ways to be truly liberated and freed from the illusions of ups and downs, suffering and pleasure, happiness and sorrow. Deep within us is pure peace and bliss. This true happiness does not depend on whether or not we have something or someone in our life. We realize that outer life is merely an illusion manifesting through a play of our desires and wants, fears and hopes, conscious and unconscious thoughts. We discover our innermost truth which is infinitely more satisfying than anything can ever be. This sets us free!

    (*)

    swatiprakas small13)

    Swati Prakash is a spiritual author and founder of Global Wicca. You can read more on www.swatiprakash.com

  • Beware of Spiritual Couching!

    Beware of Spiritual Couching!

    A few years ago someone I knew was promoting himself as a spiritual coach. Inadvertently the word that he typed on his profile was ‘spiritual couching’ instead of spiritual coaching. Its funny how these ‘Freudian slips’ can be very revealing. Something deep from our unconscious knows how to communicate and express itself through meaningful coincidences even through mistypes and miscommunication.

    Yes, we all need to reflect on this – all thanks to my acquaintance who made this slip and taught us a valuable lesson. Are we in the danger of becoming ‘spiritual couches’ who are passive livers than active spiritualists? Do we misunderstand and misinterpret much of our ‘spiritual’ new age gurus’ teachings are many of these teachings true in the first place? Read on to know what all ‘is’ and is not being spiritual in this ‘new age’ world.

    Myth: Being Effortless = Being Lazy. 

    Truth: Relax, receive and effortlessly attract, these new age principles do not mean we should be ‘couch potatoes’ just sitting and waiting for the apple to drop right into our mouth. Yes we receive the fruits of our karma effortlessly when the time is ‘ripe’ but hey – don’t forget to sow the seeds and water them. When the fruit is ripe it will fall down on its own, for sure. But go and prepare your soil first, get your tools out, dig and delve, sow and grow, nourish, be patient – it takes effort. Some karma is required for us so invest into your life and surely the returns will flow back to you. All the ‘effortless’ things you have received in the present life are your past life fruits ripening up now. Being ready to receive has helped. New age spirituality helps you be more ‘ready’ and receive your fruits, but do not mistake this receptivity state for being lazy and dull.

    Myth: The Universe is Within = We should be self centered/ selfish.

    Truth: The definition of within needs to change. Who are you? Know thyself. The Universe is within means expand your consciousness – you are not just your limited lower self, your body, your material possessions, your limited mind. Make your mind more unlimited and see how everything in the universe is part of your Self. The universe is within this greater ‘Self’ not in your narrow and contrived notions of your selfishness. To be selfish is to love only your limited self or your lower self. To be self loving is quite a different approach. It means to love everything and everyone including yourself. It means being aware that love is not something very limited that can be either given to yourself or to others, but an endless energy flowing to all in ever increasing amounts. Be generous and expand yourself- reach out and love everything and everyone as part of you.

    Myth: The Secret and Law of Attraction = Pursue Material Goals All The Time

    Truth: So you have read all these new age books and they seem to tell you that the universe exists to serve your lower needs of food, sex, shopping, diamonds, fashion and beauty? Just tell me one thing. Do you ever meditate and is there any substitute to your inner peace? Can any amount of food, sex, glamour and money buy you peace? No, you do not exist merely to accumulate and gather material comforts. Having money and things is simply not a state of true abundance. Being spiritual is all about being aware of your spirit nature, your real self, at all times. There will actually come a point when you will no longer ‘hunger’ for anything, ‘crave’ for anything, be ‘needy’ for anything. Being content is possible – make that you.

    Myth: Being Positive = Thinking Positive (Doing good is secondary)

    Truth: There is so much hype created around positive thinking that the worst of criminals have been projecting themselves as spiritual people. Some ‘spiritual’ people actually believed that they could get away with anything and everything by just thinking positive and imagining all kind of good things happening to them right now even while indulging in negative activities on the side. The truth is you simply cannot delete or cancel out your negativity just through superficial thoughts. Being positive right now is a great thing and this includes positive actions. You need to transform all over – mind, body and soul. You need to start doing only positive things else it will be very difficult for your inner or unconscious mind to believe that you are a good person and you deserve good. Our unconscious mind is way beyond our conscious thoughts and affirmations. We have to change the way we live into something phenomenally positive in order to be truly positive.

    Myth: Joy and Bliss = Drunkenness

    Truth: Being in a state of spiritual bliss is very different from the ‘trance’ you induce through drunken dancing, substance abuse and lewd sexual performances. ‘New-agers’ reveling in pagan rituals that focus on excessive enjoyment do feel great for the short run but the effects wear off. A real ritual should empower you and shift your consciousness so deeply that you never need any drugs, alcohol and sexuality to stimulate yourself ‘spiritually’. Real paganism is about being in tune with nature through our inner meditative state, not just an external but an inner connection that is expressed outwards in such beautiful ways that even a child can feel safe in your rituals. Truly children require no drugs to dance, play and be merry – so why should we? Be in tune with you inner child and give yourself only those things you know are good for the child within. Be in a natural state of deep inner bliss.

    There are many more such insights I would love to share with you in my next book – stay tuned into my author page on amazon http://www.amazon.com/Swati-Prakash/e/B00V54BBHQ

    Blessed Be!

    Swati Prakash

    karma