Spiritua-what?

I mean, really though. Talk about a word that gets thrown around, has so many different connotations, and feels strangely loaded and not totally understood.

Definition

The dictionary defines Spiritual as the quality of being concerned with the human spirit or soul as opposed to material or physical things (Oxford Languages).

What? What does that mean and how is it different than religion?

Religion: a personal set or institutionalized system of religious attitudes, beliefs, and practices; the service and worship of God or the supernatural (Chopra).

Spirituality, on the other hand, connotes an experience of connection to something larger than you; living everyday life in a reverent and sacred manner (Chopra).

Spiritual to me…

For me, life is spiritual. Everything is sacred. And when we believe it is and approach life this way, it is so much easier to experience magic, see that there is more than just me, and experience hope.

What Spiritual is not…

So spiritual isn’t all love and light. Or the easy way out. Or a life hack. I used to think being spiritual meant that my life would be easier. It’s turned out that my life still lifes… I still do the things I do, I still have recurring patterns and behaviors, people still die, I still say yes to more than I can handle, I still experience all the things. The difference is that I have practices that hold me, and a trust in life to fall into, and wisdom and knowing that help me shift my perspective and make meaning.

How do I incorporate it into therapy…

In so many ways! We do a lot of slowing down, stilling, and tuning into a person’s own wisdom. When it feels right, we talk about the seasons, the current cycles we are in, the moon and the stars. I offer teachings on creating altars, morning practices, daily practices, and how to root into the spiritual as a mental health support.

How do I incorporate it into life…

I create ritual for myself, my marriage, my kids, my family, my friends. I listen to my body and my own knowing. I participate in and create ceremony. And I do my best to remember the sacredness - especially in the mundane. My life is full of poopy diapers, snotty noses, full blown tantrums, school projects, dog walks, to do lists, moving, you name it. And when I remember the sacred in the ordinary, when I remember that the moment that I attune and be with my children, when I remember that I am living a life full of prayers answered, that’s my ticket.