Spiritual Sunday - The Duality of Life

 Last Week 

The idea of duality in religion is nothing new. The first chapter of Genesis deals with duality; light and dark, heaven and earth, wet and dry, male and female.  There are other instances of duality, generally serving the same purpose, in other religions.  The Taoist symbol of the yin yang represents many forms of duality, including male and female.  Pagan religions also embrace duality and the importance of balance.

In Neo-pagan religious ceremonies, it is important to note that both aspects must be honored properly. They are generally viewed as highly female oriented, but perhaps it only appears that way due tot he absence of a strong female figure in other, more organized religions.  What is important to understand is the necessity of both sides to life.  Without night, there would be no day; without female, there would be no male; and without the salt of life, we would not experience the sweetness. 

If there is one thing we must learn, it is the importance of duality.  If we did not have both sides of the coin, good and bad, our world would fall.  We need the balance of the seasons, summer and winter, to ensure the success of the crops as well as the continued existence of life on the planet.  We need the night to help us sleep and prepare for the day.  And, well, we all know why there must be two genders. 

Instead of complaining about Winter, remember the good that comes from winter.  Instead of complaining about your significant other and how different they are from you, remember that those differences balance you and serve as a counter to your weaknesses.  Remember that for every painful experience, you have likely experienced an experience that was just as sweet.  Accept and understand the automatic balance that life provides. 

Next Week

Spiritual Sunday - Learn to be Still

I've decided to reinstate my spirituality blog entries and start a Spiritual Sunday Meme.

Ask anyone who knows me, and you will find I tend to avoid organized religion.  The organizational structure of many religions seems to invite corruption and those who wish to manipulate and twist the religious beliefs.  I prefer to believe that if there is a higher power, it doesn't matter what we call it, only how we act.  After all, how can we, as humans, presume to know the mind of a god? 

So, it seems logical that the best way to muddle through this deeply flawed, human life is to find a way to express your spiritual self.  The best way to figure this out requires stillness.  I know in the business of today's world, with cell phones ringing, email to be answered, and small children clamoring with loud voices and sticky fingers for your attention, it's extremely difficult to find a chance to be still, but it is important for all three aspects of health: mental, physical, and spiritual.

Some might refer to the process of learning stillness as meditation or achieving balance; no matter what you call it though, it requires quiet and peace.  Choose a place that you draw comfort from and sit.  Turn you cell phone off and choose a time when the children are asleep or distracted for an extended period of time.  Achieving stillness requires patience, dedication and quiet.  Otherwise, it wouldn't be still.  Breathe in and breathe out and release your stress and anxieties.  Open your heart and let your spirit float freely. 

Finding that inner peace and connection to the unseen world (the spiritus mundi as Yeats would say) is a key to finding your spiritual center.  My spiritual stillness comes mostly in nature.  Whether it is the stillness and quiet of the snow falling, muffling all sounds of the urban life, or the wind rustling the leaves with the light, cheery chirrups from the birds.  Wherever you find your stillness, keep the memory of it for the hectic busy times.  Pull the memory out when you find yourself faltering and it will serve you well.