We Got Spirit, Yes We Do

I've lately been toying with the term "spirituality", and placing it at the top of my priority list, in what I"m interested in focusing on in life. I have my own sense of what this word means. I think of myself as an open person. I don't feel that the words "police officer" are ones to cower at. Cops do their jobs, and yes, over time perhaps they're likely to become corrupt, as perhaps many government officials surrounded by ick might be. But, the idea of going to the police for help is not something I'm opposed of. I am not a user of illegal drugs, and I feel I have nothing to fear from the cops, as I do not engage in illegal activities. I see their bigger function in society: keeping the peace. Also, I avoid protest situations, that are all-too-likely to result in miscommunications, tear-gas, and police demands that the crowd disperse. I feel no need to bruise or break my body in the name of an abstract Concept of Justice. My body deserves to be whole, all the time!

Similarly, some people cringe at the word "spirituality", perhaps thinking of cult-groups, or blind faith. I have no cringe factor around the word, in part because I feel it serves a function, and I understand that function, to the best of my ability. Spirituality, in general, seems a personal path/choice. Pretty simple stuff.

My hobbies lately seem to fall into two categories: social dance and spiritual community. I joined an Earth Medicine group in January, focusing on working with spirits of place to interact with and promote a healing relationship with the Bay Area of California. I also have joined the Hrafnar Kindred of Asatru, focusing on the old religion of the Norse and Germanic peoples. I also do a heck of a lot of Scottish country dance, vintage waltz, and now Scottish step dance.

My weeks are very busy.

More than anything, I love seeing bits of one community bleed into another.  And, sometimes there are lines drawn in the sand, delineating where one community ends, and the other begins, and sometimes I think of an excellent reference that I know my current company cannot appreciate.

That said, I'm very glad for making these notches of community in my life. I look forward to deepening in all of them. And, as much as I like the delicious food of Golden Lotus, I hope I'm appreciated to be something more three-dimensional and grounded than any cult-leader or cult-follower might be. I hope to be respected, even by those who do not walk my path.

Peace out, Amen, Blessed Be!

I realized I have four tenets that are important in my own life, and that I want in the people with which I'm in relationship.

1a. Spiritual path -- I'm very open as to what this is

tied with:

1b. Queer identity -- The real stuff: experience with queer love as an adult, plus an understanding of feminism, and queer feminist identity.

Next:

3. Polyamory-aware -- I want to be with people who at least grasp the concept of polyamory. In reality, I don't date heavily, and I rarely date more than one person at a time. Still, this concept is important to me. I have a rare friend or two that would be a sweetie if they lived local, and if/when they come to town again, I want the ability to negotiate with any partner / date I have, to be able to see those friends with my sweetie's permission!

4. Kindness, and availability, emotional and physical. This fourth tenet is a given for all situations, and I think should be a pre-requisite for future relationships.

All that said, I've been contemplating what counts, for each of these categories.

I'm realizing that spirituality is a nuanced thing, not black-and-white, but also not just gradient or technicolor.

Poetry can be an expression of spirituality, of inner god-spark, as one friend calls it.

Here's to each of us finding our god-spark.

Hm. Interesting notion, a public blog: not a livejournal, that I keep to myself and the friends I select, mostly, but a properly public writing nook.

A new friend has his public blog listed on Facebook, of all places, truly public, no need to even friend him to see it.

Perhaps I could stand to have similar bravery.

In the past year I've taken pains to dive deeper into my own self, my sense of self and spirit, and to understand the parts of my life that are most pithy to me.

In January I started working with an Earth medicine group, doing ritual, and also having shared journeywork, towards a deeper understanding of ourselves and our communities.

I realized I really like drums, used in ritual settings, and in social settings, as well. I bought my first frame drum, and would like to learn the bodhran-style of drumming, while I'm at it.

I think I might like to keep this, for now, as a bit of an ode to my newly-reawakened spiritual path. Last fall I had a relationship, and specifically a breakup, that led me to realize so much about myself and my values.

A tip of the keyboard to Professor Marvin Bram from Hobart and William Smith Colleges. He gave me language for the process of Logos and Sophia, knowledge and wisdom, and delving into both right and left sides of the brain, for the betterment of all.

I think these principles have guided most of my adult life.

I hope you find these posts handy, maybe even insightful. I hope for me they're an exercise in discipline, and practice.