Spirituality and its place within wellness

"Spirituality is not about looking up or down, its about looking inwards" -Jaggi Vasudev

Spirituality is an extremely personal and rewarding aspect of personal development. Many of us, if not used to religious-based spirituality, don't really know what it means to be spiritual or have a spiritual practice.

Spirituality is a focus on an individuals purpose and what the feel connected to in their lifetime. These existential topics are sometimes hard to grasp, and for alot of people aren't considered during day to day life. Having purpose can drive you forward in your goals and passions, and can help you weed out what doesn't serve you. Connection makes us feel less lonely and like we have something to depend on for hope and positivity. Some feel this connection with their families or communities, some find connection through a god or spirit, and others find there connection with the Earth or Universe. All forms of connection are valid and helpful.

Everyone's spiritual path is different, and none are inherently wrong or right. What is most important is that our beliefs don't hurt anyone or yourself, and we don't prevent others from finding their purpose and connection.

Common Questions about spirituality

Does being spiritual = being religious?

In the Oxford English dictionary, spirituality is defined as:

the quality of being concerned with the human spirit or soul as opposed to material or physical things

So we can get this straight, spirituality does not equal religion. While they often share similar themes and are used together, you do not need to adhere to, follow, or believe a specific religion, doctrine, or set of rules to be aware and attentive to your personal spirituality.

What is New Age Spirituality?

New Age Spirituality is a free-form spiritual movement that has been developing in the last half-century. It has a general focus the belief that there is a universal energy, and puts freedom and autonomy of an individual at the highest respect. It is often eclectic, with individuals putting their own beliefs and twist in to the movement.

New Age spirituality is often seen as a vocalized rejection of modern society and its pillars, and combines beliefs from various cultures. It supports any interpretation of the Devine, and does not have any related dogma of scripture. It has a strong emphasis on astrology, physical + mental healing, and accepting science.

Some criticize New Age Spirituality because of its looseness, as it can end up encouraging spiritual bypassing, appropriation, pseudo science and monetization of spirituality. As with any movement, there can be bad and good that come from within it.

How can I start a spiritual practice?

Some of the best ways to start exploring your spirituality are to see what parts of your life you already hold dear to you. Something as simply as a daily walk can be part of a spiritual practice. It can also range from small things such as giving thanks for meals, doing specific activities to feel calm and cleansed, or taking some quiet time to reflect or pray.
Explore your history and lineage. Your family may have spiritual practices that they have been practicing. Becoming aware and thankful of your ancestors can also be part of a spiritual practice
Ask yourself some big, reflective questions. What is my purpose? Who and what do I feel most connected to? Do I believe in a higher power, force, or god? What motivates me to get up in the morning? Who or what do I turn to when I feel hopeless? All of these can help develop your spiritual identity, values, and practice.

Do I need to take a class in spirituality or look for a mentor?

Long story short, no. You do not need to take any type of course or follow any ones instructions in your personal spiritual journey. Unless you are looking to become educated in a specific culture, religion, or practice, no one truly interested in your spiritual growth should tell you you need ANYTHING in order to develop. There are people out there sharing information that is incorrect or disrespectful, and they are more then willing to take your money.

If you do decided to take a course in the above mentioned topics, make sure you are choosing a reputable and appropriate source. here are some tips when looking for education

If you want to learn about a specific culture/religion, try and find information from some who is apart of that culture. While not everyone in a specific culture wants (or is required) to teach you, there are online and in person courses you can find from those wanting to share their culture/religion.
Make sure you find a teacher who has the correct certifications or is certified by a reputable organization. A reputable teacher should be more then willing to share their qualifications.
You can always start with published literature on your topic of interest. Check reviews to make sure it is a book you want to support!

How can I make sure not to appropriate any culture/religion?

In the last few years, there have been several trends that are appropriative of various cultures. While its fine to appreciate and support people of other cultures, everyone must make sure they are practicing respectfully. Here are some general guidelines to help:

Do your research. There is an infinite amount of things we can learn, and it is always better to search something before doing it. Find direct sources from the culture or community you are interested in. Make sure any thing you do decide to practice is being done in a correct and respectful way, that incorporates the true meaning of what the practice originated for.
Realize some practices are closed, and its not personal. Just because its disrespectful to partake in some practices without proper requirements, doesn't mean you can't learn about or take inspiration from some practices. What is most important is respecting and not replicating a closed practice, signifying where you got inspiration from, and never claiming a practice as 'yours'. If something feels if-y, trust your gut and do not partake.
Question why you want to participate in another cultures/religions practice. Do you have a deep interest/connection in the culture or religion, or did you just recently learn/saw about something and want to replicate it? If its the later, slow down and reevaluate. Remember that some cultures/religions have been scrutinized, killed, and colonized for preforming their practices. Use this time to practice empathy.
If you want something from a specific culture/religion, buy from a creator of that culture/religion. This is one of the best ways to support those in whatever culture/religion you admire, and you know that person is okay with sharing their product or part of their practice with consumers.