“The dramatic action that we need
to create a way of life on Earth that really works will be taken not through personal, social, or political action, but through spiritual action.”
--Brooke Medicine Eagle,
Buffalo Woman Comes Singing.
My Question: How do you define the word “spiritual”?
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Foto: EagleWoman by Susan Sedon Boulet (this is a foto I took of a copy I own of this beautiful painting).
I think it's a mistake to separate physical, spiritual, mental, etc. from each other. Spirit is what we are - we don't have to seek it out. While we are incarnate we need to deal with the wholeness of body, mind, and soul as a unified whole.
ReplyDeleteWhat will save Earth and us with Her is love. I mean big love - love that says every child is my child, so I don't want any child to starve or die in war. Love that says I won't let people sleep in the streets while there are buildings that could shelter them. Love that says it's important to educate every member of society, in every society on Earth. Love that says my child will not participate in war. Love that says if I can do better I am obliged to do better. Love that cares more about Darfur than Britney Spears. Love that says technology has to be used safely, food must be pure and natural, air and water must be clean.
Contemplating our navels won't get us there. Knowing that we have everything we need, and insisting we do our best with it will. Conscious will to affect matter. That's magick and that's what we need.
Morgaine, you’ve packed a lot of good stuff into a short space. I’m going to pick on only one phrase, however: “Conscious will to affect matter.” If you come back to this comment section, could you expand on this a little?
ReplyDeleteI agree with Morgaine -- it's silly to separate spiritual from the rest of life. We're spiritual and animal both, I'd say inextricably linked (I am remembering how the Bible says that *whatever* you do, may it bring glory to God, which suggests that the smallest events are significant).
ReplyDeleteSorry that I don't have a real good description of the word "spiritual"...I need to think about this. Good question! =)
Side note: I recommend you read "Miracles" by C.S. Lewis if you haven't. He's a Christian and all, but highly imaginative, and knowing you I think you might enjoy it (if you get past the first few chapters, which may or may not seem dull). =) In it he talks about the word "spiritual", and a bunch of other things, including harmony between humans and Nature and how that harmony relates to the death of Jesus. (There are, of course, many more chapters about Miracles because that's what the book is about, but the parts of the redemption and healing of Nature and humanity were the most interesting to me).
Anyhow, I am not trying to trick you into reading "Christian" books. ;) This one is just cool.