I have heard many people talking about ‘finding themselves’ over the years and the myriad ways they go about it, I have often wondered what this idea of ‘self’ actually is. It is of course vitally important, perhaps the most important idea of any, as it does inform us of how we should act in the world.
Apart from the narrow versions that we are somehow more special than any other being it is both difficult and amazing to consider that our individuality flows from one egg and one sperm and that but for the processes of a second we would not exist at all. If you have ever considered being someone else’s children or being another gender you will have an idea of how odd it feels to think you could not be you.
Of the million, million accidents that bring us to birth and how that birth relies upon every coupling that has occurred in our ancestors since the dawn of life, and how everything they were is in us, self takes on an almost mystical essence.
It is way beyond name, nationality and something more than gender. It is a connectivity to the life, a voyage on a sea of perceptions, a willingness to breath and a passion to share. The self is nature’s gift to us to meet the challenge to understand all her ways and all her beliefs.
Far more majestic and more wise than our own.
Very well put. I call it “deeper magic”, the place where spirituality, self, curiosity, and knowledge come into alignment.
Thank you Anne. I am not sure I believe in magic of any kind. There is obviously some deep emotional bind between us and the life we are sharing, which has even been given the term ‘spirituality’, both words for me have the strong sub-text ‘we don’t know what this is yet’.
Well, now. Our mutual friend Bev seemed to think I might find “One Man’s Mind” interesting, or perhaps intriguing. She was correct, although I won’t bore you with reasons which would take a great deal of time to explain.
Is that strong sub-text you mention necessarily a negative thing for you? Just curious.
The Dalai Lama once stated, “My religion is kindness.” If religion is defined as a strong belief in powers that control human destiny,” and given that spirituality is said to be concerned with religion or sacred matters or the church, then perhaps the argument could be made that spirituality is kindness. And where I find kindness taking place, I see magic. We are human, and therefore guided by perception, directed by curiosity, spurred on by ideas. I know a few theoretical physicists who would be out of work had they limited themselves literally to what they know.
But here, then: see what happens when a woman of little education ponders anything? We tend to babble on. I shall stop now and simply wish you a very good day, one overflowing with kindness.
My mother always told me the lady who says she is uneducated is always the brightest spark in the room:) Thank you for finding this weblog interesting!
I guess we need to define magic and define spirituality. But without definitions, I do not deny both exist, I just don’t think we know what it is we are actually describing. What we call magic was also used to describe potions shaman’s made to cure headaches; what we call spirituality Loyola also called torturing people to death. I mean I like the Dalai Lama abut he would have to tell you some Buddhists believe all dogs were women in their last lives, which is why the monks feed them and never turn them away.
I will treat anyone’s belief with courtesy but beliefs are descriptions of the unknown and in deeply spiritual terms, the unknowable. Sub-texts never worry me actually, I am human nothing human is alien to me (Latin quote, not my line) but I do worry about superstition and giving the unknown characteristics it/they may not deserve.
I guess all I was saying really is I am happy not to give things names and to wait for physics and medical science to tell me as much about things as they can ever find out. That ‘nature’ is all the ‘magic’ and the ‘spirituality’ I have ever needed or will ever know.
Beverly is a honey:)