Spirituality

From The SpiritWiki

Spirituality is the quality of being concerned with Health, Healing and Connection between the Spiritual Ego and the Bodily Ego. Note that a spirituality may be Authentic (Authentic Spirituality) or inauthentic.

Related LP Terms

Spirituality > Authentic Spirituality

Non-LP Related Terms

Spirituality > Religion

Notes

Spirituality is about connecting your Bodily Ego to your Spiritual Ego. Being spiritual means working consciously towards achieving strong and persistent connection to Consciousness.

Connection to the [wiki]Spiritual Ego[/wiki] leads, in general, to deeper connection to family, friends, and the land. Note that connection to others is only possible when the others are sufficiently healthy. Toxicity and violence from others is disconnecting. If one is concerned with connection, one should always avoid toxicity and violence.

Physical, emotional, psychological, social, economic, institutional, and political processes that encourage and facilitate healing and Connection are spiritual.

Spiritual systems (herein known as Connection Frameworks) are systems designed to teach how to connect.

Spiritual practices (herein known as Connection Practicess) are practices designed to make connection. Spiritual tools are tools designed to facilitate and support connection.

Spiritual beliefs and practices may be codified and wrapped, through human action, within an institutional framework. A spirituality that is wrapped within an institutional framework is known as a Religion.

Other Definitions

Cascio [1] refers to spirituality as an “intrinsic phenomena,” experiential connectedness, transcendence, and connection with "Ultimate Reality."

Delaney Defines spirituality " as a multidimensional phenomenon that is universally experienced, in part socially constructed, and individually developed throughout the life span. Spirituality encompasses a personal, interpersonal, and transpersonal context consisting of four interrelated domains: (a) higher power or universal intelligence—a belief in a higher power or universal intelligence that may or may not include formal religious practices; (b) self- discovery—the spiritual journey begins with inner reflection and a search for meaning and purpose. This process of self-discovery leads to growth, healing, and transformation; (c) relationships—an integral connection to others based on a deep respect and reverence for life and is known and experienced within relationships (Burkhardt & Nagai-Jacobson, 2005); and (d) eco-awareness—an integral connection to nature based on a deep respect and reverence for the environment and a belief that the Earth is sacred. Eco-awareness is rooted in deep ecology and the Gaia hypothesis (Lovelock, 2000). Within the framework of the Gaia hypothesis, the Earth is viewed as a living organism. MacGillis (1994) extends this notion by postulating that humans are the Earth consciously evolved to experience itself. "[2]

"...spirituality has evolved from a term synonymous with religion, moving to an association with a search for meaning and purpose, extending to the inclusion of relationships and recognition of holism, and finally to a connection to the environment and cosmos."[3]

Hodge et. al note,[4] "As the limits of modernity have come into fuller relief, there is a growing realization that spirituality and religion are fundamental aspects of human existence for many individuals...as a number of studies indicate, these variables have been associated with a wide number of salutary constructs and many clients desire to utilize these personal strengths to ameliorate problems. Consequently, interest in researching spirituality and religion is growing among social workers."

<ref>Hodge, David R. “The Intrinsic Spirituality Scale: A New Six-Item Instrument for Assessing the Salience of Spirituality as a Motivational Construct.” Journal of Social Service Research 30, no. 1 (January 1, 2003): 41–61.

Footnotes

  1. Cascio, Toni. “Religion and Spirituality: Diversity Issues for the Future.” Journal of Multicultural Social Work 7, no. 3/4 (February 1999): 129–45. https://doi.org/10.1300/J285v07n03_07.
  2. Delaney, C. “The Spirituality Scale: Development and Psychometric Testing of a Holistic Instrument to Assess the Human Spiritual Dimension.” Journal of Holistic Nursing. United States: Sage Publications, January 1, 2005. British Library Document Supply Centre Inside Serials & Conference Proceedings. p. 152.
  3. Delaney, C. “The Spirituality Scale: Development and Psychometric Testing of a Holistic Instrument to Assess the Human Spiritual Dimension.” Journal of Holistic Nursing. United States: Sage Publications, January 1, 2005. British Library Document Supply Centre Inside Serials & Conference Proceedings. p. 151.
  4. Hodge, David R. “The Intrinsic Spirituality Scale: A New Six-Item Instrument for Assessing the Salience of Spirituality as a Motivational Construct.” Journal of Social Service Research 30, no. 1 (January 1, 2003): 41–61.