Old Souls Book Club discussion

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Just curious... > How do you explain your spirituality to others?

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message 1: by Saiisha (new)

Saiisha | 544 comments Mod
Have you ever been caught in a situation where your beliefs are very different than the person you're with? How do you handle it? Do you get defensive? Do you avoid the topic? Do you try to help the other person understand where you're coming from?


message 2: by Barbara (new)

Barbara | 127 comments I used to express my views when they were different. I think I wanted to model openness to others, thinking the world could use a lot more of that. After a while, I decided I was wasting my time - everyone reaches that place of openness on their own time irregardless of others views. Now I rarely say anything at all unless I'm in a group of like-minded people who are comfortable with discussing their journey and what all that has entailed. I love to discuss this topic but the people you can discuss it with are few and far between.


message 3: by Saiisha (new)

Saiisha | 544 comments Mod
Barbara wrote: "I used to express my views when they were different. I think I wanted to model openness to others, thinking the world could use a lot more of that. After a while, I decided I was wasting my time - ..."

You're right Barbara - I think that's an evolution we do go through - the realization that we really can't change anyone, who doesn't want to change. We can't help anyone who's simply not interested in learning or growing. They'll grow at their own pace!

However, I do have a follow up question for you - can you share some of the topics that you do like to discuss? Either as your own new threads on this book club, or with me - and I can start them as new threads to discuss? I'd like this group to be more interactive, and that can happen when others like you come forward with your own points of discussion!


message 4: by Barbara (new)

Barbara | 127 comments I like to discuss the mystics - those who seemed to have a spiritual connection in the past that we don't seem to have now. I don't think we're the most advanced civilization that's ever lived on earth and that confounds me because it's evidence that don't learn!!! I'll think more about other topics I like.


message 5: by Saiisha (new)

Saiisha | 544 comments Mod
Barbara wrote: "I like to discuss the mystics - those who seemed to have a spiritual connection in the past that we don't seem to have now. I don't think we're the most advanced civilization that's ever lived on e..."

Great idea Barbara! I think civilization veered off to chasing the external (the physical reality) and in the process, totally missing out on the internal (inner wisdom) that the mystics were seeking. Maybe I'll start a new thread about this, and hopefully others will chime in too.


message 6: by Barbara (new)

Barbara | 127 comments I've only begun reading about Christian feminine mystics;
Joan of Arc, Teresa of Avila, and Hildegard of Binchen. I have a long list - so interesting!


message 7: by Saiisha (new)

Saiisha | 544 comments Mod
Barbara wrote: "I've only begun reading about Christian feminine mystics;
Joan of Arc, Teresa of Avila, and Hildegard of Binchen. I have a long list - so interesting!"


I haven't read Joan of Arc, but I love the life stories of Hildegard von Bingen (her medicine, and her bravery), and of Teresa of Avila (and her interior castle)! I also enjoyed Therese of Lisieux (the Little Flower)


message 8: by Julie (new)

Julie | 53 comments How can I explain my Spirituality to someone else if I can't really even understand it completely myself? My beliefs are very different than most and it is not my intention to say that "most" are all the same.

What I have learned is to stay away from people, situations, instances, conversations that people are "absolutely sure", they leave no window for growth. I grew up Catholic (just an example) and if I meet someone that decides their interpretation of the bible is "exactly what God wants" and if I do something different I am to be damned, it's not worth the conversation to me because they are closed off to a logical, spiritual discussion that could benefit us both.

My beliefs are all over the place and I don't mean that in a scatterbrained way. I mean, I am learning and growing and taking things from all walks of life that feel right to me and I'm still piecing it all together. One big melting pot of love, compassion, understanding and forgiveness, etc. When I figure it all out, I will not shout it from the rooftops, but if someone asks me my secret to my peace (when and if I achieve it), I will gladly share.


message 9: by Saiisha (new)

Saiisha | 544 comments Mod
Julie wrote: "How can I explain my Spirituality to someone else if I can't really even understand it completely myself? My beliefs are very different than most and it is not my intention to say that "most" are a..."

Love your impassioned response Julie!! You're so right - as long as we're open, learning, weighing what feels true in our deepest self, we're still growing, still evolving. As soon as we put boundaries around our beliefs, we become rigid and judgmental. And I notice that as we grow and evolve more into becoming conscious beings, our beliefs tend to become simpler - like love, compassion, forgiveness.

Thanks for sharing where you are in your journey!!


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