Why I'm a Spiritual Liminalist, Part 2

We humans are not the only ones with spirit.

Every living thing has spirit:

Green grass, daffodils, dogwoods, the earth from which they grow.

Copperheads, black cats, wolf dogs, and crows.

Goddesses and gods and all invisible beings.

Rivers, mountains, valleys, and woods.

Lightning, thunder, waves, and wind.

Sun, Moon, planets, and stars- spirit

makes all these and more alive.

What I believe about spirit is deeply Western,

rooted in Homer’s great epics. But Middle Easterners (Christians on a mission) invaded, conquered, and suppressed the West: Even its Renaissance and Enlightenment could not break Christianity’s enslaving shackles.

Christianity’s time is passing. Its dominance is diminishing. As it wanes, its loyal adherents dig in and resist.

Its lukewarm adherents become “spiritual but not religious.” Generic, hybrid monotheists with personal religions.

Its apostates turn Eastward, become agnostics, or embrace atheism.

Those who never believed, become more free.

Western science advances.

I’m among those more free. I never truly believed.

I’m in, but not of, Western culture corrupted by Christianity.

What I believe about spirit, puts me in the borderland

between corrupted Western culture and all other cultures.

I’m a spiritual liminalist.

Why I'm a Spiritual Liminalist, Part 1

I’m a spiritual liminalist. Here’s why:

I believe in spirit.

It’s as natural as our body, mind, and social relationships.

It’s a natural force like magnetism, electricity, and gravity.

The natural force of spirit makes us alive.

When we have spirit, we’re alive.

When we don’t, we’re dead.

Our spirit is the agent of our life.

It animates our body.

It drives our physical instincts

that compel us to do what we

need to keep living: Eat. Drink. Play.

Protect ourselves. Have sex. Provide

for ourselves. Mate and nurture our young.

Our emotions are our spirit’s responses to stimuli.

Our moods are extended emotions.

Our spirit animates our mind.

No spirit, no living, learning, imaging, problem-solving mind.

Our spirit animates our social relationships.

No spirit, no interactions with others, no family, no friends, no lovers, no children.

No spirit, no esprit de corps, team spirit, school spirit, no Lady Liberty or Uncle Sam.

More than the difference between being dead or alive,

our spirit is the difference between merely existing or truly living.

No spirit, no life. No character or reputation.

Our spirit directs us to fulfill the life-affirming desires

of our heart. That’s our destiny.

Healing Is...

The Problem of Mindlessness of Our Own Spirit

For our body to develop and move, we must first be alive. For our mind to think and learn, we must first be alive. Before we can interact with others, we must first be alive. Our spirit is what makes us alive rather than not.

Our spirit is as natural as our backsides, brains, and best friends. It is this-worldly rather than other-worldly.

Our spirit precedes our physical, mental, and social activity. It is the agent of our life and the purpose of our life. It drives us to keep living and guides us toward fulfilling our purpose. It sustains us as we create the narrative of our life one action at a time. By our spirit we know when we are fulfilling our purpose, straying from it, how to return, and when we are back on track.

The father of Western medicine, Hippocrates, said, “The natural healing force within each one of us is the greatest force in getting well.” Our spirit is that natural healing force. It is the agent of our natural healing process that drives our recovery from injuries and illnesses.

One of our greatest problems as Westerners is our mindlessness of our spirit. We comply with other’s too readily. We rely on our minds too much. Our mindlessness of our spirit hinders our living healthy, purpose-fulfilling lives.

Be mindful of this: your own spirit. It is the agent of your life. It precedes your thoughts, actions, and interactions with others. Go with it. Act in harmony with your spirit. Discipline your mind to serve rather than constantly second guess your spirit. Interact with those who help rather than hinder you in fulfilling the purpose of your life.

For more about spirit, consider reading this:

Re-Visioning Spirit