Aging Body, Ageless Soul

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Registered: 03-09-2001
Aging Body, Ageless Soul
9
Tue, 03-22-2005 - 5:03pm

Aging Body, Ageless Soul:

When it comes to getting older, we have a choice: cling to the past (and suffer), or let go and enjoy the spiritual journey.

By Ram Dass

http://www.beliefnet.com/story/162/story_16269_1.html

This is truly awesome! ;) Perhaps living with this Awareness is wise at any age?

Gypsy



Blessings,

Gypsy

)O(



iVillage Member
Registered: 03-23-2005
Wed, 03-23-2005 - 6:03am

Since I'm on here anyway to respond to another message, I thought I might as well drop in and say that, as a young thirty-something woman, I think this is good advice for any age. Thanks for posting it. Also read the message about "an uplifting and affirming new book," which is called "Embracing the Mystery by author Meredith Jordan. I got my copies through Amazon and have given them as gifts to friends. It's that good!

The book urges us all to remember who we were before other people started to put rules and roles and expectations on us. The author says the most important thing we can do with our lives is to shed the ones that don't fit us and find our way back to our true nature, or what I think she calls the "authentic self."

I have a feeling most of us lose that pretty early, and it shows up (especially in women) as depression, eating disorders, unhappiness, and even illness. This book is full, not of advice, but of really good stories about real people just like us who have learned how to remember what's important at any age.




Edited 3/23/2005 7:04 am ET ET by youngseeker73
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Registered: 03-09-2001
Wed, 03-23-2005 - 5:10pm

I agree that Ram Dass' wisdom is for any age, not just us Crones. :) From your description of the other book, I am reminded of the book, "Women Who Run With Wolves," an excellent exploration of our myths, religious and fairy tale that teach women, especially, limited options and roles, to our detriment physically, mentally and spiritually.

Glad you found the article useful. :)

Gypsy



Blessings,

Gypsy

)O(



iVillage Member
Registered: 03-23-2005
Thu, 03-24-2005 - 7:36am

Yes, I did find it helpful. Many thanks. I notice from reading the other messages about "Embracing the Mystery" that you located several links to Meredith Jordan's work. You might also check her article at Beliefnet.com, which is permanently posted as "You Can't Draw a Bead on God," and an interview with her on GoodNewsBroadcast.com under the "religion/spirituality" menu. You can tell I've found an author whose work I really like on the matter of spirituality (she's in the same category for me as Annie Lamott or Anne Dillard), and I'm tracking down everything of hers I can get my hands on.

I think she has a second book coming out later this year, but the first is a gem for those of us who seek new ways to be in relationship with Spirit than the traditional.

I have also read Clarissa Pinkola Estes and think she's a very strong voice for women in pursuit of a spiritual life. Christina Baldwin is too. Try "Calling the Circle," "The Seven Whispers," and her new book which is due out shortly. I don't know the name. But again I come back to "Embracing the Mystery" as a book that has opened the door for me to experience spirituality in a whole new way. Even though it's new and word is still just getting out, I consider it a classic. And, as I think I said, I'm passing it out to all my friends who love it as much as I do.

We might be young, but we're well educated women looking for Spirit in our lives, and the traditional theologies, or even pagan traditions---ancient as they are---don't fit our lives very well. When I find something that does, I just want everyone to read it too!

Thanks so much for offering your wisdom.

iVillage Member
Registered: 09-11-2004
Thu, 03-24-2005 - 8:15pm

Hey Gypsy.


"Women Who Run With Wolves" ROCKS! I can't believe I have run across someone else who's read that...very cool;)


~Kristin

 

"In short, all good things in life are wild and free."  ~Thoreau

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-30-2005
Wed, 03-30-2005 - 9:22pm
To All . agree let go and enjoy. that is by not trying , keep a burning heart desire by availing oneself and letting and allowing not trying. Realize the importance of living and move one when sufficiently ready into LIFE. Gain understanding and wisdom to go with the precious love and be welcome into the family of the creator,(the only eternal family) and fellowship with the Creator and creation. Meditation,comptemplation and adoration ....ask in ernest to be led by the Holy Spirit,invite the spiritual LIFE. Each day one changes and do not let errors of the past control you especially if you would not do something over again then that is no longer you. Errors will still be made in your transformation ,regeneration progress .Where in Truth gained will dispell errors, and the errors will become less and less. And the mind renewed and the heart cleansed welcome into the family. Occupy. There is the living dead and disembodied dead all are dead until made alive in Christ,. Come under grace and mercy understand and grow in greater wisdom and divine love. Welcome written by imperfect ira krause
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Registered: 03-30-2005
Wed, 03-30-2005 - 9:51pm
Not shure should reply. You are thinking and that is comendable. Are you aware of different phases of individuals in living. Perhaps some time you will gain or meet some who have come out of the very important phase of living to gain Liife and Life everlasting. It is gained when the hearts burning desire to be what God wants you to be.As free choice is yours and not removed. so many enjoy the ways of this world and are not ready for the genuine spiritual Life. The Lords administration is abvailable by not trying, just avail oneself , let and allow. Gain understanding , meditation, contemplation,adoration with TRUTH replaceing errors in our minds and heart gained thus the Administration of the most HIGH,the unseened available and the unlimited supply opens up for regeneration and transformation into fellowship with the eternal family that is the only eternal family of God. If there is something that you would not do over again then that is no longer you. So do not condem yourself as errors are made and lack of knowledge is prevelant in many. Go up Jacobs ladder and receive more truth and come back to remove errors, that is dispell errors, cleanse the mind and be in the precious heart. Many times going up Jacobs ladder and bringing down truth. Overcomeing the ways of the world , storeing up treasures in heaven for the new heaven and new earth. Ask the Father to go before you each day, when in trouble ,when invited. Your individuality remains and free choice is not taken away. That is why the Lord wept for others and others have hurt God. Have you wept for others because they stayed in self righteousness. do not neglect this living but come into that which is beyound the material into the spiritual and into cosmic consciousness, on into Christ consciousness and Gods right use. Often find myself weeping and feeling some of the same hurts. With eyes open to see and know. Be at one, Your welcome precious one. from imperfect irakrause@netzero.com
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Registered: 03-09-2001
Fri, 04-01-2005 - 12:50pm

"We might be young, but we're well educated women looking for Spirit in our lives, and the traditional theologies, or even pagan traditions---ancient as they are---don't fit our lives very well. When I find something that does, I just want everyone to read it too!"

You know, I've been a spiritual seeker since my 20s. ;)) I followed my own intuition through the years to find my spiritual Home with the Goddess and the God. I think some people are seekers and some aren't, but content with the religion of their childhood, perhaps. Neither is wrong; all are right. I think spirituality and religion, all kinds and varieties, can offer some wisdom to us. And sometimes none fit well, either. I don't follow a strict tradition, but incorporate wisdom I learned from my Zen years, studies into Native American spiritual traditions, and even my Christian years, as well. :P It makes sense to me to honor a Goddess and a God and believe as I do in Reincarnation and Karma, but there are other tools that help me stay connected to Spirit, such as meditation and t'ai chi and walking in solitude or sitting in solitude in Nature. I think we can each "name" our deities however we want, follow whatever traditions make sense to us, or create our own traditions. It's all good. :))

Gypsy



Blessings,

Gypsy

)O(



iVillage Member
Registered: 03-30-2005
Sat, 04-02-2005 - 8:03am
Gypsy there is a difference for you to know. That is reincarnated people know who they were .Some when nk higher being have a choice to come back or not, Others have to come back and enter places where they may continue. Some couples have their request granted for the spirit and soul to enter the bodies they have prepared. It is often used as a belief. Re-emobodied is where most of us are at.,that is we do not know our past living and outworking. Your letter is fine. When one reaches a certain point then they will know who they were. However who they were is not who they are. For we are outworking with Karma etc as you have stated in to the real Vital You to be in the only eternal family of God and have fellowshilp with the creator and creation.Your reply to Sopiritual numbers 13 and 14 would be appreciated . Should I be writting such. imperfect ira krause
iVillage Member
Registered: 09-11-2004
Mon, 04-11-2005 - 11:09pm

Hi Gypsy:)


I remembered you mentioning "Women Who Run With Wolves" (which I so enjoyed reading). This quote from the book was in my latest Heron Dance Newsletter. I am going to need to go back and read that book again:)


Some say the creative life is in ideas, some say it is in doing. It seems in most instances to be in simply being. It is not virtuosity, although that is very fine in itself. It is the love of something, having so much love for something - whether a person, a word, an image, an idea, the land, or humanity - that all that can be done with the over flow is to create. It is not a matter of wanting to, not a singular act of will; one solely must.


Clarissa Pinkola Estes,
from Women Who Run with the Wolves



 

"In short, all good things in life are wild and free."  ~Thoreau