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My interest in the world of spirituality and the esoteric reached its height at a time when such subjects were considered strange. I was nineteen and I worked in an office at a clerical job yet it was an exciting time in my life. One of my co-workers, Mike, was an avid reader and his interests were in books of an esoteric nature. He introduced me to books by writers like Ouspensky, Gurdjieff, Alan Watts, Aldous Huxley, Herman Hesse, Edgar Cayce, Alice Bailey, Ram Dass and a host of others of that particular genre. That was in the early seventies, the post flower-children generation, when interest in spirituality was a passing fad; cool because the Beatles had gone to India and met a Guru. I knew a few people like Mike who were fascinated and read a lot. The extent of their interest though, played on the surface, an intellectual inquiry. Still I felt like I had some common ground with this group whereas when I would share the fascinating stuff I was learning with my other friends the reaction was either disinterest or ridicule. Today, the subjects of yoga, mysticism and the occult are mainstream and acceptable.
What is the pivotal reason behind this general interest in such subjects as astrology, mythology, mysticism, healing arts, Yoga, and Tai Chi? I believe that this interest is not a new phenomenon. It has always been there. There have been secret societies in the West and visits from Gurus from India as far back as the late nineteenth century. What is different now, is that there have been a lot more people who have gone deeper in their investigation by going to study with spiritual teachers. We are at a stage when a lot of these people are integrating the teachings into their lives. They are coming out of the closet to speak openly about their experiences and passing on wisdom so that others too can find answers for themselves.
When we dare to step off the treadmill of acceptable behaviour and follow our own inclinations, when we listen to our own soul’s whispers, we open a door that makes it possible for others who may be afraid to make change or do not know how. Back in the seventies, Mike used to joke with me and call me a hard core yogi. The hard core yogis were the ones who dared to go into the mysterious, dimly lit, incense perfumed room at the back of the yoga studio to sit and meditate. Most others just came and did their Hatha Yoga workout and had nothing to do with the other weird stuff at the back of the studio. I think it is people like myself who pushed the envelope, and made it possible for others today to be okay about openly talking about learning to meditate, vegetarianism and seeking answers as to what this life is truly about.
I read a brilliant passage in one of Robertson Davies novels, The Manticore, referring to the likes of Jung, Freud and Adler, giants in the world of psychology. The protagonist is getting advice about his indecision as to whether he should work on his own, or continue to go for analysis after a year of working with his doctor. His advisor said, “They dared heroically. And it should never be forgotten that they made the inward journey while they were working like galley-slaves at their daily tasks, considering other people’s troubles, raising families, living full lives. They were heroes, in a sense that no space-explorer can be a hero, because they went into the unknown absolutely alone. Was their heroism simply meant to raise a whole new crop of invalids? Why don’t you go home and shoulder your yoke, and be a hero too?”
This last part of the advice, “…go home and shoulder your yoke, and be a hero too,” is what so many spiritual seekers of the last few decades are doing with their lives now. They are living their truths after their years of studying, hanging out with spiritual teachers, attending seminars and encounter groups. They have opened a door, showing others that they too can follow their lead, bring greater meaning to their lives and come to know the truth of this existence. They have made it easier for a new generation of seekers, having taken the risks of being outcasts in a society that looked upon such passions in esoteric studies as foolish, insane or strange. They have taken the hero’s journey, the spiritual healing journey and are continuing on the path to freedom, but now with a lot more kindred souls on the road.
{ 10 comments… read them below or add one }
My dear and beautiful friend,
You are indeed a pioneer of spirit, an envelope pusher, a leader…. Your peace is powerful, touching the lives of all those whom you meet…
I’m honoured and blessed to call you my friend,
Thank you for the gracious love and tender light you give the world,
You make things better for us all,
Deep love,
Maithri
My dear brother Maithri,
You are too kind! That which you see in me is the reflection of your own pioneer spirit, you who bring so much light and laughter to all of us .
I am honored to walk this path with you. I learn so much from you, from your playfulness, your generosity, your kindness and inspiration.
I am so grateful for the love you bring here, your beautiful presence and gentle spirit.
May you always bask in the deep stillness and soft light!
Great topic! I think we are living in a time of radical changes. The big trend in mainstream society now is environmentalism. With the economic scares, people are looking for more. I think it is a natural progression to become aware of how we treat the earth – to how we treat our spiritual selves.
It is people like us who have to lead the way in a genuine path towards peace, love and understanding. I am so grateful to have found this blog, and I’m sure many others will be glad when they find it too.
It takes courage to be a pioneer. Nonetheless, we are each pioneers in our own way and we are consciously unaware of our true identity. It is a distraction to focus on or refer to what other people consider weird. In reality, this mirrors a facit of our own insecurity. At the core, we love ourselves and one another unconditionally. We are tolerant and understanding and honest about how we think and feel. Yet as people create layers of illusion, some of the truth gets lost. Luckily, this physical world permits us the tools to work back to the core of it all. We are each coming full circle. All roads lead back to Rome or home. To discover that we never left is one of the biggest revelations ever.
Hello Nicole,
Indeed we are intrinsically connected to the earth, whatever hurts the environment hurts us.
The more people become conscious of the sacredness of all life now, the more the likelihood that your children and grandchildren will inherit a beautiful world.
Yes, it behooves each one of us to take ownership of the legacy we want to leave the future generations. To participate fully in this, we have to know ourselves. When we know ourselves, we can make healthy choices that will benefit the good of all.
Thanks for your eloquent words and your kind comment!
Deep peace to you my friend!
Hello Liara,
These are true words, “At the core, we love ourselves and one another unconditionally. We are tolerant and understanding and honest about how we think and feel.”
Happily the scales are tipping where more people are seeking to come home to themselves, though you wouldn’t know it if you paid attention to what the media focuses on.
Thanks for your wise input. Always a pleasure to hear your beautiful words.
Love and light to you dear Liara!
I kept my beliefs hidden for many years. In the small town where I lived, even yoga was considered suspect.
And then life crises appeared, over and over. Keeping my beliefs hidden did not seem to matter anymore…the only way I could deal with these crises was to become open about how I felt. Lo and behold…others became more open about their beliefs, which they had not allowed to surface, as they saw how I healed, using my belief system.
Thanks for an excellent post, Miruh!
Thanks for sharing such a great passage. Yes we must throw off our yokes and dare to “be”!
Hello Marion,
It’s a pleasure to see you here my friend!
Yes, crises make us authentic. When we can speak our truth, only then can we be truly open to healing. Body, mind and spirit must be in sync so that our energies can flow freely and harmoniously. When we are authentic, we allow others to be also.
Sending you a rain of blessings for health and happiness!
Hello Mark,
I love that quote, there is so much power and truth in it. We can hang out with teachers forever but only we can free ourselves. only we can, “Know thyself!”
May you bask in the light of your own knowingness and love.
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