On spirituality, religion, and art
β-β-β-β-β-β-β- β-β-β-β-β- The truth is, it's hard to talk
β-β-β-β-β- β- β-β-β-β-β- about, so take everything that
β-β-β-β-- β- β-β- β- follows with a grain of salt. Some
β-β-β-β- β- β-β- β- of it is a bit tongue-in-cheek,
β-β-β-β-β- β- β-β-β-β-β- intentionally, because it's really
β-β-β-β-β-β-β- β-β-β-β-β-h wow, the big impossible to write with accuracy
ones huh,.. What is he going about it anyway. Even when trying
to talk about next?! Politics?! to describe my own views, and
ha! I'll spare you all from attaching all the caveats I can
that :) Honestly, I've both think of, I might feel differently
been wanting to write about about it 5 minutes later.
this, and dreading it. As I
hinted in my previous phlog I am not a good writer, so why
post about communication, one bother? Well, for one it's a good
easily falls into the realm of exercise in trying to express
watering down the essence with myself. And secondly, it's quite
meaningless words when it comes difficult to make any sort of
to these things. meaningful deep connection with
any one without talking about at
β-β-β-β-β-β-β-β-β-β-β- least some of it.
β-β-β-β-β-β-β-β-β-β-β-
β-β-β-β- β-β-
β-β-β-
β-β-β-β- β-β- β-β- ββΌββΎβ
β-β-β-β- β-β- β-β-
β-β-β-β- β-β- β-β- But I'm getting ahead of myself,
β-β-
β-β-β-β-β-β-β-β-β-aaaanyway........... because in order for me to be able
As someone in the tech field, to talk about any of this, I have
I interact with many a person to talk about what Spirituality
that is extremely dismissive actually means to me.
about these subjects, which is I'm going to omit all the
understandable, given that super obvious stuff, like how
there truly is so much BS out Spirituality is not spiritism, and
there when it comes to this what not and assume at least SOME
stuff. But I also find that it familiarity/dabbling/whatever as I
is a little bit intellectually attempt to explain my experiences
lazy to be so dismissive and and views in this particular
not attempt to understand the snapshot of time. Let's start with
value in all this. trying to define Spirituality to
The way I see things, begin with:
Spirituality does not imply any
beliefs what-so-ever, and
therefore is not at odds with
any scientific principles.
β- "Spirituality is to become a better person" β-
β- β-
β- But wait, that definition is flawed, isn't β-
β- it? What does "better" even mean? The word β-
β- implies human judgement, and it is therefor β-
β- a worldly, corrupted, concept, surely not β-
β- a Spiritual one, so let's take it out of β-
β- or definition entirely and try again: β-
β- β-
β- "Spirituality is to be a person" β-
β- β-
β- Well, that's perhaps slightly β-
β- better, albeit suddenly very β-
β- generic. Also,... What even IS a β-
β- person? An ego? Well,... -crap- β-
β- If new-age-sk00l 101 has taught β-
β- us anything, it is that 'ego' β-
β- is a bad word. I kid, I kid, β-
β- it isn't; but let's take it β-
β- out anyway and try again: β-
β- β-
β- "Spirituality is to be" β-
Well maybe that gets closer. To the truth is, none of these
me, spirituality means "being", individual descriptions define
sort of. If "beingness" were Spirituality to me, in fact, some
like some sort of air we could of it is probably mostly BS :) but
inhale, and the more of it we what I'm trying to illustrate is
can inhale, the more we ARE. the process, the distillation of
But- We are all the time aren't all the individual bits to their
we? - Well, are we? - We're essence,- how we got from the
spending most of our time first phrase to the last, is
distracted with all sorts of perhaps even more so defining of
shit to the point where we're Spirituality than either separate
actually rarely 'in the moment' item on it's own. And I would also
... >being< ; intensely being; argue that the distillation of a
bringing all the ephemeral bits thought to it's most essential and
of being into a single moment, it's most abstract form is a
maybe that gets closer to what useful and important tool in my
Spirituality means to me, but- overall thought process and part
of how I tend to function in
β-β-β-β-β-β-β-β-β-β-β-β- general.
β-β-β-β-β-
β- β-β- β-β-
β-β-β-β-
β-β- β- β-β- ββΌββΎβ
β-β-β-β-β-β- β- β-β-
β-β-β-β-β-β- β-β- β-β- I'm on the fence on whether that's
β-β-β-β-β-β-β-β-β-β-β-β-f ever there was a important or not, or if it's just
spiritual practice that defines something that comes naturally
spirituality the most to me, it anyway the more you meditate, and
would be meditation. In fact, I therefore not something to worry
think that literally anything about all too much. Nevertheless,
else beyond it is just noise. there do seem to be many tangible
Forget all the words, all the skills in the mundane world that
philosophyzin', just meditation one could practice to improve
and what you get from it is manifesting your "beingness" - to
what counts and arguably very continue usage of the word I just
little else. Well, also pulled out of my rear earlier -
distilling what you get from Translating all the vibes into
meditation into something stuff like words/art/whatever,...
tangible in the real world. seems like an imporant part of the
process perhaps, if for anything,
to share with other humans. But,
as I had suggested in my previous
phlog post, the sharing with other
humans is where all the problems
start happening.
β-β-β-β-β-β-β-β-β-
β-β-β-β-β-β-β--β-β- ββΌββΎβ
β-β-β- β-β-β-
β-
β-β-β-β-β-β- β- The art connection
β-β-β-β-β-β-β- β-
β-β-β-β-
β-β-β-β-β-pirituality is very A perfect painting which looks
much a personal experience. exactly like a photograph tends to
It's yours. Nobody else can be less interesting than something
experience it in the same way which is less than perfect, in
you do. So communicating the ways, not only because the
experience is problematic from imperfections contain the artist's
the get-go. But there is some personality but also, and perhaps
overlap. And of course, any more importantly, because it
thing you communicate will be allows for interpretation on the
subject to interpretation, and viewer/listener/whatever's part.
thus transformation/corruption I also don't think it's a
etc,... It is for this reason coincidence, for this reason, that
that a lot of spiritual more than a few spiritual
traditions and religions tend traditions (especially, but not
to invent their own words to exclusively, Western ones) have
use, their own symbolism, had poets involved with their
iconography/liturgy/whatever... conception. One very obvious
which tends to be abstract and example that comes to mind would
mysterious enough to allow for be Victor Henry & Cora Anderson's
interpretation to happen, to Feri tradition, for example. Given
allow for a connection with the how religion and philosophyzin' is
personal spiritual experience, fraught with peril, as I will
but also at the same time, elaborate on below, I have
provide a common ground and personally been getting more bang
reference. This is actually a for my buck - so to speak, out of
very interesting thing that things like occult music/art of
also happens in art. late.
β-β-β-β-β-β-β-β-β-β-β-β- ββΌββΎβ
β-β-β-β-β-β- β-β-β-β-β-
β-β-β-β-β-β- β-β-β-β-β-
β-β-β-β-β-β- β-β-β-β-β- Danger!
β-β-β-β-β-β- β-β-β-β-β-
β-β-β-β-β-β-β-β-β-β-β-β-he personal As a student of Spirituality, a
connection made by abstract similar corruption can also happen
interpretation is a very within yourself, even without
powerful thing, and other people involved. It is oh so
interestingly, as many secular easy to start justifying your
anti-cult people have noted, vices and bad behaviors with the
step one employed in the random Spiritual theory-du-jour.
"brainwashing" done by sects As previously mentioned meditation
looking to lure in members for is energising, and as soon as the
exploitation, tends to be brains start feeding on that
establishing a lingo, or energy by forming words, it starts
redefine words; The explanation the corruption process! Stop it!
given in studies on the matter Bad. No! :) That's not to say that
is usually that redefining all Spiritual literature is
words is done to loosen the worthless; at the very least, it
subjects connection to reality. can be an amusing sharing between
But I also think that it people playing with the same stuff
creates a direct link to the - If you do however find guidance
subject's personal deepest in such literature, you kind-of
inner self, because of the have to remain aware that the
openness to interpretation it guidance you're getting is not
creates. Once you can speak to necessarily from the original text
someone in a way where they but rather your interpretation of
only hear the version of words it. I think these things are most
their subconsciousness latches effective if you take them for
on to, you have a very intimate what they are - a set of tools -
bond and a direct link; which rather than the ultimate, literal
makes it all the more vile that truth. (Although sometimes it is
this trust would be abused and useful to make yourself believe
exploited. Yet it happens all things to be true whilst at the
the time, and not only in same time being open to the
cults. It even happens when opposite, as there exists a real
there is a regular tool within the power of
teacher/student relationship in suggestion. - compartmentalization
""respectable"" religions, even is key here) ; if you are someone
when the teacher figure doesn't who does take things literally, I
have ill intentions. I do don't mean to offend, I'm just
believe humans aren't meant to sharing my own views and
have followers. It corrupts the experiences here, I'm not trying
ego, even with the best of to dictate what is and is not. I
intentions. do feel like lots of literature is
unfortunately abused, and actively
exploited by the power hungry to
β-β-β-β-β-β-β-β-β-β-β-β- steer the masses to do their
β-β-β-β-β-β- β-β-β-β-β- bidding.
β-β-β-β-β-β- β-β-β-β-β-
β-β-β-β-β-β- β-β-β-β-β- ββΌββΎβ
β-β-β-β-β-β- β-β-β-β-β-
β-β-β-β-β-β-β-β-β-β-β-β-o be fair, I've There is the potential for a
experienced some beautiful "beingness" amplification effect,
things when communicating with but it's rare, and more often than
others on Spiritual stuff, so not, when humans get together on
it's not all bad, and similar all this stuff it tends to go
to meditating, this too can be wrong. Anyway,... enough doom.
quite energising.
β-β-β-β-β-β-β- β-β-β-β-β- ββΌββΎβ
β-β-β-β-β- β- β-β-β-β-β-
β-β-β-β-- β- β-β- β- Highway to the subconscious
β-β-β-β- β- β-β- β-
β-β-β-β-β- β- β-β-β-β-β-
β-β-β-β-β-β-β- β-β-β-β-β-n to something We subconsciously attach meaning
somewhat practical. An to numbers or cards or whatever,
interesting thing is that you and so long as the given
see a lot of debunking of attributions are vague enough, the
fortune tellers and what not by mind will find a way to attach
sceptic groups, who then, in some sort of relevant meaning.
great delight act like as if Sound familiar? Because that's
they have just unmasked a exactly like the needed room for
villain. But again, this to me interpretation I was talking about
speaks to misunderstandings before. This isn't some great
that exists both sides of the unmasking but rather a description
fence. The number one argument of divination's greatest feature!
used against things like Tarot, It's a useful looking glass into
numerology and divination in our own subconscious. As such, I
general is actually quite believe, this can be a tool for
interesting, which is of course self analysis.
β-β-β-β-β-β-β-β-β-β-β-β-β-β-β- ββΌββΎβ
β-β-β- β-β-β-β- β-β-β- β-β-
β-β-β- β-β-β- β-β-β- β-β- On religion versus Spirituality
β-β-β- β-β-β- β-β-β- β-β-
β-β-β- β-β-β- β-β- β-β-
β-β-β- β-β- β-β-β- β-β-
β-β-β-
β-β-β-β-β-β-β-β-β-β-β-β-hile practicing β Lots of cultural context and
Spirituality is usually history.
(hopefully?) an aspect of
religion, practicing religion β A way to communicate about
isn't obviously necessarily a Spiritual concepts with unique
part of Spirituality. In fact, words/rituals/iconography etc.
the two can at times be quite
at odds with one another, the β A support system / some type of
way I see it, for the reasons institutional body and/or fellow
already explained above. But In human beings.
addition, Spirituality tends to
actually be a surprisingly tiny β Social and political functions.
part of religion, from what
I've observed. Religions tend That's a lot of stuff! Because I'm
to include: not particularly fond of hanging
around other humans too much, I
also tend to not be too much into
religions. I've dabbled and
studied a few of them a bit in an
attempt to extract the bits of
usable Spiritual tools within,
which often can be quite
interesting, but nothing ever
β-β-β-β-β-β-β-β-β-β-β-β-β-β-β- quite stuck,...
β-β-β- β-β-β-β- β-β-β- β-β-
β-β-β- β-β-β- β-β-β- β-β- ββΌββΎβ
β-β-β- β-β-β- β-β-β- β-β-
β-β-β- β-β-β- β-β- β-β- On blending
β-β-β- β-β- β-β-β- β-β-
β-β-β-
β-β-β-β-β-β-β-β-β-β-β-β-hile the views Western and eastern ideas merged.
and ideas I stated above are Merging of ideas like this has
hardly original or new, historically often been at the
religion has usually kind of birth of new religions and is
been more of a literal quite an interesting process of
experience historically. As it cultural blending and a great
was often taught with a "this study in tolerance and cooperation
way or the highway" kind of - I'm no theologist, but examples
attitude, and as such, the way such as Sufism, Sikhism, and also
I'm describing things is modern Western new-age and pagan
probably more the result of traditions come to mind where we
later views that developed when still see a lot of motion and
Transformation happen every day.
βββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββ
βββββββββββββββββββββββββ
In any event, I'm going to end it here, there's obviously a lot more
to be said about all of this and I could rant on forever, and I'm
sure I've said many a wrong thing... I mean... I can't even go back
and re-read all of it because every time I do, I want to not publish
this at all for how cringy it feels to read, hah. Thankfully not a
lot of people read my phlog anyway :) And even fewer will make it
through the whole thing, especially because I wrote it in a 2 column
format with lots of unicode art mixed in which will probably break
on most clients anyway. The irony in the fact that I warned against
writing about this in my previous post and now I wrote a small book
does not escape me :) But writing about this is for me was also part
of overcoming a fear of being wrong/judged/etc,... among other
things. It kind of reads like someone's rational mind trying to
justify, explain, quantize the irrational side or something, which
in the end, ends up doing injustice to both the rational and
magickal ways of thinking. Maybe 5 or 10 years from now I can go
back to this and read it again to laugh at myself. :)
βββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββ
βββββββββββββββββββββββββ
β-β-β-β-β-β-β-β-β-β-β-β-β-β-β-β-β-β-β-β-β-β-β-β-β-β-β-β-β-β-β-β-β-β-β-β-β-β-β-β-β-β-β
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β-
β- β-β-β-β-β-β-β-β-β-β-β-β-β-β-β-β-β-β-β-β-β-β-β-β-β-β-β-β-β-β-β-β-β-
β--
β-β-
β- β-β-β-β-β-β-β-β-β-β-β-β-β-β-β-β-β-β-β-β-β-β-β-β-β-β-β- β-β-
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β-β-β-β-β-β-β-β-β-β-β-β-β- β-β-β-β-β-β-β-β-β-β-β-β-β-β-β-β-β-β-β-β-β-β-β-β-β-β-
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