Spiritual Rebel
Page 18
It’s not always easy. Life on this planet inherently includes loss, and our paths to deeper perspective and higher purpose may include missteps, trips, falls, and a few bruises. Our spiritual moments can provide a return to balance during those times, provide a better model that makes a life of stress obsolete. I like to call mine insteads. Instead of getting drunk after a tough day, I take a trek into the forest. Instead of losing my shit, I meditate. Instead of a wild shopping spree when I’m feeling less-than, I grab a book and hit some Lectio Divina. Instead of spouting anger at someone on my social feeds, I call a friend to unload. Instead of obsessing about the past or fixating on the future, I can be here now.
Your spiritual journey is likely different from mine. And different from the journeys of everyone you know. We may use different language, engage in different spiritual practices, and hang out in different communities. Yet we are also similar: travelers who are seeking on mystery-filled paths to connect to that Godish thing—by whatever words each of us chooses. On this journey, we must not only tolerate each other and “coexist” but also reach out to each other with curiosity. Because our spirituality is most powerful when we are living life connected to each other.
Yes, the Obi-wan of my youth was right: A force flows through us. If we tap it, we can see each other perfectly: We are spiritual rebels and rebellious saints.
Always pass on
what you have learned.
YODA
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Reflections & Ahas
Reflections & Ahas
Chock full of reflections?
Print your own Reflections & Ahas Journal
at spiritual-rebel.com/journal
Pointer words for sacred pondering
* * *
The sacred can show up in infinite forms, including the formless, and through plentiful guides. Below are just a few pointer words to consider:
That Which Makes Trees The Force Harold
The Whole Energy Life Force
Peace The Creator The Something Else
The Hidden Consciousness The Way
Higher Power Tao Universal Spirit
The Timeless The Knowing The One Mind
Great Mystery Cosmic Consciousness The Light
The Universe The All Divine Nature
The Life Factor The Divine All-Providing One
The Unknowable The Tao The Relational Energy Field
Wakan Tanka The Source Beloved
The All-Pervading The Invisible Satnam
Adonai Higher Force Goddess
Existence Being Supreme Intelligence
Abba Baba Great Spirit
The Uncreated The Eternal Supreme Being
The Unlimited Soul Supreme The Absolute
The Shekinah Divine Presence Infinite Intelligence
Brahman The Witness Soul Supreme
The Immortal Granter of Strength Lord of the Earth
Ultimate Ground of Being Sacred Spirit Grandfather
Isha The Kami Grandmother
Spirit in the Sky Shàngdì Father
Ehyeh Elyon Hu
Bahá All Glorious Ishwar
Shiva Vishnu Shakti
Timeless One Formless One Waheguru
Hari Parvardigar Heavenly Host
Invisible Creator The Eternally Awake Divine Creator
Alpha & Omega All Sufficient Author of Life
El Shaddai The Foundation Godhead
Holy Spirit I AM Kurios
Logos The Word Great Shepherd
The First Cause Higher Mind First Living Thing
Great High Priest Righteous One Sophia
The Unborn One The One and Only Shen
Higher Consiousness The Highest Mind The Universal Creative Mind
The Self-Knowing One The Conscious Universe Self-Knowing Mind of God
Universal Soul The One Power Unitary Whole
The Omnipresent Ultimate Spirit Olorun
The Blessed The Truthful Maheswara
Mother Goddess Buddha Timeless Being
Highest Power Cao Đài Ancient Immortal
My Refuge Kyrios The Firstborn
Great Creator Spirit HaShem
Krishna The Everlasting The Unconditioned
Jehovah King of Kings Lord of Lords
Allah Eternal Source The Deity
’ilāhah Elohim Yaweh/YHWH
Oludumare Nonlocal Awareness Presence
Infinite Void Unity Consciousness [x]
Mother Father God Sovereign One The One
Bringer of Blessings Breathmaker Earthmaker
Mother Earth Divine Light Heavenly Mother
Abdullah The Compassionate One Living One
Ababinili God Androgynous One
Huwa All Powerful Ahura Mazda
Dieu Dios The Creator
Author of Peace Heavenly Father One of Wisdom
Baha The Immense The Mediator
Theos Holy One The Only
The Divine Soul of the Universe Ultimate Source
Christ Consciousness Nondual Realization Jesus
Christ Mary Beauty
The Still, Small Voice Creative Source Divine Flow
Unitive Consciousness Divine Spark Love
The Void The Maker The All Aware
The Name That Is Beyond Human Knowing
Sacred shout-outs
* * *
Sean. I adore you. Thanks for monitoring my kite string.
Amy. I love you. And am (still) so sorry about the Putt-Putt pencil.
Fluff Riot. είσαστε καταπληκτικοί.
The Frog Coyotes of One Spirit Interfaith Seminary. What an amazing caravan of spiritual rebels! I continue to be inspired by each and every one of you. Everything is (always) holy now.
Monkfish Book Publishing Company. Mere words cannot convey my gratitude to Paul Cohen and my editor Susan Piperato for their brilliant guidance, willingness to cocreate, gentle critiques, ability to polish my hypomanic meandering prose, and for unknowingly manifesting Unifred. Force-full thanks to Colin Rolfe for his stunning and playful book design. Kudos to Dory Mayo and her keen eyes for helping the words show up as perfectly as humanly possible.
The Roxbury. Some writers have cabins or writer’s retreats. This rebellious writer is most comfortable (and creative) in the silent, shimmering, sugar-filled sanctuary of the Roxbury Motel. When I arrived to start this book, I received a surprise upgrade to the Angel Hair room. No, not that kind of angel. The glamorous kind that wields an awesome karate punch, a flair for fashion, and a keen sense of crime solving. How auspicious to start this book amongst the kick-ass rebellious women of my childhood. (Plan your trip at theroxburymotel.com.)
The Rose Reading Room at the New York Public Library. Imagine the Sistine Chapel’s ceiling. Remove Michelangelo’s famous depiction of God and Adam, leaving the entire ceiling full of clouds framed by exquisite layers of complex molding. Fill the room with books and long wooden tables. Now invite anyone who wants to come in—as long as they observe silence. You could say the resulting sacred space might be perfect for writing a book on spirituality. And you’d be right. #librariesrule
And for my father, who art in heaven.*
* No, Harold was not his name. Richard was. Because of his love, grace, and ability to withstand my ridiculous (and likely embarrassing) antics, I survived my teens. Through his death, I found my life.
Really recommended reading
* * *
In a world of over 7.7 billion people, 130 million books, and 1.8 billion websites (and growing) there is seemingly no end to the resources available for our spiritual journeys. Here are some of my curated favorites.
PURPOSEFUL BOOKS
The Mystic Heart: Discovering a Universal Spirituality in the World’s Religions by Wayne Teasdale
Mindful Paths: Steps Towards a Living Spirituality by Constance McClain and James Walker
The Ten Challenges: Spiritual Lessons from the Ten Commandments for Creating Meaning, Growth, and Richness Every Day of Your Life by Leonard Felder
Twelve Steps to a Compassionate Life by Karen Armstrong
The Art of Happiness at Work by His Holiness the Dalai Lama and Howard C. Cutler, M.D.
Ethics for the Real World: Creating a Personal Code to Guide Decisions in Work and Life by Ronald A. Howard and Clinton D. Korver
Good Citizens: Creating Enlightened Society by Thich Nhat Hanh
The Book of Forgiving: The Fourfold Path for Healing Ourselves and Our World by Desmond Tutu and Mpho Tutu
The Life You Can Save: How to Do Your Part to End World Poverty by Peter Singer
A Plea for the Animals: The Moral, Philosophical, and Evolutionary Imperative to Treat All Beings with Compassion by Matthieu Ricard
GreenFaith: Mobilizing God’s People to Save the Earth by Fletcher Harper
INSPIRING WEBSITES
Charter for Compassion: charterforcompassion.org
Unity Earth: unity.earth
The Fetzer Institute: fetzer.org
Parliament of the World’s Religions: parliamentofreligions.org
Spirituality & Health: spiritualityhealth.com
Parabola: parabola.org
Lion’s Roar: lionsroar.com
The Christian Century: christiancentury.org
Tikkun: tikkun.org
The Chopra Center: chopra.com
One Spirit Interfaith Seminary: onespiritinterfaith.org
Omega Institute for Holistic Studies: eomega.org
Kripalu Center for Yoga & Health: kripalu.org
THOUGHT-PROVOKING PODCASTS
On Being: onbeing.org
BBC Heart and Soul: bbc.co.uk/programmes
Harry Potter & The Sacred Text: harrypottersacredtext.com
Tarot for the Wild Soul: lindsaymack.com/podcast
Beneath the Surface: rabbibortz.com/podcast
Chai & Chat: krishnadas.com/category/podcasts
The Liturgists: theliturgists.com/the-liturgists-podcast
The RobCast: robbell.com/portfolio/robcast
REMARKABLE RECOVERY RESOURCES
Sober Curious: The Blissful Sleep, Greater Focus, Limitless Presence, and Deep Connection Awaiting Us All on the Other Side of Alcohol by Ruby Warrington
Breathing Under Water: Spirituality and the Twelve Steps by Richard Rohr
The 12-Step Buddhist: Enhance Recovery from Any Addiction by Darren Littlejohn
Recovery—The Sacred Art: The Twelve Steps as Spiritual Practice (The Art of Spiritual Living) by Rabbi Rami Shapiro and Joan Borysenko Ph.D.
From Survival to Recovery: Growing Up in an Alcoholic Home by Al-Anon Family Groups
Dry: A Memoir by Augusten Burroughs
Wishful Drinking by Carrie Fisher
Lit: A Memoir (P.S.) by Mary Karr
The Dark Side of The Light Chasers by Debbie Ford
…plus a robust list of websites at spiritual-rebel.com/recovery
Sarah Bowen is a multifaith spiritual educator and speaker, and an aspiring Jedi.
As a member of One Spirit Interfaith Seminary’s faculty, Spiritual Directors International, and several recovery communities, she seeks to help others connect with the higher power of their own understanding. Passionate about the world’s great faith traditions, Sarah is a graduate of One Spirit and has studied at Chicago Theological Seminary, Emerson Theological Institute, Chopra Center, and Omega Institute. She is especially interested in the intersection of animal welfare and spiritual values. A fierce advocate for all creatures, Sarah currently serves as an animal chaplain.
Before starting her spiritual journey, Sarah spent a few decades as a designer and brand strategist in New York City. Her first book, Void If Detached: Seeking Modern Spirituality Through My Father’s Old Sermons (Epigraph Publishing, 2017), has received several awards.
Sarah splits her time between New York City’s Hell’s Kitchen and the Hudson Valley, where she lives with her artist husband Sean Bowen, two rebellious black cats named Deacon and Buba-ji, Picasso the rescued goldfish, Max the squirrel, and a backyard full of yet-to-be-named critters.
Connect at thisissarahbowen.com
or follow her on Instagram @modernreverend