Editor’s Picks — Illuminating Spirituality
Featuring some of my favorite recent stories in the reader interest tag “spirituality” and a few that I would have so tagged
I shall feature, from time to time, on an irregular schedule, stories published in the various outlets of Illumination Integrated Publications tagged in Spirituality that I feel worthy of highlighting for our readers. So, without further ado and in no particular order…
Far too many new-age writers of spiritual BS condemn the ego and wish death to everyone's. Abi recognizes that we cannot survive without our egos.
“As you will soon come to learn, your ego isn’t bad. It isn’t something to restrain or discipline per se; rather, it is something to understand and embrace, as you will soon come to see.”
Kira Dawn writes raw and powerful poetry.
This one speaks of suicide with the aim of prevention.
This is also a cause I write about:
Yet under her rough exterior, Kira is also a big softy.
This is a dedication poem to all the friends I have made on Medium. They have supported me even when I have not been there to support them. It took all the tragedy to see the beauty that lies within the friendship of you and me. You were there the whole time. I was to self involved to recognize my crime. Too selfish. Too jaded. Found a new person inside of myself. Thanks to all of you I am transforming into somebody else.
Un-Traditional Mother writes about the painful but well worth it truths of undergoing a spiritual awakening.
“For the rest of us who were just minding our own business, and suddenly it feels like someone just took you to a desert road and dropped you off in the middle of nowhere… naked… welcome.
…
You will survive this, and for the most part, come out unscathed. Your world is changing. You will realize why the things you do have more meaning to you and why some of your favorite quotes or smells touch your heart. You will find explanations for many things on your journey, and when you are mainly through the process, you will be thankful for those answers.”
Everyone I know loves to play golf and everyone I know loves the movie The Legend of Bagger Vance. I don’t understand why this story has not received the love it deserves.
Dr. Alex Krejci writes:
“I believe our schools need to find more balance between teaching lower-case “k” “knowledge” that leads to jobs to teaching capital “K” Knowledge that leads to the wisdom to create a happier life and society.”
Alexander Kant does not tag his stories in spirituality but finding life lessons in difficult hikes, and in the very spiritual words of Marcus Aurelius, belong in this collection.
Last but not least, the usually deliciously enigmatic Joseph Lieungh graced us with this poem for which this time no decoder ring is required.
Here is the previous volume of my feature of other spiritual writers,
and here is my take on spirituality:
Be the best person you can be, with progress, not perfection….
When I use the term spiritual, I use it in a manner that transcends the binary of theism versus atheism. One can act entirely spiritual with or without a belief in “god” however one understands that term. Spirituality only requires love, empathy, compassion, humility, honesty and courage.
As I define spirituality, there is a flip side to the coin and all those positive feelings — accountability, both personally and holding others accountable for their words and deeds.
In Rama I create, with soul-energy surging through my body, inspiring me and breathing wind into my sails,
