My Editor’s Picks from Recent Stories in the Spirituality Tag
Plus links to previous stories of mine that featured the works of other writers, and now updated with future links
I intend to 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. IIP does not view itself as being in competition with other publications and Dr Mehmet Yildiz and I believe very strongly in cross-pollination. Thus, in the past, I have featured the stories of writers for our readers regardless of the publication in which they housed them, and I link to several of those features below, and I shall continue that practice.
I shall start this story with several stories published in ILLUMINATION from the past couple of months that the writers tagged with “Spirituality” that I deem worthy of more attention.
First, I note:
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.
Now for the recent stories to which I would like to call attention.
I have enjoyed watching Camille Grady’s growth, both as a writer and spiritually. In her recent piece she writes:
Not knowing things about myself stopped being something I feared and started to become an opportunity for exploration. And the universe only revealed its secrets and mine in small doses.
Tempting me to seek more.
I hope this snippet tempts you to read the rest of this short piece in which Cammie baked a shit ton of spiritual wisdom:
I first encountered Frank Ontario via his frequent contributions to Diana C.’s wonderfully spiritual publication, Know Thyself, Heal Thyself. In his recent post to Illumination, he writes about his widely varied methods of being a healing practitioner.
I strongly believe that people should pursue contentment, not happiness. I have written:
I seek contentment, which is not settling but a hopefully high-altitude baseline, coming from within and connection to without. It doesn’t stem from the acquisition of attachments but awareness of connection to the world and the universe as a living, breathing, and heart-beating organism and from alignment of mind and soul and discerning my why — my drive — from discovering who I am at my core. https://readmedium.com/oft-covered-topic-of-happiness-has-never-been-essayed-as-fabulously-simply-as-will-buckingham-just-ef9ef1dee54d
Lately, I have discovered a few writers who get this. For example, Shaheen Sultana wrote recently:
It seems like there is a very fine line between contentment and complacency but the two states are completely different. Contentment is being satisfied with what you have but not with who you are. It is being grateful for all that you have been given while striving to improve and grow as a person.
Read the full story here:
Yvette Brand wrote this very impressive article on the topic last month in another publication:
As did a wonderfully spiritual writer, Libby Shively McAvoy, who is relatively new to Medium in this post of hers I found in Illumination in late July:
There is no more misunderstood spiritual topic among westerners than karma. It does not mean what goes around comes around. Even western writers who almost get its true meaning, miss that it boils down to intent. Recently, I read the most complete essay on karma here in Illumination. I urge you to read this masterpiece by Infinitians:
The writer of this next story, DrRodriX, did not tag it with Spirituality but should have. The story is about the dearth of critical thinking today and the detrimental effect of that upon individuals and society. I often quote this passage by Neale Donald Walsch:
Religion cannot stand Spirituality. It cannot abide it. For Spirituality may bring you to a different conclusion than a particular religion — and this no known religion can tolerate. Religion encourages you to explore the thoughts of others and accept them as your own. Spirituality invites you to toss away the thoughts of others and come up with your own.
That thought aligns very well with DrRodriX’s story:
Links to Subsequent Features
https://readmedium.com/shining-the-illuminating-light-of-spirituality-on-the-mirror-f1a59df411fd
https://readmedium.com/editors-picks-illuminating-spirituality-c2734bfd7ed6
Earlier Features / Collections
Here I featured the works of several writers, including Joseph Lieungh, Jean Carfantan, Esther George and others:
The writer I featured in this collection blocked me so I can’t tag him — I don’t hold a grudge — I still love you Timmy.
One of the finest writers on Medium is Ravyne Hawke, who just returned to Medium from a hiatus. I featured her works here in January:
Here I featured the poetry of Daniel A. Teo:
This next piece featured Reverie, along with Markus Scorelius, Esther George, Kim Petersen and others:
That’s enough old stories for now.
In Rama I create, with soul-energy surging through my body, inspiring me and breathing wind into my sails,