Dr. Janice Lundy
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The Making of a Spiritual Life

The Making of a Spiritual Life - An Introduction

8/6/2021

8 Comments

 
Dear Friends, 
As you may or may not know, my spiritual memoir, Your Truest Self, was published in 2008 by Sorin Books. Over the years, many people have asked me, 'Will there be a Part II?' 'What's happened to you spiritually since 2008?' The answer to these questions could fill the pages of a lengthy book. For now, I'm content to begin the process of offering some answers here, while also creating a space for you to share your unfolding spiritual journey. 

The spiritual journey is not a static one. If we're listening deeply and being guided by the still small voice within, and/or "the god of our understanding," our journey will be vibrantly alive, ever changing to meet life's challenges. If authentic, it will deepen us as human beings and open us to Mystery. 

Many people today report feeling dissatisfied with their religious institutions and how they have been operating over the years. As a result, some are looking elsewhere, seeking out organizations or communities that "walk their talk"; feel more inclusive and ethical. Additionally, a large percentage of today's seekers have not been raised within a specific religious tradition at all, while others hail from multiply religious (interfaith) families. We are learning that there are a myriad of ways to experience the Sacred. No one path fits all. 

The Pew Foundation, which has been surveying the religious and spiritual lives of people in the U.S. for many years, has validated this, documenting how more individuals than ever are choosing to step outside traditional churches, temples and mosques to experience the Divine on their own terms. Over 50% of millennials, for example, claim to be religiously unaffiliated. However, as I have come to know, this doesn't mean they are not drawn to the spiritual journey, for many certainly are. 

If you are one of an increasing number of individuals worldwide who are drawn to an expanded spirituality, meeting the Sacred on your own terms, this space might be for you. If you are someone who still has your feet and heart planted in a religious tradition, but find yourself open to the teachings of other traditions, you too are welcome here. And if by circumstance you are someone who isn't sure where you are, or what to believe, who or what to include in your devotional practice, I hope this space will be an oasis of new understandings for you.  

I have come to believe that all genuine (wisdom and compassion-based) paths can lead to God*, IF we allow ourselves to be transformed by the path.  My own path is no exception. I have written about this HERE and invite you to see if there is something in my story that resonates with your own spiritual unfolding.

What I hope to share in this space are topics brought forth in the article, as well as threads of inquiry like these:

How do we walk a spiritual path with authenticity today? How do we craft a spiritual life that is rich, deep, and meaningful? How do we know what is right and true for us? How do we give ourselves permission to live the truth of what we find and not fear what others might think, say or do? What can we uniquely devote ourselves to spiritually so we can be of service in the world?

Let the conversation begin and our stories unfold. I thank you for your entrustment reading and commenting** here. I look forward to this journey with you. Namaste', my friend, from the depths of my heart. Truly. 

With metta, 
Jan

* I use the term, the "Sacred," to denote our inter-cultural/interspiritual understanding of ultimate reality, God, presence, the All, Spirit, Brahman, Essence, etc. This encompasses, in my view, any term each of us might use to describe our knowing of a transcendent experience of life and true self. We each must find our unique way of understanding and living into this.

**To maintain a safe and compassionate space, all comments will be approved before posted. 
8 Comments
Linda K Lyzenga
8/8/2021 10:48:48 am

Thank you, Jan, for this tender sharing & generous invitation laid out here.

Reply
Jan
8/9/2021 06:06:02 pm

You are most welcome, Linda, I am glad you are open to it and might join in the conversation. Peace to you!

Reply
Maryse
8/8/2021 11:54:19 am

How wonderful to see/read this, dear Jan.
The question you ask is at the core of the space I’m in at the moment. What is the path for those with whom the religious language doesn’t resonate? How do we honor our inner voice in a world that strives to silence it?
I look forward to discovering your writings. Thank you!

Reply
Jan link
8/9/2021 06:09:44 pm

Hello Maryse, thank you for chiming in and sharing a bit about where you find yourself right now. The path you speak of is a solitary path where one must adopt or craft unique language to put words to one's experience of the sacred. And is even that word too religious for you? I am curious what words do resonate for you personally and are those words enough? Can you live into them with courage? Sometimes when we do we give others permission to do the same and then a type of community is born.

Thanks so much for your early contribution here. I look forward to ongoing conversation.

Reply
Kaveri link
8/8/2021 12:33:34 pm

Jan, thank you for creating this sacred space, for the invitation to explore and find what spirituality means to each of us, regardless of identifying factors (race, religion, class, ability, education, economic level, gender/sexual identity, etc.). It’s time to offer, listen, appreciate, and create a wider space, sense of what the embodiment of integrity looks/feels like.

I grew up in the Hindu tradition attending Christian schools. As an adult, I was exposed to Sufi poetry, indigenous and nature-based teachings, and resonate strongly with Buddhist philosophy. In conversation with others, I find it more important to honor the embodiment of kind ways of living/being than defining what is right and wrong.

If you have found a path that resonates with your heart-body-mind, a group of folks who share your inspiration and provide safe space for loving connections, it’s soul medicine and such a rich blessing. When my heart is full, I am more likely to speak and act with integrity. When it is feeling threatened, depleted, alone, I am more likely to cause harm.

Reply
Jan
8/9/2021 06:14:48 pm

Hello dear Kaveri,
I appreciate your expressions here. As I learn a bit about your story it seems as if it is truly a broad one—one that embraces the perennial philosophy—as Aldous Huxley called it—inter spirituality, as Wayne Teasdale framed it. A tapestry where we can honor each person's uniqueness as they are, yet not separate ourselves out from them. I am glad to know that you are called to enjoin and embrace others as they are, experiencing their unique walks in life, including their spiritual persuasions. This is so healing for everyone, including ourselves.

Reply
Sharon Handy
8/9/2021 06:28:55 pm

Thank you for such a generous offering , dear Jan! As you know, I am folding parts of many religions into my path while remaining a member of a Christian church. I am comfortable with the term "seeker " for my spiritual path, as it seems I am continuously seeking a closer relationship with the sacred. One challenge I think about is discerning when to let go of an established practice, or allow it to alter as what is more deeply meaningful to me seems to shift. (There are just not enough hours in a day to continue with all the practices which I have found meaningful at some point. But one also does not want to skip shallowly from flower to flower and miss the depth of sticking with something for decades.)

Reply
Jan
8/10/2021 05:46:20 pm

Dear Sharon, thanks for sharing your voice here. I do admire how you "fold in" the parts of various traditions and yet remain true to your root religion of Christianity. You ask a wonderful question about how do we know when to shift a practice or stick with it. This question has been up for debate for eons. I will offer these points to ponder:

1. When we tire of a practice or it just doesn't feel meaningful anymore, can this be ego diverting us from the benefits of sustained practice or, 2.) Is it just that our mind ("personality") gets bored and is always looking for something new, fresh and exciting?

Only you can answer these questions.

On the other hand, there can be benefit in expanding a practice or stepping into a variation for it captures our flagging energy and infuses us with enthusiasm.

And then there is the fact that spiritual practice is also known as "spiritual discipline" because it does required discipline to stick with something for a long time. Sticking with a practice allows us to go deep and receive lasting benefits.

What I like to remember is that none of this is written in stone. There are many forms of prayer and meditation. There are many forms of spiritual practice in general. How compassionate can we be towards ourselves as we listen to all the voices within (supportive and non-supportive) to find our way?

For me, the ideal spiritual practice is one that offers breadth and depth. You? Go wide and deep.

One of the dangers we can run into with all of this a sense of spiritual striving. I will write more about this soon on the blog! When is enough enough?

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Dr. Janice Lynne Lundy (PsyD, DMin, MPC)
is The Gerald May Professor of Spiritual Direction & Counseling at the Graduate Theological Foundation. She is an  interspiritual director/mentor, educator and counselor who has been pointing people back toward the Sacred for nearly thirty years. 

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  • Home
  • About
    • About Jan Lundy
    • Speaking
    • Events
  • Spiritual Direction
    • Spiritual Direction with Jan
    • Group Spiritual Direction
    • Supervision
    • Testimonials
    • Spiritual Guidance Training Institute
  • Counseling Services
    • Grief Support
  • Pure Presence
    • Pure Presence Practitioner Training
    • Presence Blog
  • Writings
  • Resources
    • Courses
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    • You Tube
  • This Sacred Moment
  • Gentle Reminders
  • Subscribe
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