Spiritual worlds coming together

[Leila Raven]

I firmly believe, that if there is to be some semblance of peace and harmony and global well being on this planet, that we must come to a place of mutual acceptance, respect, and ideally perhaps even love. What would a world of people with unconditional positive regard for one another be like?

When I created this site, I wanted to create that foundation of 'brother-hood' 'sister-hood', forget the gender lines, I wanted to create a basis for spiritual family. Why, because I believe we already are spiritual family. We already are extensions and connections and relatives of each other. What we have done is turned our back on that and our awareness away from it. 

All too often I come across passionately spiritual people, who are lost in the isolation of their path. We have a natural tendency to come together with people who are like us, and that's wonderful. That's a good instinct to forming harmonious relationships. The trouble with that is, often we start to fear what we don't know, and those different from us become increasingly unknown.

I have over my lifetime, been a spiritual seeker, and more importantly, a lover of people. I have been blessed to make close friends from an early age on with people with knowledge in many different spiritual paths. I have had close friends that I love dearly who identify as various forms of pagan, wiccan, buddhist, taoist, satanist, vampire, christian, jewish, shaman, lightworker, etc. What I have found is that good people, who care about others, who are deeply spiritual are found in all paths.

I've also found that there are massive stereotypes present in some circles of faith toward other circles of faith. Often there is a lot of fear, and/or hate, or anger, toward different labels. There are massive assumptions and misunderstandings. However, what these people don't realize is how similar they are, how at the core they often want the same things. They want a better world, they want freedom, they want happiness, and they all believe they are doing the right thing.

When studying anthropology we are taught to try to look at a culture through their eyes as much as possible, instead of our own ethno-centric perspective. This is challenging to do. However much can be learned if we set aside our own ideas and biases and really try to listen to what is going on inside of the other person.

I've run into a few people already expressing sentiments of bias toward this site because it includes people they don't feel should be included. I will tell you now, everyone belongs here.

Not just here on this site, but here in this world.

The sooner we accept what is, with gratitude and appreciation, the sooner the world evolves spiritually. We start with accepting one another, with gratitude and appreciation. Not with fear, and hate. We don't have to believe the same to respect one another.

We all use different metaphors to navigate the divine. We may have radically different paradigms. However at the core we are all just the same, beautiful souls, experiencing a life in body, in a superficial material world.

I encourage everyone here to stretch a little from sites and situations of a spiritual nature they may have had before. Yes, start and join groups that are from your tradition and focus, if you have one, and share your knowledge and your interests there. However, take time to explore other areas, particularly areas you may have negative assumptions about and challenge your own assumptions.

What I see a lot of on sites where conflicts and drama develop are people challenging and questioning other peoples beliefs and ideas. Which is only so helpful. You see, we have plenty of that, maybe even too much of that already going on in the world. Besides since you can't change anyone else, only yourself, challenging other peoples beliefs only goes so far. Now challenging your own, that's where real growth occurs.

We need to break free of divisional dualistic ideas, of faiths that are right versus wrong, left versus right, high versus low, dark versus light, etc. When you really break it down and look at what is happening at the core, we are sharing similar experiences, and have similar wants, needs, questions, ideals, etc. Even in our differences we are similar. For that is the paradox, that we are each completely unique and independent, yet we are all of the same stuff and interdependent. Even if we do meet someone that we feel is our polar opposite, that we feel we cannot 'accept', perhaps we can accept that a divine infinite universe knows better than us, and has created that diversity and opposition for a reason beyond our finite comprehension.

I'm speaking of faith. Faith in people. Faith that what is is what is meant to be, and that surrendering to the reality of the now, is the only way to engage in co-creating what is to be. You cannot change what you cannot acknowledge.

Move into divine peace and acceptance of your human/spiritual family, we are all facets of divine creation. Some facets may sparkle, others may be in shadow, but together we form the jewel of humanity. There are no superior people, souls, or faiths. There are as many paths, as there are people.

See past the metaphors of language, and symbols, terms, and belief systems as a whole, to the common experiences within. To what someone is saying on a soul level. Bring compassion, and optimism, and not fear or anger. Many of us have good reason to have fear or anger around people of other belief systems. We may have been attacked in the past. We may have been misunderstood or judged. No one wants to be feared, dis-respected, dis-liked, judged, seen as evil or inferior. However we have the power to change that. We can't change other people doing it, no, but we can do our best to look honestly for any evidence of it in ourselves. Stop our justification of it (they started it isn't helpful really) and work at changing our own prejudices.

With love, and compassion, challenge yourself, to greater acceptance and understanding of one another.

I have been really impressed with the calibre of our members and we have had no conflicts arise that I know of so far. I'm hoping this place continues to foster a sense of sanctuary for spiritual seekers from all walks of life.

 

[Leila Raven]

Thanks all for great comments and feedback, sorry to have not responded individually. I have been delightfully busy with the site and out stalking out new members on twitter, etc. Looking for people like you guys with great energy, passion, and unique spirituality. Thanks so much for helping me co-create this space. :)