Where do you turn when you feel stumped?

[and_it_spoke]

Spiritually speaking of course. When you feel like you've hit a wall, or you've treaded back in a circle to the same old wondering place, what do you turn to?

 

In the past, I've gone back to texts that have resonated with me (Tao Te Ching, Bhagavad Gita), shuffled through the tarot deck and let myself get lost in the art, grabbed on hard to a mantra and meditated.... Right now, none of those things are "clicking" so, I post this thread to hopefully find some inspiration. And if nothing else to allow others to share what they have found.

 

So, where DO you turn when you need to clear a spiritual clog?

[MuninnMissinHuginn]

I am wondering if you have a basic spiritual principle, or is the search for that is what has you stumped? What aspect of spiritual life is hitting the wall?

 

 

I ask to understand the question better, not make you explain your belief system.

Edited March 30, 2022 by MuninnMissinHuginn
Clarity

[and_it_spoke]

If it's anything, it's "be kind". Just trying to get through each day making things better if I can, not worse if I can avoid it. 

 

Other than that, it could be summed up by the trusty Unitarian-Universalist tenet of "a free and responsible search for truth and meaning".

[MuninnMissinHuginn]

Ahh, this I understand.  Unfortunately, I too, have this trouble.  Some of the Sufi ideas and my extremely poor understanding of physics have helped me in the past, but I am not a Sufi nor a physicist.  Sorry not to be of more help.  

[gregory]

Sounds a bit less than what y'all are doing - but - I listen to music till things stop revolving around the drain.

[BlueMoth]

1 hour ago, gregory said:

Sounds a bit less than what y'all are doing - but - I listen to music till things stop revolving around the drain.

Haha I support that too!

 

But personally, I go out and embrace a little bit of nature. Go for a short hike or walk in the woods to clear my head, and stop engaging with spiritual activities (tarot etc.) until I feel better I suppose.

[Eric13]

Music, outdoors and something really physical for me. I also study Zen and do my best to practice it. Secrets Of The blue Cliff Record is a great book if you like reading.  

[Wanderer]

Go back to Nature. Sometimes we just need to be away from people, and remember what the majority of the world is really about.

[and_it_spoke]

Fantastic thoughts and suggestions. You're all so brilliant. 🙂

 

 

[Decan]

23 hours ago, and_it_spoke said:

Spiritually speaking of course. When you feel like you've hit a wall, or you've treaded back in a circle to the same old wondering place, what do you turn to?

 

In the past, I've gone back to texts that have resonated with me (Tao Te Ching, Bhagavad Gita), shuffled through the tarot deck and let myself get lost in the art, grabbed on hard to a mantra and meditated.... Right now, none of those things are "clicking" so, I post this thread to hopefully find some inspiration. And if nothing else to allow others to share what they have found.

 

So, where DO you turn when you need to clear a spiritual clog?

I think I could have opened a thread like yours and asked exactly the same type of problem...

For me the problem is unfortunately recurrent and even today I am not sure I have solved this issue.

Feeling stuck, wanting to unblock the situation but it's kind of like you can't yourself and the confidence or faith may be lacking, the problem may be there too, and there may be reasons for it.

 

I would say it can be important to recognize what you feel. I mean if there is a lack of faith, well recognize it, because it may not get better and faking it is not the answer.

There may be a type of spirituality that is right for you, maybe something you already know but at the moment these things feel oppressive (and so taking a break can help I agree!). Or try something different; another possibility is that you don't necessarily have very strong mystical tendencies and so eventually it might be better "without". Actually I don't know about that at all, but addressing all this is not a bad thing.

[Nemia]

I turn to the stars. Going outside at night, watching the stars always raises my spiritual awareness, my awe and inspiration. For me, this started as comfort in times of insomnia and depression, and by now, it has turned into a hobby and spiritual practice. I think about the generations of humans, seeing the same stars and giving them wonderful names, and it is the most uplifting activity I can imagine. I feel small but held by the universe. I greet the planets when they come up and I can't describe how it makes me feel. 

 

Walking outside in the daytime is healing, too, especially when I hear water or look at the sea. I try to feel the changing seasons with my senses and celebrate them. 

[devin]

Not wanting to be too serious, but I found it a help to realize that temporary patches of struggle and despondency can be a part of one's spiritual journey. For one thing, they can help to burn off false ideas and concepts.

 

It's also worth remembering, and I suppose this might not fly with everyone here's spiritual sensibilities, that spiritual gifts (insights, revelations, experiences, etc.) are just that, gifts, not rewards, and they can descend at any time, anywhere and be quite unsolicited in nature. (As it happens, the one and only proper spiritual experience I've ever had, the kind that changes something internally while also having external effects, was completely unearned, not brought about by any kind of positive effort, kindness or spiritual gymnastics on my part. In fact, I'd been acting like a complete bastard.) 

 

In other words, you never know what spiritual developments might be just over the horizon.

 

Apart from that, I agree with everyone who said music:

 

 

Keep on truckin'.

Edited March 31, 2022 by devin

[Eric13]

Amazing how music is such a commonality among people. 

[Decan]

Apart what we could do to be more inspired, there is what we could stop to do (or to do less) too!

I add that because I tend to look at the news a bit too frequently and it's definitively uninspiring, even depressing.

[stephanelli]

On 3/30/2022 at 4:08 PM, and_it_spoke said:

So, where DO you turn when you need to clear a spiritual clog?

I've been thinking about this question a lot over the past few days.

 

For me, it's nature preferably somewhere I haven't beenbefore.  I have to go to somewhere in nature that touches my heart and gets me thinking.

 

[gregory]

3 hours ago, Decan said:

Apart what we could do to be more inspired, there is what we could stop to do (or to do less) too!

I add that because I tend to look at the news a bit too frequently and it's definitively uninspiring, even depressing.

 

I no longer watch the news (except the local bit, sometimes). At All. I sometimes listen in the car, and I read a paper. But TV news is far too much, and goes on and on and on - and simply makes everyone feel hopeless.

[Guest]

Walking in nature, by the sea, in woods or on the hills is what I do. 

[Guest]

Also don't put any pressure on yourself.  There may be a spiritual lesson in what you're going through which is why your past comforts aren't working. 

[gregory]

I don't think anyone is in a position "not to put pressure on themselves..." Pressure - sadly - tends to happen all by itself. Nor have I much time any more for the spiritual lessons in my daily life. 

 

But I am surprised no-one has mentioned two popular options - retail therapy - hey it works for some - and altruism. Go out and help someone. Volunteer in a food bank. Offer to shop for a neighbour... We don't all have to read virtuous texts (though I have to say I have in my time found the Little House books very therapeutic.) Low points are part of life. We live through them whichever way we can.

[Raggydoll]

I second what Gregory said about altruism. Doing something kind for other people is such a vital part of spirituality, IMO. It puts things into perspective and often gives us a chance to learn new things in unexpected ways. 
 

Edited April 3, 2022 by Raggydoll

[and_it_spoke]

Stumbled upon an unexpected one this weekend. Force children to to manual labor! 😄

 

I had to recruit the kids to move furniture and do some cleaning in the upstairs part of the house. After riding them through the teen/tween angst portion of the program, we started having a lot of fun and laughing together - appreciating them, their personalities and the way their minds work was a nice way to get me feeling more 'awake' when it comes to my spiritual self in that moment, and in the time that's followed.