Article by Gian Kumar

Spirituality and Spiritual Wellness-Demystified – Spirituality – Religion

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Spirituality definition, you would find galore not only in spiritual books but on the Internet as well. Most religions of the world would relate Spirituality with something religious and sacrosanct and relating to the spirit or soul.

Spirituality is one word which though looks simple is very complex and it is not also easy to attain until we find an appropriate spiritual path for ourselves to tread on. Different people have given different spirituality definition and therefore their perceptions of attaining it are also different. However, every individual’s spiritual journey begins with self awareness and purification of the soul or atma thereby leading meaningful lives.

Spirituality in its real sense means coming in touch with your inner self, becoming aware of who you are and what you truly are. Self realization is realization of the higher self or God realization. It also means a search for a better improved version of ourselves. In addition, it means expanding one’s own capacity to understand ourselves (know thyself) and others without judgment.

Once, we become aware and non-judgmental, we experience a kind of inner peace and bliss. This is Spiritual Wellness, something essential to live a happier and more fulfilling life. Spiritual Wellness also involves connecting with the bigger picture as you look for meaning and its purpose in your life. Concepts in Spiritual Wellness include non-judgment, conscientiousness, selflessness as well as actions that increase our own sense of inner calm as well as peace with the people and world around us. Spirituality or Spiritual Wellness may involve connect with a higher power or God if that is your personal choice, but believing in a specific set of religious beliefs or spiritual principles is not necessary. Even an Atheist or non-believer of God can be spiritual. There are manifold secular philosophies of spirituality that approach life from a humanistic perspective.

A Spiritual Wellness plan can involve prayer or conversation with God, meditation, positive affirmations or other specific spiritual practices that support your connection to a higher super power or belief system. It is crucial for everyone to explore themselves and what they believe is their own sense of meaning of spirituality as well as purpose. This is always a very unique personal journey, though you may decide to become involved with a spiritual community or any religious group. Underlying Spiritual Wellness and Spirituality is the idea that meaning and purpose in life give us a strong foundation for taking healthy, happy and helpful actions.

About the Author

The words used in the document are a magical mix of science, spiritualism, philosophy, psychology and psychosomatics, all blended into one simple, yet complicated aspect of realizing “the self”. You can find Spiritual Articles written by Gian kumar for more information visit: http://www.booksonspirituality.com .

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Article by Vikas

Why Do Many Spiritual Types Have Sucky Lives? Life Coaching – Other

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Because of the nature of my training and coaching programs, many of my clients come to me with a very spiritual perspective on things.? The promise of a spiritual perspective is that you will feel more connected, more loved, more joyous, and feel a sense of oneness.? Yet, many spiritual people DO NOT have an abundance of these experiences.? In fact, most of the spiritual people I meet have pretty sucky lives.? And guess what, I’ve been there too.? Here’s why. There is a myth perpetuated by the miss understanding of ancient spiritual text that you must withdraw from life in order to be spiritual.? The whole, “Poverty is more spiritual” things is a total misperception. Adopting a more spiritual perspective simply means that you are focusing less on action and more on how you experience that action.? In other words, spiritual people investigate the non-material or experiential aspects of life.? But that doesn’t mean you give up the material aspects.? Can you?? Yes.? This is classically called “The Pathway of Negation”? Which is great if you plan to be a monk. Most spiritual people are just normal peeps living normal lives.? Most have engaged spirituality as a way of enhancing their experience.?? Being a monk is generally not an option or even a desire.? Yet, spiritual types often buy into this idea of “less is more” in a destructive way.? Lemme explain. Most spiritual types are not being honest about why they are spiritual in the first place.? Many are using spirituality as a way of reducing the amount of negative experiences they have in life.? Like a tool for fixing their broken life.? On the other hand, many use their spiritual practice to have enhance their life including; family, relationships, work, hobbies and various other interests.? They are not willing to give all these things up and be a monk.? So here’s the misfire.? Often they are so focused on being spiritual that they forget about sure their life functions effectively. I know I’ve made the mistake of believing that being spiritual will make everything in life work out. “Just go with the flow dude!” I would think to myself.? Unfortunately, the exact opposite is the case.? If you don’t work on having your life work, then it won’t.? No matter how happy you are during the process.? Your life will still suck. Here’s another mistake I use to make.? I would use my spiritual tools to maintain happiness because my life was messed up.? NEWS FLASH!!? When your life works, you don’t have to use your spiritual tools to be happy in miserable situations.? You can just be happy and love your life.? If your life doesn’t work, then you are constantly using your spiritual tools to maintain happiness in situations that most people would be miserable in. If this describes you.? Cut it out.? Get back in action and make your life work.? Which is not a spiritual process.? That is a functional process.? Do this and your spirituality will be 1000 times more pleasurable becuase you won’t have to use your tools to cover up your unhappiness.? You’ll simply be happy and then use your tools to be even happier.? Okay? Yo!? Spiritual Peeps!? Be as committed to having a life that works as you are to practing spritiuality and you will live an extraordinary life.? FYI? God/Spirit/Universe wants that for you. Full Article Resourse:? matthewferry.com/blog/

Who doesnt say his life sucks. Shout out why your life sucks on – life sucks – http://www.whymylifesucks.us

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life sucks – Post your sucky life incidences and tell the whole world why your life sucks on whymylifesucks.us.

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Vikas

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Article by Gabblet

Best spiritual books are conversations about spiritual world. Best spiritual books can help us to know about ourselves. Best spiritual books can be a religious song or a topic of discussion about spiritual life. Pious discussion can be held in different places like temples, churches or any public program. Religious discussion helps us to purify our mind and soul and also helps us to understand the final aim of human survival. Self help books online helps us to understand our misconceptions about life. Our salvation lies in righteous. Everyone who attends religious discussion should listen it very carefully because pious discussion helps us to get a good transformation into our life. Many Indian best spiritual books that contain spiritual thoughts can help us to enrich our spiritual knowledge and takes us to the true devotion. Spiritual topics are the only way which can take us to God and fell God inside our inner self. By listening spiritual talks or discussion that can help anyone to realize the fact of life what should they do or not to do not in life. In every aspects of life we are facing challenges and the competition is growing day by day. Anger, Crisis, dissatisfaction, frustration and depression takes place to a man’s life through unexpected events. In order to get ride of these problems people should get their mind fresh by listing various kinds of spiritual discourses on religious topics. We are very fortunate because God gives us this beautiful life. So we should always not waste our precious time in doing extra curricular activities because by listen to the spiritual debate we can achieve the ultimate goal of our human life. Spiritual dvd Mahabharata, Vhagavat Gita, Ramayana are those kind of books that takes us to the path of spiritual journey that links to the divine. These books are very famous spiritual dvd that is very popular to Indian people. Self help dvd are also play a significance role also in abroad. Self help dvd are not only for the people who are truth seeker but also its for general people who are trying to find their answers of all questions about their troublesome life. This site offers a good collection of spiritual dvd for the people who want to recognize the spiritual value of their life. Indian religious books leads you to the right direction of life and one can also know about more information through Spiritual discourses. Indian devout books offer you to promote understanding between culture and faith and spiritual insights for harmony and better living. People are trying to find peace in their life and the quest of Indian spiritual books increasing rapidly. Its unbelievable how much divine books are in demand of many peoples now a days. In online spiritual books are the big help for spiritual book readers. In this present world everyone should get in touch with the world of spirituality. No one knows what is waiting for us in the future. We can better understand our future and increase our standards of living by reading books. This site is for explaining spiritual knowledge and the process of spiritual development. These books are the true inspiration of religious life and it surly leads you to be a religious, happy and truthful human being.

Something unique always attracts the people whether it’s related to style, fashion, clothing or anything. Now, Spiritual Jewelry is in-fashion and liked by everyone. You can easily catch any celebrity wearing their faith in the form of any accessory like bangles, bracelets, armlets, rings, wrist bands etc. Spiritual Jewelry not only focuses on your religious faiths but also have some divine & shooting effect on your life and your behavior. The spiritual Jewelry is getting more popular even on International level. Jewelry designers come with more creative & unique spiritual designs like Cross, Jesus, Om, Swastika etc.

Indian God & Goddesses, religious symbols & text are commonly wearable fashion accessories. “Khanda” from Sikha religion, Allaha or a Moon sign from Muslim religion, Om, Swastika, Lord Ganesha from Hindu religion and many more use to wear by everyone.

Spiritual Jewelry is most impressive & expressive way to wear your faith in an aesthetic manner. You belong to any religion these spiritual jewelry have positive and divine effect and certainly bring changes in your life.

This kind of Jewellery could be made up of valuable stones, gems, beads or crystals which reduces the negative energy from our life and with the combination of any religious symbol or faith doubled their effect. If you are fond of having Silver or Gold jewelry than also you will be able to wear such jewelry in your faviorte metal with perfect finishing. Some people tattoo their faith permanently on their body, even number of celebrities sport with spiritual & religious tatooes & Jewelry.

Rudraksha & Om are the most popular wearable spiritual stone & jewelry designs in India . Although, ancient Chinese, Egyptian, Nepalese, Tibetan & Buddist religious symbols & signs are the new craze among the youth & all fashion conscious people. Recently, in a fashion show Indian fashion designer Rohit Bal, Entrepreneur Priya Sachdev chatwal are found wearing a “Khanda”. Hollyward actress Barbara Mori tattooed her oneness symbol & Bollywood actress Esha Deol, stricked the fashion circuit with Om & other spiritual Jewelry. This shows the importance of their faith and new emerging fashion interest of people.

Spiritual Jewellery denotes you as a unique personality and improves your life in a very positive sense. www.naaptol.com offers you rich and affordable online spiritual options to choose from.

Spiritual Direction is an ancient tradition where an individual journeys with a spiritual director in the search for a closer and more vibrant relationship with God.

The goal of Spiritual Direction is a deeper awareness and appreciation of God’s presence and movement in all relationships and circumstances.

Spiritual Direction involves deep listening, which helps people live more reflective and grateful lives. The contemplative time of a direction session can provide rest and refreshment for weary souls.

Spiritual direction is not about isolating, but rather about learning how our spirituality is meant to be embodied in all aspects of our daily lives. It’s a time for clients to discover their belovedness, and in turn share with others the love they’ve experienced.

The True “Director”
The title spiritual “director” is misleading because it’s the Holy Spirit who is the true director in the room.

The Holy Spirit is the true Host, prompting and guiding the agenda while the director and client pay attention to the promptings.

What is a Spiritual Direction session like?
Typically sessions take place once a month for one hour. It’s a safe opportunity for clients to tell God what’s on their mind, to share their longing and to listen for what God might have to say about their current situation. It’s a chance to reflect on life’s events, to bring whatever is on a client’s heart with the desire to notice where God may be working. Clients might talk about how they and God are getting along, what the theme of their life has been the past month, what their current prayer life is like, their desire for discernment in making decisions, or topics related to their relationships.

Spiritual Direction is a unique space to embrace God through:

? conversation
? deep listening
? reflective questions
? times of silence and prayer
? poetry
? art making
? guided meditation
? scripture reading
? dream work

Spiritual Direction could be a wonderful experience for you if you:
? Desire a closer relationship with Jesus Christ
? Seek discernment for major life transitions
? Desire a place to share the questions, sorrows and joys of your spiritual journey
? Are curious to learn more about:
spiritual practices, (such as silence, gratitude etc.) and different types of prayer
? Desire space to rest and learn to breathe deeply

Through a sessions you would experience:
? greater awareness of God’s presence and voice
? new ability to live into the wonder and embrace of God
? freedom to accept and love yourself
? a growing sense of your purpose and inner calling
? courage to explore the creative arts as you express yourself
? a more balanced and disciplined life
? increased peace and joy
? greater desire to love and serve your community

Article by Tony Cuckson

Throughout this personal development and beyond article I invite you into an awareness of stages of spiritual development. Each stage of spiritual development involves resistance, and each stage or phase of spiritual development involves expansion. What is loved and nurturing in one phase of spiritual development becomes the resistance to the next stage. Each stage becomes a station when you are able to move between such stages through an act of will.

The stages of personal and spiritual development are not necessarily linear. This means that they do not necessarily proceed from a to b but might in fact leap to stage f or g and back again. This is why you might feel you are making progress in your personal spiritual development plan and all of a sudden you find yourself returning to old patterns that are reactionary and involve a degree of personal pain. There is no one map that shows the stages of spiritual development.

However, with and open mind and an open heart many of the maps that are available can provide you with encouragement along The Road Less Traveled. The Road Less Travelled is a book written by Dr. Scott Peck, who in a following book entitled Further Along the Road Less Travelled mapped out stages of spiritual development. In this Further Along the Road Less Travelled Dr. Scott Peck breaks the stages of spiritual development into the following four stages

Chaotic/Antisocial. Formal/Institutional. Skeptic/Individual. Mystical/Communal.

The writing that is featured here in this Personal Development and Beyond article will suit those who are moving out of the Formal/Institutional stage of spiritual development. This article will also suit those who have moved beyond this second phase of spiritual development. The personal development aspect of this blog will sometimes appeal to those at the Chaotic/Antisocial stage but they are unlikely to be attracted to the expansive invitation that is beyond the limited idea of the persona.

Formal/Institutional Stage of Spiritual Development

Stage II individuals (formal/institutional) tend to be attracted to dogma and ritual. This dogma and ritual comes, not out of direct revelation, but out of a need to connect to a group identity. These are individuals who often feel threatened by other individuals and groups who subscribe to some other form of dogma. These are the kind of individuals who take their religious teachings quite literally. They tend to give their authority in religious matters to a recognised institution and do not like to move beyond the subscribed teachings of such religious institution. Such individuals take as fact the myths and stories of their spiritual teaching. For example, the Stage II individual will take as fact the biblical story of the Garden of Eden. They will assure you that there was once a man called Adam who was made from the earth and a woman called Eve who was made from this man’s rib. They will assure you that the world was made in a period of six days and on the seventh day God, some form of superman, rested on the seventh day.

In this stage of spiritual development there is the satisfaction of feeling that you belong to the in crowd. You never really question the authority of the institution because to do so would lead you to be cast outside the group. I have seen this time and time again when individuals begin to move beyond Stage II and expand into questioning exactly what it is they subscribe their authority too. Not all people who attend at religious institutions are at the Stage II level. Fundamentalists of any kind tend to be living at this level of spiritual development. They are very rigid in what they can allow themselves to believe and so to experience. The spiritual direction that such Stage II individuals receive is vey much more of the same. They berate themselves for having doubts and loss of faith when such experiences are often intimations from the soul that is breaking open the limitation that they cling too for dear life.

While in the Christian tradition the Bible maps the spiritual journey and the various stages of spiritual development in the highest level of spiritual experience called Christ consciousness the individual living at the Formal/Institutional stage of spiritual development pays such spiritual direction lip service. They are content to try and live a life that they consider to be a life of doing good and avoiding sin. They feed of the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil and try and avoid on part of the whole. They do not follow the instruction of their teacher who told them

Greater things than these shall you do.

There is little or no point in trying to convince someone who has an entrenched view of the Formal/Institutional stage of spiritual development. Theirs is a very rigid world view and your view of the world as more unified simply threatens them and the group consciousness to which the are aligned. You see this rigidity in the laws of fundamentalist Islam. Just in case you think this is exclusive to Islam it is not. It is the history of witch burning and the history of the Crusades and various religious programs that took place throughout world history and are still taking place today. When you challenge the established view of Formal/Institutional individuals you will meet with much resistance. The security that exists for the individual within this stage of spiritual development will have to be given up. Usually this means leaving the security of the established group but not always. This does not only apply to religious groups but also to political and social groups. It equally applies to families and friends.

Personally speaking this writer and storyteller thinks that it helps to know that levels of spiritual development exists and that everyone in time will journey through these different levels until they finally expand into the unity that created all things from no thing. This is the meaning of the end of the world but has nothing to do with the extinction of the world. The stage II individual takes the teachings about the end of the world as being the end of life on earth when in fact it means the direct experience of the end of time which is an experience the Stage IV individual is interested in living in and loving from. For those of you who are interested in learning more about stages of spiritual development I list below books that I read on a regular basis and which I find inspire the invitations that are offered here at this Personal Development and Beyond blog. Here are my recommendations for learning more about stages of spiritual development that will deepen your spiritual development.

Further Along the Road Less TravelledThe Essential How to Know God: The Essence of the Soul’s Journey Into the Mystery of Mysteries (Essential Deepak Chopra)Putting on the Mind of Christ: The Inner Work of Christian SpiritualityThe Five Stages of the Soul: Charting the Spiritual Passages That Shape Our Lives

Article by Neeraj Chandra

Spirituality is the soul of India. This country is known all over the world for its spiritual richness. People are too familiar with the spiritual and religious. As in the past few days, many saints and scholars of different faiths have visited this country in search of spirituality. This is a country where religions such as Hinduism, Jainism, Sikhism and Buddhism originated. In addition to other religions such as Islam, Christianity, etc., are equally respected in India.

India is an incredibly beautiful religious sites are located in different parts of the country. From the majestic peaks of the Himalayan Holy Ganga Ghats host of other sacred places, can not go to a memorable spiritual journey through this majestic country. These intellectual properties are always teemed with visitors. People other religion can visit these places and learn from them.serenity and aura surrounded by these spiritual items sure touch the inner soul. Visitors will be able to perform, depending on the spiritual journey up the kind of faith they follow. A spiritual journey to India to finally end the search for salvation, and it can help you connect to your soul.

Important Spiritual targetIndia offers a number of spiritual destinations for visitors. Every country in the region is blessed with some incredibly beautiful spiritual destinations. Some of these spiritual sites are located in breathtaking locations. Some of the major Hindu spiritual destinations are Haridwar, Varanasi, Kedarnath, Yamunotri, Jammu, Amarnath, Rameshwaram, Tirupati, etc. Varanasi is perhaps most popular destination for Hindus. The majestic Ghats in Varanasi for a long time has attracted many tourists from around the world.sacred temples along the Ghats, these are always full of visitors. Hindus believe that taking bath in the water in the holy river Ganga Ghats at Varanasi would absolve them from all their past sins. Chardham comprises Kedarnath, Badrinath, Yamunotri Gangotri and spiritual are very important destinations Hindu.

India is an important spiritual destination of Buddhist pilgrims. It is this that comes from Buddhism and later spread to other parts of the world. Every year, thousands of Buddhist followers all over the world visit India in search of spirituality. An important Buddhist religious sites are in Bodhgaya, Sarnath, Vaishali, Nalanda, Dharamshala, Sikkim, Tawang, etc. in places like Bodhgaya, Vaishali and Nalanda is part of the story of the growth of Buddhism in the country. Dharamshala which is the headquarters of the Tibetan government in exile hometown, and their spiritual leader the Dalai Lama, has become a principle, a Buddhist spiritual destination in recent decades. For the Sikh Golden Temple of Amritsar, and Hemkund Sahib two most revered religious sites.

Two of the most popular spiritual destination of Islam, Haji Ali Dargah in Mumbai and Ajmer Dargah Shariff and. These two sites are very popular through out the world. Also, people from other religion to visit these two popular spiritual destinations. For Christians, spiritual tour to Goa and Kerala can be a good choice. These two states of old houses and churches of the holy.

Types JourneyEvery year, thousands of devotees from all over the world undertake a number of spiritual journey to India. These spiritual journeys have existed since the old days. Whatever may be the type of tour you undertake every one of them will teach you the love and compassion. The best thing about embarking on a spiritual journey to India is that you do not have to be a follower of any particular religion to visit these destinations. In one of spirituality, visitors get a rare opportunity to know the origin of some of the history of religion.

Some of the popular spiritual tour in India are carried out in Amarnath Yatra, Kailash Mansarovar Yatra, Chardham Yatra, etc. In addition to these popular tour, people can take a spiritual journey through India at any given point of time. One can choose a long or short duration depending on the spiritual journey up the interests of individuals. Southern India also has some amazing spiritual destinations.

Spirituality is the soul of India. This country is famous throughout the world for its spiritual richness . People too are very spiritual and religious. Since earlier days many saints and scholars from different religions have visited this country in search of spirituality. This is the country from where religions like Hinduism, Jainism, Sikhism and Buddhism originated. Apart from them other religions like Islam, Christianity etc, are equally revered in India.

India has some incredibly beautiful spiritual destinations located all over the country. From the majestic peaks of Himalayas to the ghats of holy Ganga to numerous other holy sites, one can go for an unforgettable spiritual journey through this majestic country. These spiritual destinations are always teemed with the visitors. People from any other religion can visit these places and learn about them.

The serenity and aura surrounding these spiritual destinations for sure, will the touch your inner soul. Visitors can undertake spiritual journey depending up on the kind of faith they follow. A spiritual journey to India may finally end your search for the salvation and it may help you to connect with your soul.

Important Spiritual destination
India offers numerous spiritual destinations to the visitors. Each region of country has been blessed with some unbelievably beautiful spiritual destinations. Some of these spiritual destinations are situated in breathtaking locations. Some of the major spiritual destinations of Hindus are Haridwar, Varanasi, Kedarnath, Yamunotri, Jammu, Amarnath, Rameshwaram, Tirupati etc. Varanasi is perhaps the most popular destination of Hindus. The majestic ghats of Varanasi for long has attracted many travelers from across the globe.

The holy temples located along these ghats are always crowded with the visitors. Hindus believe that on taking bath in the holy water of river Ganga at the ghats of Varanasi would absolve them from all their past sins. The Chardham comprising of Kedarnath, Badrinath, Yamunotri and Gangotri are very important spiritual destinations of Hindus.

India is an important spiritual destination for the Buddhist pilgrims. It is from this country that Buddhism originated and later on spread to rest of the world. Each year thousands of Buddhist followers from all over the world visit India in their quest for spirituality. Important Buddhist spiritual destinations are Bodhgaya, Sarnath, Vaishali, Nalanda, Dharamshala, Sikkim, Tawang, etc. Places like Bodhgaya, Vaishali and Nalanda have been part of Buddhism’s growth story in the country. Dharamshala which is the headquarter of the Tibetan government in exile and home of their spiritual leader Dalai Lama, has emerged as principle Buddhist spiritual destination in the last few decades. For the Sikhs Golden temple in Amritsar and Hemkund Sahib are two most revered spiritual destinations.

Two of the most popular spiritual destination of Islam are Dargah Haji Ali in Mumbai and Dargah Shariff of Ajmer. These two sites are very popular through out world. Even people from other religion visit these two popular spiritual destinations. For the Christians, spiritual tour to Goa and Kerala can be good options. These two states houses some old and sacred churches all.

Types of Journey
Each year thousands of devotees from all over the world undertake numerous spiritual journey in India. These spiritual tours have been in existence since old days. Whatever may be the type of tour you undertake, each one of them teaches you love and compassion. The best thing about embarking on a spiritual journey to India is that you don’t need to be follower of any particular religion to visit these destinations. Along with the spirituality, visitors will get rare chance to know the history of the origin of some religion.

Some of the popular spiritual tour undertaken in India are Amarnath Yatra, Kailash Mansarovar Yatra, Chardham Yatra, etc. Besides these popular tour, individuals can undertake spiritual journey through India at any given point of time. One can opt for long or short duration spiritual journey depending up on the interest of the individuals. Southern India also offer some incredible spiritual destinations.

Article by Gavin Young

I was recently interviewed for an upcoming television special on Executive and Spiritual Life Coaching hosted by Joan Lunden. Among the questions I was asked, perhaps the simplest, but least understood, was the following: “What is the function of a spiritual life coach and what are some of the tasks and methods they use?”

The answer to the first part of the question is as varied as there are spiritual coaches, but the theme each has in common is working “from”, “with” and “in” a spiritual dimension, spirituality in this case understood as that which is both totally beyond us, but at the same time inextricably part of us.

Simply put, a spiritual life coach facilitates his/her clients’ spiritual growth. This can run the gamut from people at the very beginning of a spiritual life to those well advanced on a spiritual Path. It also encompasses people in spiritual transition (e.g., people leaving and/or joining a particular faith tradition, people who have been abused spiritually/religiously and who now wish to reclaim a new, healthy spirituality while working through their pain, etc.).

Most often, the coach works primarily by listening and then asking the client questions relevant to his/her “agenda”. The coach and client then devise a plan for reaching the client’s spiritual goals. The coach acts as cheerleader, mentor, accountability partner, and, what I like to refer to as, the client’s Sacred Witness.

It is important to remember, however, that coaching is not therapy nor is it pastoral counseling. The relationship between coach and client is that of equals. The journey is a shared experience and the coach doesn’t necessarily have to know more than the client.

Some coaches will give their clients “homework” such as journaling, keeping a “dream journal”, and/or making lists of things that empower or hinder a person’s spiritual growth based on what the coach knows about the client’s goals. Clients are encouraged to list ten goals they wish to reach over the next ninety days.

In a large way, spiritual coaches help others to help themselves, to live empowered, responsible, joyful, grateful and peaceful lives. A spiritual coach is attempting to raise peoples’ consciousness and disseminate the good news (gospel) that one person at a time we can turn the world around, as individuals, as couples, as families, as corporations, as governments, and countries, and as a planet. Together, coach and client take the spirit energy that is within each of us and begin using it as a tool of profound personal change or transformation, building and tending and nurturing the lives we want in our deepest hearts to have, lives as whole, integrated, peaceful, loving, truly happy people, that is, people who are in tune with spirit.

A spiritual life coach should work to empower and inspire people to, as Bishop John Shelby Spong aptly puts it, “Live fully; love wastefully; and be all you can.” This, I believe, is the heart of Jesus’ message along with many other spiritual Teachers throughout history (e.g., Mohammed, Buddha, Ghandi, King and Mother Teresa). This is something each of us has the power to do. The result being better citizens, better partners, better spouses, and better children. This is spirit in action.

As a coach, one seeks to keep oneself out of the way as much as possible in order to let the client find his/her own answers. The coach owes it to the client to insure that the time spent belongs to the client. Hence, many coaches find that having clients come to a session each week with an agenda is most helpful. The spiritual coach should always be fully present to what it is the client is hoping to achieve by whatever spiritual, religious, and/or denominational means.

Spiritual coaching is like an emptying process (Greek: kenosis): coaches attempt to remain nonjudgmental. and in so doing are able to act as conduits or sounding boards with the clients’ interests at heart as opposed to layering the coach’s agenda on the client, thus hijacking his/her experience of finding truth for themselves. The client holds infinite wisdom, including the answers. It is often simply waiting to be retrieved, remembered or resurrected.

Is spiritual coaching religious? It certainly can be depending on the coach and the client. Traditional religions are followed by some coaches, but others do not follow any religion. Tolerance is a huge part of spiritual coaching. People should be met where they are and on what ever path they’re walking. A spiritual coach should be flexible enough to work with a client from his/her personal philosophy, faith tradition, and spirituality. And a coach must certainly make extra room for the person who is not in touch with any spirituality, but is seeking one. People wake up spiritually at different times and for different reasons.

Think about the times in your life when you’ve had spiritual experiences. What were they like? What provoked them? How did they leave you feeling?

To summarize, then, a spiritual life coach works with clients in facilitating spiritual growth. By listening and asking relevant questions, the coach helps the client begin to find his/her way along a meaningful Path or conversely helps the more advanced client attain even greater spiritual depth. In a world that is becoming less and less certain, growing and maintaining a healthy spiritual life is of the utmost importance. When uncertain about life, many people become introverted, looking for a greater power than themselves. It is the job of the coach to be thoroughly present to that uncertainty and help the client through the process. Learning to live comfortably with uncertainty is one of the primary lessons we must learn as incarnated souls.

Article by Evette Gardner

It does not take a great effort (or any effort at all actually) to grow in spiritual awareness. Just be aware, that’s all. Spiritual awareness is simply about being mindful of spiritual Truths. You don’t have to go around obsessing about these Truths to be aware of them. Nor is there really any need to constantly immerse yourself in deep thought in order to break through and see the (spiritual) light. Spiritual awareness is not something that you can gain by force. You cannot compel yourself to become more spiritually aware, you merely have to be open to what is already within you. Are you aware that the sky is blue? Or that sugar tastes sweet? These truths, in general, are universally elementary. Realizing them does not take any degree of deep thought or obsessive contemplation. They are just things that you are aware of. You don’t have to go around constantly reminding yourself that the sky is blue or that sugar tastes sweet. Why? Because these are truths which you don’t bother to doubt or question. You just accept them. And your acceptance is what informs your awareness. Whether the awareness is a spiritual awareness or the common sense awareness of the sky being blue, it’s all the same. Your acceptance is what causes you to be aware, just as it is your doubt which causes you to be unaware. You cannot perceive what you do not believe. This is a spiritual law.Your personal reality is a reflection of your beliefs. Your life experience is an expression of the ideas you have chosen to accept as true. Therefore, your reality is different from his reality because each of you (unique expressions of the One God) accepts a different array of ideas as true. Spiritual awareness is about transcending the darkness of your personal reality (a manifestation of your beliefs) into the light of The One Truthful Reality which is common to All. How do you transcend the darkness? The answer is simple – by accepting the light. Every time you let go of a false belief, you grow in spiritual awareness. You accept Truth by letting go of fallacy. Acceptance is about letting go, surrendering, completely giving yourself over to something. You want to grow in spiritual awareness? Simply be accepting of spiritual Truths. But how do you identify a spiritual Truth from a personal truth?Spiritual Truths (with a capital T) evoke good feelings. These Truths stand alone, unadorned by justification or underlying desires. A Spiritual Truth is never a reason for anything. A spiritual Truth simply Is, and that is all. For instance, I am powerful is a spiritual Truth. I am worthy is a spiritual Truth. However, I am powerful because I am rich is not a spiritual Truth. I am worthy because I am giving is not a spiritual Truth. These are not spiritual Truths because they rely on reason to substantiate them. These may, however, be examples of personal truths. I say personal because these ideas and experiences are not common to All; but nevertheless may qualify as a truth (with a lower case t) in the sense that these ideas and understandings may be true to your experience because you have chosen to accept them as true. Personal truths are not synonymous with spiritual Truths, they are synonymous with delusions. Growing in spiritual awareness means letting go of these delusions.Every time you let go of a delusion you grow in spiritual awareness. Every time you accept an idea which not only feels good, but is not adorned by any justification, you grow in spiritual awareness. Spiritual awareness begins and ends within. This means it takes your being able to recognize spiritual Truths within yourself in order for these Truths to be apparent to you in the world around you. All of the universe is but a reflection of You, some aspect of You (as Spirit). But if you are unable to recognize yourself as Spirit, you will likewise not recognize yourself reflected in All that surrounds you. You are perfecting your knowledge of Self in spiritual awareness. As you come to more and more see your Self in others (not just people, but things, places, phenomena literally everything) you become more spiritually aware. It doesn’t take effort. It simply takes an open mind and an open heart to accelerate your spiritual awareness. You can be mindful of spiritual Truths without spending untold hours dwelling on them, just as it you can be mindful that sugar tastes sweet without obsessively reminding yourself of this fact. If you are truly accepting of a spiritual Truth you will be mindful of It regardless of whether or not you are directly thinking about It. The only effort expended in developing spiritual awareness is the effort it takes to convince yourself to be accepting of the Truths you have thus far rejected. If you truly want to believe you will. Like planting a seed, the real work in raising it up will not be done by your hand it will just be done. Have faith. You cannot help but to grow in spiritual awareness.