What brought you to the spiritual path?

I was a full blown alcoholic by age of 20.
Raised in trauma and violence and not one thing made sense
to me except a life of my own violence.

But at that time (age 20) I had Divine intervention.

It was like a sentence I could see but not really see.

"Death or Prison is the path your on !!!!"

I knew that sentence did not come from me.
I can still see it today.

I went into AA (Alcoholics Anonymous)(1985) and they
introduced me to the Spiritual experience.
That is what the 12 steps are designed to do.(Give you a Spiritual Experience)

1989 I broadened my Spiritual path with Native American Ceremonial Ways.
Maybe 10 years ago I started reading the Good Book and seen how Native practices and Christianity
as stated in the Book go hand in hand.
Not so much how many people practice Christianity but in the
Wisdom,Knowledge,Love and giftings
that are talked about in the Book.
The way the Spiritual Life is sought after in the Book correlates directly to many Native practices.
The denial of ones self.
The way Jesus was always praying in nature and in the mountains.
Jesus is straight up always going on a mission from God. He calls him Father and we call The
Great Spirit (Great Mystery)Grandfather.
Anyway every day is a blessing straight from God and I can't wait
to jump out of bed and get to His business.
No I did not forget the Mother or Grand Mother. You can not have Life without both Male and Female.
I spend most of my day on Grand Mother and in Her Nature walking as sacred as I can with Grandfathers Love in my Heart feeling Loved and blessed.
Life has never been better.

[muffin]

Originally Posted by Kaere

For me, I guess it depends on what 'spiritual' means.

Good afternoon Kaere

If I hear that one more time I'm going to thump someone.

We can see pass what has been severed up in front of us.

You have those that like to play with there food, instead of enjoy it for what it is.

And Uma

Thru experience and hindsight.

[Uma]

Thanks to all for sharing - what profound and unique insights we all bring through our life stories!

Kaere - I never knew we had these things in common!

Falling Leaves - wow - where does it say that in the bible about birth of a child helping women?

Unseeking Seeker - feeling your vibe - wonderful!

ImthatIm - Thank you for sharing your story how you were able to rise out of such a tragic start to life to come into the Light and make it your own path - beautiful

Muffin - yes experience and hindsight and continual self-reflexion in the here and now

[FallingLeaves]

Hi Uma!

1 Timothy 2:15 KJV:

Notwithstanding she shall be saved in childbearing, if they continue in faith and charity and holiness with sobriety.

back story from my own learning is that the physical changes that come during childbirth, if approached with 'purity' in some spiritual sense, are beneficial to a woman's life. As you seem to have found. Anyway some eastern traditions have men deliberately working the same types of physicalities from what I can tell... easier for a woman to just live through it though I suppose!

[Uma]

Originally Posted by FallingLeaves

Hi Uma!

1 Timothy 2:15 KJV:

Notwithstanding she shall be saved in childbearing, if they continue in faith and charity and holiness with sobriety.

back story from my own learning is that the physical changes that come during childbirth, if approached with 'purity' in some spiritual sense, are beneficial to a woman's life. As you seem to have found. Anyway some eastern traditions have men deliberately working the same types of physicalities from what I can tell... easier for a woman to just live through it though I suppose!

interesting, thanks for the reference

[Shivani Devi]

A few things happening within a few years...

Being a child expat in Bali, Indonesia.
Watching the Thaipusam festival at Batu Caves, Malaysia.
Taking psilocybin on top of the Borobudur Temple in Central Java.
Taking part in a fire-walking ceremony in Fiji.
Studying the Tibetan Book of the Dead and The Tibetan Book of the Great Liberation (Mahanirvana Tantra).
Countless 'rebirthing' sessions.
Meeting Swami Satyananda Saraswati

You know, pretty much the "usual stuff" that happens to a 14 - 17 year old. =]

[Aethera]

A feeling from within that nudged me to explore with more depth of the symbolism of life.

[Uma]

Originally Posted by Shivani Devi

A few things happening within a few years...

Being a child expat in Bali, Indonesia.
Watching the Thaipusam festival at Batu Caves, Malaysia.
Taking psilocybin on top of the Borobudur Temple in Central Java.
Taking part in a fire-walking ceremony in Fiji.
Studying the Tibetan Book of the Dead and The Tibetan Book of the Great Liberation (Mahanirvana Tantra).
Countless 'rebirthing' sessions.
Meeting Swami Satyananda Saraswati

You know, pretty much the "usual stuff" that happens to a 14 - 17 year old. =]

You left out Mohenjo-daro Shivani Devi

[Uma]

Originally Posted by Aethera

A feeling from within that nudged me to explore with more depth of the symbolism of life.

must have been quite the nudge

[Shaunc]

Originally Posted by ImthatIm

I was a full blown alcoholic by age of 20.
Raised in trauma and violence and not one thing made sense
to me except a life of my own violence.

But at that time (age 20) I had Divine intervention.

It was like a sentence I could see but not really see.

"Death or Prison is the path your on !!!!"

I knew that sentence did not come from me.
I can still see it today.

I went into AA (Alcoholics Anonymous)(1985) and they
introduced me to the Spiritual experience.
That is what the 12 steps are designed to do.(Give you a Spiritual Experience)

1989 I broadened my Spiritual path with Native American Ceremonial Ways.
Maybe 10 years ago I started reading the Good Book and seen how Native practices and Christianity
as stated in the Book go hand in hand.
Not so much how many people practice Christianity but in the
Wisdom,Knowledge,Love and giftings
that are talked about in the Book.
The way the Spiritual Life is sought after in the Book correlates directly to many Native practices.
The denial of ones self.
The way Jesus was always praying in nature and in the mountains.
Jesus is straight up always going on a mission from God. He calls him Father and we call The
Great Spirit (Great Mystery)Grandfather.
Anyway every day is a blessing straight from God and I can't wait
to jump out of bed and get to His business.
No I did not forget the Mother or Grand Mother. You can not have Life without both Male and Female.
I spend most of my day on Grand Mother and in Her Nature walking as sacred as I can with Grandfathers Love in my Heart feeling Loved and blessed.
Life has never been better.

My story is very similar. I sobered up in 1988 and since then have studied Buddhism and dabbled in Taoism.
I believe that only 2 things lead to spirituality, either your mind has been opened or your heart/spirit has been broken.