Ethical Spirituality & What the Heart Can Bear
We need no intermediaries, as each of ourselves are divine.
Over the course of the last few months I have been internally exploring my understanding of ethics in relationship to modern spirituality. Dawning from the uncomfortable observation of the spiritual communities I follow (and beyond) that have been largely silent on the unfathomable atrocity of genocide being committed to the Palestinian people, I find myself continuously asking if spirituality is not for the living, who then is it for? Who are we really serving? It should not be lost on healers and mystics that they inextricably claim authority in leadership with the containers they create. Have we exchanged our integrity for somatic breath work techniques and manifestation rituals? Am I othering myself by asking these questions publicly?
This absence of validated grief and integrity, has also ignited an examination of my experiences in spiritual ‘academia.’ Not unlike any schooling, I find it equally productive and disruptive to my own growth. The obvious realization I impart with is that no one is more connected to God than another. All things of the earth are created with humanity, and with humanity comes judgement. Judgement is a necessary emotional process to make sense of this human world. We use judgement to describe qualities of emotion that inform our next action. Life is opportunity. Every living being deserves the opportunity to live. By making this declaration, I do not believe I am limiting the nature of what information can be received through me in service to another. If we cannot collectively advocate for this in the institution of spiritual community, what ‘good’ are self-developmental practices?
As a medium, I trust that I am flawed and confused - I vacillate between begging God to send me answers in my dreams and use my suffering as tokens for bargaining, which all just reflects my self centering. I find life so devastatingly beautiful, I think my heart could bear no other way to live than to discover first hand through my abilities, that our consciousness and spirit survives our bodily death. Yet, being faced with the unfathomable - my ability offers no explanation for such devastation. I am so sorry for this, to all who are in grief. All I can ever offer is the wink of validation, that you are not alone in what you go through in this life. Your every fiber, touched by love.
I think ethical spirituality understands there is no such thing as spiritualization - that you are a simply and perfectly a spiritual being now. It offers several paths to momentary liberation, and always the expansion of love in solidarity through the darkest of all ages. Spirituality costs us nothing. No ordination, no certification, no canonization will bring you closer to GOD - as you already are, the essence of love. We are intrinsically connected to all beings and the support of which your gifts bring to the world, so also let another live. We are here to help others live. ‘So you will let me love.’
We need not look outward for spiritual authority. Neither psychic ability or celebrity is any measure of morality. When I once asked a mentor why there are mediums who are also prejudiced people, he replied, “A firefighter would still use a dirty hose to put out a fire.”
We need no intermediaries, as each of ourselves are divine. You are the authority on your personal connection to God. In moments, we remember.
For you, I am here to bear witness.