For centuries, the subject of spirituality has evolved into thousands of interpretations resulting in different beliefs and practices. In the culture I grew up in, only the priests, nuns, and pastors were considered spiritual, while the rest were ordinary people. In other beliefs, it is about a specific God, performing rituals, meditation, or even magic. Spirituality is also interpreted as an entirely different world aside from our life here on earth.

But what does spirituality really mean?

Where and how can you start your spiritual journey despite our different views about it?

When I was thirteen, my mother and father got separated. Since we have nowhere to go, my mother together with me and my two brothers went to my uncle who was a priest, adopted us and lived with him in the convent. When my schoolmates learned where I lived, they started calling me names like Sister Maddie or Saint Maddie with their palms together, pretending to pray. Someone even joked that they should not mingle with me because I was holy and they were not. These were some of the prejudices I got by living with my uncle priest.

We Are Spiritual Beings Having A Human Experience

I love how Pierre Teilhard de Chardin explained the meaning of spirituality in a simple yet profound way.

“We are not human beings having a spiritual experience.

We are spiritual beings having a human experience.”

– Pierre Teilhard de Chardin

If there is one path in life that does not need any qualification, it is the path of spiritual life. Even before we incarnated as humans, we were spiritual beings first. We are souls that decided to exist in physical form. However, when we incarnated in here on earth, we forgot our true nature. We became disconnected from our soul and acquired limiting beliefs that restricted our souls from remembering our authentic version – our spiritual side.

Pierre de Chardin’s philosophy was a light bulb moment for me. I began to understand why I feel and perceive certain experiences differently and was drawn to ‘mystical’ stuff’. It is because I am a spiritual being having a human experience.

Spirituality Has No End

“Spirituality is a journey that we never finish.”

– Akiane Kramarik

Our spiritual journey is not the same as the physical world where death happens. Our souls do not end and die, it only heals and evolve. Healing and evolution can only happen when it goes through a spiritual journey.

Spiritual journey requires conscious intention, dedication and effort to grow.

Here are five helpful ways to start.

5 Ways To Start Your Spiritual Journey

Spiritual journey is like magic but does not use wands or spells. You don’t have to be like Harry Potter or Hermione Granger do that. You simply need to connect with your soul.

1. Read books on spirituality

Five books that helped me start with my spiritual journey.
My five favorite books on spirituality.

Educating yourself about spirituality is important. Reading books on spirituality will give you lots of insights, new perspectives, and wisdom that you need to grow in awareness and wisdom. It will help to increase your knowledge about God that has no name or religion. In my blog 5 Best Books on Spirituality, I shared my top five books on spirituality that you can consider adding on your reading list.

Spiritual journey can be lonely at times and books will be your best friends.

2. Meditate

There are many ways to meditate. You can meditate by praying, quieting the mind, doing yoga, listening to guided meditations, and any way that will allow you to connect with your soul.

Meditation is an act of connecting to your soul and acknowledging that you are a part of the bigger consciousness that is responsible for all creations. It helps to increase awareness, clear the mind, and raise your vibration.

I have tried different ways to meditate and each of them has unique benefits to me. My current favorite form of meditation is listening to guided meditations. I recommend Great Meditation on YouTube especially for beginners. They are easy to follow and can instantly transport you into a peaceful and awakened state.

There is no right or wrong way of meditating. As long as your meditation fulfills its purpose to connect with your soul, you are on the right track. Follow your intuition when you meditate.

3. Practice yoga

Aside from doing yoga as meditation technique, you can also use it to align your body with your soul. Yoga sets your mind to be present and to listen to your inner voice. It helps the body and mind to become one with spirit.

Yoga is a great way to set our whole being into alignment with the Source of all there is. Explore the different types of yoga. All of them have one common goal — to align us with our spirit.

4. Keep a journal or diary

Writing your thoughts and emotions on paper allows you to reflect, improve mindfulness, and improve self-awareness. It can also help you release unwanted energies that you acquired from unpleasant experiences.

Write in your journal every day. Your mind changes write you write every day. I created a guided way of spiritual journaling called Write To Heal Diary. Check out the link to find the instructions on how you can use journaling for spiritual journey.

5. Use mantras

Words are powerful. From a scientific point of view, many studies have been made that prove that words can affect our thoughts. This is also true when it comes to our spirituality. Our body, mind, and spirit are connected and if words can affect the mind and body, it also affects our spirit.

Train yourself to use good and positive affirmations or mantras to shift your thoughts and emotions especially when you are feeling down or at a low frequency state.

You can also use mantras to change your mindset, erase limiting beliefs, and during meditation.

Final Encouragement

Spiritual journey is not easy. It can make you high, confused, happy, sorrowful, uncomfortable, at peace, and a lot more other emotions, like a roller coaster ride.

Be brave. You will face your demons many times. If you are not brave enough, they will devour you. The quest to know yourself more is not a matter of strength but of how brave you are.

Respect your pace. There is nothing to hurry because the road of spirituality has no end.

You are not alone. I am here. We are many who have chosen this life.

Enjoy and savor the journey.

CONNECT WITH ME: This is the purpose of my blog, to offer you help, support, and guidance. I can be a listening friend, a confidante, and a guide as you choose to embark on a spiritual journey. Feel free to send me an email at madylene.writer@gmail.com. I would love to hear from you!