How Do You Become More Spiritual?

The Archangels Tell Us to Design Our Own Path

I left formal religious practice behind years ago, and I don’t miss it.  That’s not to say I stopped believing in a higher power, which I still think of as God, and I held onto several beliefs and relationships, but religion as a whole stopped making sense to me for several reasons, the biggest probably being that it doesn’t generally welcome all people, especially if they question or disagree with the rules.  I’m not knocking religion.  It works for a lot of people, and although a lot of blame is placed on religion for the world’s problems, I’ve found that religion is as “good” as the people who practice it.  I don’t see religion, much less God, as the problem; I see people who misinterpret, manipulate, and use religion to excuse their poor behavior and their need to control others as the issue.  There are zealots in all religions.

So, I guess you can place me in the “spiritual, but not religious” category, which a lot of religious people criticize, but since I’ve never given much thought to whether or not people approve of my choices, I don’t care.  I’m going to do what’s best for me, which I think everyone should do, whether or not it differs from my or anyone else’s choices.  To each his or her own, live and let live, different strokes for different folks, whatever floats your own boat … well, you get the idea.

I get a lot of emails, calls, and have had many spiritual guidance sessions with folks who have also left religion, who still believe in a higher power, but who feel as though they are at loose ends as they seek a new spiritual path.  Some people crave the structure of religion with rules and guidelines, while others miss the community that church might have offered in the past, although they no longer feel comfortable in the church or other religious settings they came from, and they’re seeking a new normal that feels comfortable and supportive.

As for community, the best advice I can offer is to form your own community with like-minded people, if your previous church community has ceased to be welcoming.  It doesn’t necessarily have to be religious, but it’s important to find your people.  One of the empty spaces society in general is experiencing is the lack of community, especially since so many churches are closing their doors or go against basic principles their current and previous practitioners embrace.  Most people are social in nature, and when they don’t have community, they often seek it, which is sadly an invitation to cult leaders, zealots, and any organization who is seeking warm bodies, especially youths, to indoctrinate. 

I just saw an American young lady on the news the other day who had converted to Judaism and moved to Gaza preaching hate for all Palestinians.  I also saw on the news when the group of young Republicans were rebuked for hateful comments they made against anyone different from them, and yeah, I’m gonna say it, I recognized it in the presentations that Charlie Kirk made on college campuses and podcasts trying to recruit young people by blaming their problems on several scapegoats, including non-Christians, women’s rights and equality, the LGBTQ community, etc.  At the base of all of these instances, you’re likely to find people who are looking to recruit followers for their cause.  It’s smart, really, because people, young people especially, don’t have a lot of options for community these days.  I hope more organizations will form that offer more positive incentives and foundations.  Hate is never a good option.

So, many people are leaving religion and seeking other spiritual ways to connect, but they don’t know how to go about it, especially if they’re looking for new rules and guidelines.  Here’s the thing about spirituality:  It should be individualized to suit each person.  That’s what I like most about it.  I can pray and meditate on something, ask for spiritual guidance, and when I make a conclusion that feels right for me, I can pursue it on my own terms, in a way that is meaningful to me.  I love that!  However, if you’re used to following religious doctrine and texts, it can be daunting, so I asked the Archangels to give us some guidelines about how to pursue a more spiritual life, and their response follows.

Question:  What advice can you offer to people who are seeking a spiritual path, but who don’t know where to start?

Answer:

This is such a common question that so many ask, yet many do not find an answer, so we will begin by telling you what you do not have to do in order to grow spiritually.  You do not have to follow someone else’s rules.  There are no rules that apply to everyone.  If you find some guidelines that resonate with you, you are welcome to try them, but know that there is no right or wrong way to proceed.

Also, there are no mistakes, other than how they apply personally to you.  If you try a particular practice in hopes that it brings you peace, guidance, joy, etc., and it does not work well for you, discard it without any fear of disappointing anyone.  Know that you did not do anything wrong, and you are not unable to attain something you seek due to a failing in you.  It is likely that whatever you tried was not a good fit for you.  Trust your heart, mind, and intuition.  Do not try to force something to work.  Different things work for different people.

Spiritual practices differ from religious practices in that they should be tailored to the individual, based on what feels right to that person.  There are no rights or wrongs, except with regard to individual preferences.  Some people are very used to strict guidelines and step-by-step instructions, not to mention rewards and punishments, and we recommend to them that they devise their own guidelines and instructions.  There is never a penalty for choosing a particular way of doing things if it brings you joy, hope, love, and peace.  As long as it harms no one, including you, it is fine.

If you wish to grow spiritually, whatever you do should revolve around kindness to yourself and kindness to others.  There are those who say a person must suffer in order to find peace, and sometimes suffering occurs as a person heals from past trauma or rises above past behaviors, hardships, and beliefs, but suffering is not a requirement or a prerequisite to finding a spiritual path.  If you feel regret or shame or guilt, process those feelings with the goal always being to eventually release them, for they serve no good purpose, and they weigh heavily on a person, preventing them from finding peace.  Forgiveness of others is not always possible, and that is alright, as forgiveness will eventually come, if not in this life, then afterwards.  However, forgiveness of self is absolutely necessary.  Know that you are forgiven any mistakes you feel you have made in your life.  You must also forgive yourself.  Remember that you are loved unconditionally, and there is no judgment or condemnation awaiting you. 

A spiritual path involves getting in touch with and knowing yourself.  This requires time and intentional effort.  If you do not like yourself, consider that you are a divine being of light and worthy of everything good.  You are highly valued by the Creator and many other enlightened beings.  If you do not like yourself, analyze what specifically you do not like, then change those things.  If you are not comfortable with past events, then do not repeat them.  If you do not have joy, hope, love, and peace in your life, then discover ways to bring more of those things into your life.  Then, proceed to get them, nurture them, and keep them, centering decisions, choices, and actions around them.

There are many practices promoted as helpful for the spiritual person, and we will say that some of them will work well for you, and some of them will not.  Some may hinder you.  If you do not know where to start, experiment and discover for yourself what works well for you.  This includes meditation, channeling, prayer, nature, energy work, and any of the numerous programs available that promise spiritual progress.  The fact is, you do not have to do anything outside of spending time with yourself and having the intention of becoming more spiritual in order to make progress.  You do not need to buy anything or hire anyone, unless you particularly want to.  You do not even need to find your way, for it will eventually find you, if you allow it and keep an open mind with the intention of growing spiritually.

Another view that many have been given is that you are separate from the Creator.  You are not.  You do not have to do anything to gain the love and acceptance of the Creator, and you carry a spark of the Creator’s energy with you at all times.  You are a part of the Creator!  As the one who made you, He/She/It/They already loves you unconditionally and accepts you as you are.  You do not have to earn love and acceptance, for these things are already yours.  You do not have to atone for anything.  You do not have to follow any set of rules or commandments in order to be closer to the Creator.  As a part of Creation, you are already connected to the Creator and to all that has been created, as the source of life is the same for all things, and therefore connected to all things, specifically to the One who created it all.  You have never been nor will you ever be rejected by the Creator.  If you seek a closer relationship, simply reach out and say so, then listen and pay attention to what happens.  You will be heard, and you are already treasured.

As true as this is, it is often difficult for people to believe that they do not have to do anything to earn a relationship with the Creator, but if you believe it, seek it, you can find it.  You do not have to seek forgiveness, for it is already yours.  You do not have to ask for love and acceptance, for these are your birthright.  Lastly, you do not have to seek everlasting life, for it was already given to you upon creation, not physically, but spiritually.  The human body was never meant to last forever.  It is a means to experience physical life and provides learning and experiential opportunities, and human life eventually comes to an end.  However, when a human life ends, the soul leaves the body and returns to its real home and continues to live on.  The soul lives on forever, regardless of whatever you did or did not do during your human life.  You do not have to qualify for this, as it is “part of the deal” of creation.

Everything you need to live a more spiritual life is already in your possession.  All you have to do is spend intentional time and effort towards finding the answers you seek.  We know we are repetitive, but the best place to begin is through self-care – being kind to yourself – self-examination and analysis regarding what is and is not working in your life, and seeking to bring more joy, hope, love, and peace into your life.  These things will eventually lead to a more spiritual life.

Many people would be more comfortable and confident if we provided step-by-step instructions and a to-do list, we know, but rather than giving you that, we prefer to encourage you to come up with your own to-do list, based on what feels right and comfortable and resonates.  Rather than thinking you must meditate daily for twenty minutes in a quiet place, sitting cross-legged on the floor, fasting on only whole foods, burning incents, reciting mantras, etc., we would suggest that you sit with yourself and determine what brings you comfort and solace and pursue those things, while eliminating the things that make you unhappy.  You do not have to learn to read Tarot cards or runes, you do not have to learn to use a pendulum, you do not have to speak to a psychic, hire a guru, or buy a program, unless you want to do these things.  Experiment all you want, until you find what resonates.

Take comfort in knowing that you cannot do anything wrong as long as you or others do not suffer because of it, and the goal is to feel better and know yourself better.  Do not make things more complicated than they have to be, and do not try to repeat what works for someone else, if it does not work for you.  There is no right or wrong way to proceed or discover a spiritual path except as it pertains to you.  We are happy to guide you, if you ask us, and we already believe in you and want to help.  Just remember, you are already loved unconditionally, and there is nothing you can do to change that.

Final Thoughts

I remember when I first started looking for spiritual answers.  I tried many things, revised some, chose to continue to do some things, and cast aside a lot more.  I was guided to study Reiki, which was a major turning point for me, and I learned to meditate in a way that worked for me, although it went through many revisions until I found the way for me.  I read and researched, and I tried several spiritual practices.  Some I threw out, and some I still practice, but the things I kept worked for me personally, whether or not they work for others.  It’s kind of fun and certainly enlightening to enter into a mindset of self-discovery.

Before we grow spiritually, we often have to be in the right frame of mind, and that includes the presence of the Big 4 – joy, hope, love, and peace – in our lives and setting the intention to grow spiritually through whatever means we choose.  Part of that often includes healing, and that is the intention for Friday Night Mediation with the Archangels for the month of July, beginning tonight.  There is a lot of healing that needs to take place for many individuals, the collective, for communities, countries, and the world in general, and we are not going to be able to move forward with sustainable, positive change without it.  Start by being kind to yourself, then being kind to others.  Release anger, fear, and hatred in favor of compassion and the desire for healing and unity.  Just call out to the Archangels if you’d like to participate, from wherever you are, at whatever time you’re available, and offer loving thoughts and energy to anyone and everyone who needs it.  The Angels will do the rest.

Lastly, the Arcturians, high Guides from another world, will also be joining us in meditation, and they also ask us to join them daily, if possible, and offer healing and/or loving energy to the world.  I shared a couple of their messages last month, and you can find them on Medium, Substack, and my website.

I hope you have a wonderful weekend full of joy, hope, love, and peace, and I hope there is healing for whatever bothers you included. 

Blessings, all.