what does it mean to be spiritual?

[winnie]

I am just generally interested to know what people consider spiritual. TIA

[SpoiralTheEejit]

Me too. It's one of those words bandied about by Carole Caplin/scented candles/Reiki types which seems to mean nothing.

[southeastastra]

i think it's just how you feel, being in connection with the earth and elements, scented candles have nothing to do with it imo. buddism always seems very spiritual to me, thinking of others ahh

[southeastastra]

oh dear i killed that one!

[melsy]

I visit here for chat and they coincidently had this on their front page , might help explain some things.

spirit and soul

[winnie]

melsy, thank you for that link.

I need to think about this some more and come back to this.

[MaryBS]

For me, spiritual means prayerful, open to the spirit, even 'filled with the spirit'

[BernieBear]

Sorry to hijack, Melsy - great site - thanks for that link

[MissChief]

makes me think of the poem
"what is this life if full of care
we have no time to stop and stare"

it's the time to stop and stare that does it for me whether through meditation/painting/prayer/country walks..Can't imagine a life without having moments to take stock like this.
we need more such threads on MN!

[MissChief]

but then dh takes the piss and says
"what is this life if full of woe
you can't run as fast as Sebastian Coe"
spoils the moment rather...

[Heathcliffscathy]

spirituality to me means believing in something more than the computer keys that i'm touching and the carrots in the fridge, more than the physical, the 'scientific'. It means gratitude, openess to the importance of ritual, of thought.

to me it means the concept of grace, that is surrender to something bigger and more powerful and filled with love, love itself.

and it is personal, religion and spirituality can overlap, but spirituality is individually lead rather than dogma lead.

[MissChief]

quakers intrigue me, very much individual rather than dogma led.

[Heathcliffscathy]

me too mischief. one day i might get round to going to my local meeting house, it's very nearby.

[MissChief]

i went once to a meeting, yrs ago in central london. very peaceful, very calming. everyone was welcoming but i did feel out of place as i was the only "visitor", all the others were born & brought up as quakers..