Our spiritual self | In search of soul

In search of our spiritual self

Many of us have learnt to see spirituality as being almost synonymous with religion. To be spiritual, as we understand it, is to be religious. If we do not believe in some kind of supernatural being or reality, if we have not committed ourselves to a particular religious tradition, then we often think of ourselves as not being spiritual. At one time in my life, that is how I understood spirituality too. But as I have listened to many people's life stories over the years, I have come to realise that, whether we are religious or not, all of us are spiritual beings. All of us are spirit and soul as well as mind and body. Our spirituality is a fundamental part of the very fabric of our humanity. Whether we recognise and embrace our spiritual self or not, it is always there within us, always open to us, always waiting to be attended to.

Putting it simply, our spirituality is our own unique and constantly evolving way of experiencing and expressing ourselves as spiritual beings. For our spirituality is many-faceted. It is not only our sensitivity to the spiritual dimension of our experience. It is not only the physical sensations which flood our bodies and the heady mix of feelings that flow through us when we sense 'the More' as the philosopher, William James called it. It is not only the thoughts, images, metaphors and symbols that surface in our minds as we seek to penetrate its mystery. It is not only the everyday things in our search for the More – spending time soaking in the beauty of the natural world; losing ourselves in the literature, music and art that speaks to us; gazing with wonder at the moon and stars; baring our souls to the people who see us as we truly are amongst other things. For it is also our way of being. It is the way in which we live out the ultimate beliefs and values we hold as we engage with each other and with the world around us. It is the fruits that our spirituality bears in our lives and the way in which these are lived out in our actions.

From time to time, we may find ourselves talking to each other about 'what really matters'. We may spend time reflecting on what it is that gives our life its meaning and purpose or on the core beliefs and values that we hold most dear. We may become aware of the depth of our longing to be a better person, to feel more alive or to become more fully who we really are. Whenever we do so, we are expressing our spiritual self.

For spirituality is also about learning 'to live deep... to suck out all the marrow of life' in the words of the philosopher, Henry David Thoreau. It is about waking up to what really matters, to 'the more' of our human experience. And it is about coming home to soul.

Spirituality is the art of home-coming.

John O'Donohue

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