[tranquility]

Hi all,

I posted on another thread but I had to share on spirituality as well. I do not practice religion and struggled with what I believed for years. I finally realized a few weeks ago that I believe there is an energy source that is made up of all the good in everyone and that is what keeps the earth going.

I just came back from New Hampshire and while there took a trek in the woods to Diana's Bath - it's a culmination of rocks with water flowing down from the mountains and it forms in a couple of areas like a bath.

I layed on a rock with my feet and palms flat on the warm rock and meditated. All I could hear was the water rushing across the rocks and a few birds here and there.

I felt for the first time that I was part of the Source. I was connected in a way through nature that I had never been before. I layed there with a big smile on my face and just talked to my Source saying what I appreciate and what is making me happy.

I watched the wind just blow through the trees almost as if they were talking. The sun would shine through in just a spot as to illuminate a piece of the forest ground in such a pretty way.

It was truly a beautiful and fulfilling experience.

Tranquility

[(JD)]

(((tranquility))) Sigh. One of the things I miss most is the out of doors experiences I gained when I could backpack, camp, raft, canoe, spelunk. Whew. The quietness and the gentleness of a peaceful area (sans storms of course) will replenish even the hardest soul!

I agree that there seems to be that "collective unconscious" of energy. We can choose to tap into it, gain by it, share it and give back, or not. Of course, one has to realize it's there first. Good for you!

I so appreciate what you are saying. The power of Earth Mother to bring us to the Creator. To align our spirit with the Great Spirit for those moments of genuine awe and appreciation.

Thanks for sharing.....

I love your tag.....Inner peace can bring world peace. I believe that to be true. Give peace a chance.

Hope you have a wonderful day.

[tranquility]

Thanks Sky and Chocolate Lover - you express what I feel and think

Tranquility

people will ask me, what beauty do you find in a bare mesa? or an arroyo? how can you stand to be in the middle of nowhere? i'm never in the middle of nowhere, i'm with myself and my higher power. and if i'm lucky enough to see a wild animal, i know i've truly connected. xoxox pat

[KathyM]

Tranquility

What a beautiful place to have such a beautiful experience. I was drawn to churches as a little girl because I'd heard so much about "God's love." I wanted to learn more about the original architect/landscaper, because it was all so beautiful.

Church was a strange time in my life. It felt like a holy place, but it was so noisy - even when it was quiet. It felt awkward to pray and focus on God when there were so many people around. It appeared to me the people placed more focus on each other than they did God. I'd look around, and I'd only see things made by man - not God - and people worshipping these things and each other. It felt odd that God would want us to worship our own creations on a day set aside for Him. It felt selfish to give Him only one day, and take the other six for ourselves.

As I was walking home from church one day I realized I could still feel that presence - that energy source you speak of. I went out to the woods and realized it was so much easier to pray and focus on God while out in the elements He created.

We had a huge tornado hit our town in '67 on my 9th birthday. When they cleaned up the mess, they piled all the refuse in one spot in a vacant area. For my friend and I, this became our "mountain."

We'd set our alarm clocks under our pillows, then meet on the corner before dawn. We'd race over to our mountain on our bikes, climb to the top, and watch the sun rise. It placed a feeling in my heart that things would be okay - even if they weren't okay, they'd be as they should be. It gave me a feeling of peace to start my day along with the sun.

We'd sometimes laugh about our religions. She was Catholic and learned I'd be going to Hell because I'm Lutheran. I learned she was going to Hell because she was Catholic. We figured we'd just sit up on our mountain as friends and let them fight it out amongst themselves. We later found out we were BOTH going to Hell because we weren't "saved." Geesh, lol. We were best friends until the day she died (cancer), at the age of 26. I don't care what ANYONE says - that woman did NOT go to Hell.

To this day, I'm up before dawn to greet the new morning - good day or bad. I'm disabled and mostly homebound now, so I don't get out as much as I used to. Fortunately, I manage to get out there when I need to.

I'm glad you feel that peaceful connection to the earth. You can recall these experiences whenever you need to find some balance in your life.

[Rapunzel]

That power that you can feel through nature and the earth is very real. I believe that the earth is a living being, with a spirit of her own, and also that she follows the creator.

I always find it sad and unfortunate that any person or group takes it on themselves to proclaim that anyone is going to hell. It is not our place to judge that. Kathy, I am sure that your friend was/is a good person and will be rewarded and will have the opportunity to progress.

Not to push my religion or beliefs on anyone, but I just want to say that believing in the energy that we feel in the universe is compatible with many variations of spirituality and religion. In other words, we are more alike than we are different, regardless of what else we believe. Nature is beautiful, and I will gladly celebrate that with anybody.

[tranquility]

Kathy and Rapunzel - thanks for your shares.

Kathy it's kind of neat that you did that as a kid. Reminds of a movie I just saw but I don't remember the name. Where 4 girls use to come together and do this little ritual and one was a queen and she named the others. Years later her daughter came to the ritual and became close with her mother - it was neat. By the way - I'm sure your friend is not in Hell either - I'm sorry you had that loss.

Rapunzel your right - we should all be able to rejoice in earth. It's such a pure an enlightened feeling. I think part of the problem is that as we get overcrowded we tend to forget. Now that I'm back in RI I am going to start looking for some ponds and streams that I can go an commune with on a regular basis to keep this spiritual feeling inside me.

Tranquility

[KathyM]

Tranquility

I read your post in another thread where you say you don't believe in God. It made me laugh because what you describe in this post makes it sound like you do. As least it does according to my description of "God." It's really just a word - like "energy source" and "Creator." When I'm in a sarcastic mood, I'll sometimes call him/her "Joe" just to see if lightening strikes me.

It serves to bring you peace and balance in your life, and it gives you strength to keep moving in the right direction. Your experience sounds like it opened your heart and connected you with a greater power than your own, and it certainly didn't sound "evil." Does it really matter what name you give this source?

I have a friend who doesn't believe in God, and he teases me when I pray. He says I'm talking to my imaginary friend, lol. He could be right, he could be wrong, but I don't see the harm in talking with "Joe" when I feel inclined to do so (Kathy ducks).

May the Source be with you, lol.

[tranquility]

Hi Kathy -

I understand what your saying. The reason I say I don't believe in God is because of 2 reasons. One is I grew up as a Catholic and had that idea of God drilled into me and I didn't accept it. Also, normally when people discuss "God" they are speaking of the biblical God and I don't believe in that either.

I do believe in a power greater than myself, but it's not the traditional God that most believe in.

I belong to a 12 step program and I was really struggling because I can't get around the word "God" as it has been taught to me. So I thought long and hard about what I do believe and that is that there is an energy source that is greater than me. When I started calling it Source I suddenly was much more comfortable, able to meditate, and able to talk to the Source.

-Tranquility