Recently a headline in my local newspaper caught my eye.  It read, “Trend toward ’spiritual, not religious’ worries professor.”  The article describes serious concerns of Linda Mercadante, a Worthington resident and professor of theology that negative societal changes will result from the growing trend of those saying they are “spiritual” but not “religious.”  She states that recent studies have shown that at least 25 percent of the population fall into this category (spiritual, but not religious or SNBR), and that she herself used to as well.  She says repercussions may be a decline in moral values and structure, as well as social services, such as networking.  Mercadante says this should be a “wake-up call for religions” to actually practice what they really believe. 

I found this article to be fascinating in light of “the shift.”  As I have referred to in my former blog posts, we are rising to a new order of ourselves as human beings.  And part of this dimensional shift in consciousness includes changes that I believe explain the growing numbers of those identifying as SBNR.  These changes include:  greater intuitive discernment, decreased self-centeredness and separation, non-judgement and more forgiveness, unconditional love and less attachment, non-duality (ex., good/bad).   

All the world’s religions are based in the same core spiritual premises, namely the oneness of existence and the essence of love as the core of all creation.  However thousands of years of human interpretation have rendered this core essense unidentifiable as the various faiths have differentiated along ego-based lines to exercise control over their religious members and to discredit other religions.  What began as a love based core premise has turned into a fear based system of religious competition and control.  History readily displays the utter destruction and devastation that this path has rendered. 

The spiritual path of fourth dimensional consciousness invites us to see sameness instead of difference.  It invites inclusion versus exclusion.  It reminds us that our intuition is our direct connection to Divinity, and that no interpreter, bridge or tour guide is needed.  Indeed the most metaphysical and powerfully spiritual writings were edited out of the Christian bible in the fourth century A.D.  (For further info, read The Isaiah Effect, by Gregg Braden.) 

I want Linda Mercadante to know that all is well and that there is certainly no need to worry about the state of spiritual affairs.  In fact, I will invite her to read this blog post and to consider that what she notices with concern is clear evidence of the shift of human consciousness beyond categories and divisions, and into the holistic and loving understanding that we all seek, and ironically, that all the world religions were founded upon.

Much has been written in the past couple years about “the shift” which refers to this key slice of time in which we are now living.  One effect is an acceleration of time.  The earthquake in Chile on February 27th resulted in a shifting of the earth’s axis.  This shift caused a slight shortening of the length of each day.  This means that time is indeed going faster.  I was truly amazed at the physical manifestation of the dimensional energetic shift we have been learning about.

So much is being revealed to us.  The end of 2009 marked the end of a decade, but to numerologists it also represents the closing or ending of chapters.  It is interesting to see how many businesses and systems are being effected, and how much change is being stirred up in the economy and marketplace.  While the onset of change often frightens people, remember that it is crucial for life to renew itself.  Evidence is ever so close at hand as we see the snow disappear and bright green shoots beginning to appear.  Spring is our gentle reminder that change brings with it new growth and wonderful possibilities.

~Victoria