Recently I have been speaking on the topic of “relationships.” I’m thinking about this topic once again in preparation for my NEW monthly series entitled, “Relationships & the Zodiac” (where the Law of Attraction + the Zodiac meet!) It occured to me that we can indeed think of relationships as a spiritual practice. While this may seem a bit odd at first, consider that spiritual development can happen elsewhere than sitting in an ashram chanting OM. In fact, sitting and chanting is the easy part. Mixing it up in life with others is where the dicey part begins. Some of us avoid intimate relationships. Some of us jump in and become part of the spin cycle. And some of us are interested in learning from relationships to be better versions of ourselves.

Living with another (whether cohabiting or not) is a delicate balance. It involves the intersection of two lives complete with a history of “stories” for each. It involves the web of extended relationships each person is involved in. It reflects the mutual projections of each person upon the other. Not for the weak of heart, right?Know that there is much to gain and to learn, and ways to grow from experience in intimate relationships as well.

Here are just a couple of guidelines for us to remember. 1.) It’s all relationship. You cannot exist in this world without participating in a network of relationships. 2.) Be willing to accept full responsibility for your experience of all your relationships. The only common denominator in all of your relationships is YOU! 3.) Know that you are constantly projecting your stories, past experiences and fears onto your relationships. Get to know yourself in a compassionate and authentic way. This is an important prerequisite to having peaceful and joyful relationships with others. Oh, and 4.) Be light with it all. Enjoy yourself and the other person, and be open to what you two can joyously learn together!

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.