Adventures of an embodied spiritual newbie

What were the spiritual threads I’ve followed throughout my twenties, into my thirties, and now approaching 40 years old? How do I know where I’ve been?

I look to my bookshelf.

For most of my life, I have approached spiritual matters through my mind and intellect.

A spiritual seeker, for sure, but often more of an inhaler of spiritual knowledge, rather than an on-the-ground, in-the-nooks-and- crannies-of-life practitioner.

As I glance at the color-coordinated books strewn about my apartment, they range from the Akashic records, to Christian and Jewish mysticism, tarot, A Course in Miracles, indigenous wisdom, the Enneagram, mindfulness, plant medicine, and Celctic spirituality.

When I look at each book, I remember that time in my life. That chance encounter. The unexpected way a given spiritual idea drifted into my consciousness.

So often my soul was nourished by the words on a page. I’d implement some of the ideas into my life. Most of them, however, were fleeting. I’d stick with the idea — live into it for a solid few days — then stumble across some other spiritual candy.

I’ve admittedly been more spiritual dabbler than deep-diver. Breadth and variety, for whatever reason, have always captured my attention. Perhaps it’s because there are so many voice, modalities, and ways of living. There’s wisdom in many places across the world.

In other ways, it feels like I have been searching for a spiritual home ever since going beyond the religion of my childhood.

Last fall, I started experimenting with breakthwork, using the Othership app. Even though I’m a natural-born softie, prone to crying at commercials and simple things that touch my heart, I was taken aback at how many emotions were lodged in my body.

I’d so a short, 7-minute breathwork session, and the tears began to flow. Heading into my third week of consistent, morning breathwork, it’s wild how grounded, and in-myself I feel. In some ways, I feel as if I’m getting a new body and mind.

Even more recently, I tried Kundalini yoga for the first time, at the nudging of my boyfriend who is a certified Kundalini teacher. Similar to breathwork, I’m noticing a movement within my body and spirit that I’ve honestly never felt in my life.

In the past when I’d read about a new spiritual idea, I’d be in awe for a bit, then it would wear off. This embodied approach feels so different. I’m experiencing, instead of thinking.

Part of me feels silly, just now realizing this different approach to spirituality. But here I am, eager for this new beginning ⬩