Monday, April 12, 2010

Spiritual Ties

I've been thinking lately about energy and the spiritual connection. I have some ideas I'd like to share and I hope they can come out in a coherent way. These things are hard to explain, and they are very subjective in nature. Plus, terms like "vibration," "frequency" and "energy" also have scientific definitions that don't exactly apply in the way I'm going to use them. There is a similarity in meaning, but they are not scientifically measurable so a scientist would say I'm using them wrong. So be it. This isn't a science related post. This is my attempt to explain my thoughts on spirituality, energy, and the way I am seeing life lately. Good luck to me. Ha.

Life force energy. This is the basis of Reiki. It is also the energy that animates all living things, plants, animals, and people. There is also energy in the earth, and around us. This energy connects us all, like a web or a grid. Someone who is dead does not have this life force energy running through his body anymore. That's the energy I mean.

Science doesn't have an explanation for how life begins. Sure, sperm meets egg. That part we know. Been there, done that. Four times. But what about the soul (life force energy) entering the union of those microscopic parts? That's beyond science. Life is a combination of the physical and the spiritual. We, as living beings, are both matter and energy, physical and spiritual in one package. Our energetic selves extend beyond our physical boundaries. Science gets much about the matter part, but still has trouble explaining the spiritual aspects. And yet we are combinations of the physical and spiritual, with systems that affect each other, intertwined. An example of this is how emotions have a physical affect on our health. Think of ulcers that develop from stress. That's just one example. I'm not saying anything new here, I know.

Now Reiki. Practicing Reiki is a way of putting one's awareness on the energy aspect in order to intend for that life force energy inside us to connect to the grid of the energy around us, and flow more of it to another living being, ourselves, a goal, or the earth itself. We are always connected to this energy, but the act of intending to connect, "turning on" the Reiki energy, raises our awareness of this connection so we can ask for this energy to flow in a certain way. When I do this, I have a physical response in the form of tingles in my hands, and a light pressure around my head and face. Every time. This physical-spiritual connection is consistently validated when I'm working with Reiki energy. I know I am connected by the sensations I experience. I am also able to sense imbalances in another person's energy field by intending to receive information as I'm giving a Reiki healing to that person. This also validates the idea that we are all connected. The recipient feels the energy and experiences receiving it. Stress, pain, emotional blockages are released, and balance is gently encouraged. The recipient is an active participant in his or her healing, as I'm not a "healer," but a facilitator of another person's ability to heal via this energetic connection.

So what does this have to do with spirituality? I'm getting to that. Thanks for bearing with me here.

Okay.

I think that this energy that's inside us, our soul, our life force energy, is all part of Spirit. You know, God, Source, whatever term works for you. We feel separate, and yet we are not. When we do things that raise our vibration to a frequency that allows us to consciously connect with the greater source of this energy (scientific language borrowed here), meaning things like meditation, yoga, energy healing practices, and even gratitude and heartfelt prayer, we become consciously more aware of this connection to the greater Source, and receive its benefits. We can also intend through this connection to share the energy with others. Doing so is really only helping the other person to connect in the same way, so he or she can benefit from receiving an extra measure of life force energy where it's needed. In addition, we can learn to become intuitively aware of the energetic state of other people. It's a process which develops through practice. The more we place our awareness on our intuitive senses, the more that awareness develops.

Many of us feel separate, our energy gets depleted, we get sick or emotionally blocked, because we consciously stay at our "lower vibration," disconnected to the source of the energy that can help us balance, cope and heal. We get caught up in our daily lives and forget to care for ourselves energetically, which is also physically since we are intertwined physical/spiritual beings. Reiki self-healing, and other practices I mentioned, help correct this imbalance, and help us be more whole.

So what I'm suggesting here is that we are always One with the Source, via our energy beings, and when we consciously connect with this Source (via Reiki or other practices I mentioned), we feel connected with the life force energy that's synonymous with God. God is not separate, God is the spiritual aspect of ourselves, and all life, and the earth too. We are all part of God.

I sound so religious right now. Or maybe anti-religious since this is rather different from the way many religious teach about God. Talking about God in a religious sense isn't in my comfort level. But I think a new understanding of spirituality is developing for me, and I want to try it out. My friend Jonathan calls this gnosis - a spiritual knowing that comes from experience rather than intellectual cognition.

There are people who have psychic gifts of clairvoyance, or they see angels, see or hear guidance, etc. They all know how to access this higher "vibration" of energy that allows them to be intuitively aware of these spiritual-based energies. It's all energy, but different from the life force energy shared by living beings. Angels can do healing work on our energy if we ask for their assistance. They live in this "energy realm" and vibrate at a slightly higher frequency than we as physical beings can consciously learn to access.

So there it is. My idea of spirituality, Reiki, life, and all that.

I know what I'm saying is not new, and countless great thinkers have put this idea out there in more eloquent terms in long chapter books already. You'll find shelves of them in the local bookstore and pages upon pages on Amazon. But it's new for me, and it's been pulling at me hard enough to feel I need to share it with you, for your consideration.

Any comments? (I ask nervously....)

18 comments:

Jonathan said...

I enjoyed reading your thoughts. It shows me that you have raised your understanding to a new level and that is always to be applauded. I appreciate that the universe is a grand place of learning and exploration. I find it of particular interest that the universe appears ( at least to me) to be very consistent. From what I see the universe applies the same laws and principles at all levels of creation. A quick example is that atoms group together to for elements and elements group together to form molecules etc until you get to the point where people group together to form nations or planetary bodies group together to form solar systems and eventually the universe/ It is the same mechanism over and over again. Understanding one principle can cause you to understand all of creation. Great going Alice. Whatever will you find in that rabbit hole.

Alice Langholt said...

Thank you Jonathan,

For many things - your friendship, your encouraging me to explore these concepts, and for always giving me new ways to look at life. In the short time I've known you, I've come to appreciate your depth of thought, caring nature, and strong energy. It's a privilege.

Love and light,
Alice

Sandra Cobb said...

Beautifully said Alice. Bravo! I totally understand your hesitancy in speaking about it, because I have faced much resistance from members of my own faith. I have finally broken free of the chains they had on me, or should I say I had on myself. It's nice to see others sharing experiences as they truly get to know God / Energy / Healing / etc. I especially like the way you described Reiki. Once again Bravo! And thanks for helping me on my path.

Amy Oscar said...

I loved reading your thoughts about energy and your emerging sense of how it all fits together as spirituality/Reiki/Life force/god/science.

I'm struggling to articulate the same ideas and questions in my book right now and your blog post couldn't have come at a better time.

Thanks for being brave - and sharing your thoughts. I wonder if you find, as I so often have, that the thing that felt so risky - putting out my "truth"; naming a personal challenge, unmasking some imperfect part of myself - turned out to be one of the best bits of writing (and the most rewarding) I've done.

Alice Langholt said...

Sandra,

Thank you for your comment, and the "Bravo" that helped my confidence immensely! This was a risky and personal post, and I do feel though that writing it helped me connect some of the threads that have been disconnected until I sat down and articulated them.

So glad that you've stayed in touch and are still sharing your thoughts and love.
Alice

Alice Langholt said...

Amy,

Thank you so much for your comment. And yes, I do find that the most personal posts are the ones that come out to be the deepest. I've noticed that in your writing as well.

If anything I wrote is of the slightest use to you I'm so happy I wrote it and you read it. Your writing is simply gorgeous and I have no doubt your book will be a best seller that touches the hearts of millions...mine included.

Much love,
Alice

Anonymous said...

Hi beautiful noodlehead! I think you are right on in your thinking. I have seen wonderful things happen with Reiki for myself and others. More and more we are seeing and accepting that life and the Universe are not compartmentalized the way we may have learned growing up. All is energy and love, and manifestations of that. I appreciate your thoughts and your inclusion of Me in asking me to read your blog. All good things to you. Love "OUR_LORD"

Alice Langholt said...

Dear "OUR_LORD"

How honored I am by your visit and your comment. I was wondering what you'd think of my post, and you didn't disappoint. I'm actually relieved you like it and agree, and I do appreciate your time and thoughts.

Love,
your noodlehead

Jacqueline said...

Alice... I so enjoy reading your beautiful words. I completely agree with your friend Jonathan about gnosis. Spiritual knowledge does come from life experience. That is what started me on my spiriual journey and what lead me to energy healing. It was the first time in my life I felt free to break the chains and have true spirituality rather than strickly religion. I am such a better person and I look at the world through more loveing eyes and I can't wait to learn more. Sometimes the experience that teaches us is very difficult but if you can see the lesson and the growth that can come out of it, it is very beautiful on the other side. Thank you for sharing your words that allow me and others to see just how beautiful life can be.

Alice Langholt said...

Jacqueline,

Thank you for your lovely comment! I'm glad to know that my post resonates and makes sense to others besides myself! It helps me immensely to know that there are people who understand and share this understanding of the interconnectedness and spirituality of life. It really does make a difference!

Love and light,
Alice

Sophie Lhoste said...

You wrote: " They all know how to access this higher "vibration" of energy that allows them to be intuitively aware of these spiritual-based energies. It's all energy, but different from the life force energy shared by living beings."
It is all the same energy. :o)

Alice Langholt said...

Sophie,

Thanks for reading and commenting. I know I still have lots to learn about energy and you have already taught me a lot. It's a combination of learning by experience, hearing the guidance of others, and trying new techniques that help build and shape my understanding. Thanks for bearing with me on my journey and being one of my mentors.

Love,
Alice

Anonymous said...

Alice,
Thank you so much for the lovely post. I am very much in alignment with your thinking. Sometimes I need to slow down and remember this and your post has done that for me. I love your writing to - frank, humorous, and most importantly, authentic. Love and light Alice!

Resolve Headaches said...

Yes it is true that there are flowing energies everywhere.And that it can be utilized for a better purpose.If done the right way Reiki can be very very helpful.

Energetic Healing said...

The basis for life is an energy...the breath and the spirit of life which is nothing but an energy.Reiki helps tap that energy and the others that we are born with but gets blocked through the passage of life.It is very scientific and also healing.

Alice Langholt said...

I don't know that it gets blocked so much as our awareness will decrease if we don't know how to place our attention on that connection. Reiki helps one reestablish the awareness of our spiritual connection to all, and in doing so, to increase our appreciation for that connection.

Thank you for your comment! I'm glad you're offering your thoughts and welcome future comments.

Peace,
Alice

Jacob Nordby said...

Alice,

thank you for the honesty and spirit with which you write. our world is blessed by helpers like you.

namaste

Jacob

Alice Langholt said...

Jacob,
Thank you for reading and commenting. I am so glad to know that you appreciate my writing. Yours is truly exquisite and I'm honored to read your work as I am for you to read mine.
Blessings, Alice