The trappings of spirituality

Humans seem to have an inherent need for ceremony. Significant events in our lives are attended by observations of various kinds: birthday parties, weddings, funerals. Each religion has its own collection of ceremonies, whether Christian, Buddhist, Hindu, or otherwise. Indeed, sometimes religion seems to exist primarily to provide us with a means of commemorating important occasions.

Spirituality, too, has its ceremonial side. We perform rites of cleansing, invoke goddesses and gods, burn candles and incense, chant mantras. Ceremony brings us comfort. Sharing our beliefs and intentions makes us more confident in our convictions.

There is no harm in celebrating your spirituality. Whatever helps you connect with All That Is is a blessing. However, ceremonies are unnecessary. All that is needed is for you to sit quietly and open your soul to Spirit. In your daily meditation, relax and sense your oneness with Spirit. Feel the God-stuff vibrating in your body. Welcome Universal Love into your body and soul. Surrender your being completely. Know that you are a cherished child of God. Trust in Spirit to know what is needed and to provide for you. Let "Thy will be done" be your only mantra. Accept God's love as the only principle of your existence. Reject ego's need to control or direct your connection to Spirit. Affirm that God knows what is needed without your asking and reject the presumption that you know better than God. Sink deeper into acceptance of God's will and know that you are one with Spirit. Let Love flow into you and merge with the essence of your being. Abandon all thought of separation and be one with All That Is. Feel yourself merge with the Spirit of the Universe and accept the sensation of Love and Joy that is the earthly manifestation of Aum, the fundamental principle of all being.

And so it is.