| |
| |
|
Spirituality Information |
|
|
|
Moving On Gracefully: Leaving Your Spiritual Group
While there are alot of warnings and admonishments regarding what to look for in a spiritual community there is very little to rely on when you are contemplating moving on. Most folk consider leaving after some kind of personal blow up. They feel misunderstood or mistrust the leadership of the group. In a heated discussion they decide to quit. There usually isn't alot of thinking about it, more of a emotional reaction. Their anger or feeling of victimization usually soothes them for quite a while after leaving as well as the stories they sometimes tell of how horrific things were for them. Most of these folk are new, less than 1 year in the organization and its easy to fall back on the cliche that 'it just wasn't right for them'. But what about the seeker who has devoted a inordinate amount of time to the group, let's say over 5 years? A personal blow up isn't going to cause a dedicated member to lose her cool and quit...At least not right away. She knows disagreements come and go, as well as people, but she's committed to her path and the Deities she serves. What type of things should she consider? The retreat that she's organized faithfully for the past few years? Or the land that the group purchased with alot of hard work and sweat where she planted a grove dedicated to Diana? Should she continue to work on the newsletter that only she knows how to layout? Or should she stop doing the outreach programs to local schools and media that she does every Samhain? She is acutely aware of the part she plays in the group and what she will miss as well as all of the things connected to it. What types of things could she look at to help the decision and resulting transition to move as smoothly as possible? Here's a several ideas and suggestions to think about when dealing with the decision to leave a coven, circle, temple, or other type of spiritual organization. These suggestions only work if the organization you are involved with respects and trusts your judgement of what is right for you. This may sound ludicrous for some folk but alot of organizations do not. If you are involved in a organization that doesn't encourage you to review your journey with your spiritual leaders, to sit down and be honest about your thoughts of leaving and why, and doesn't offer you any support during the transition in a healthy manner, these suggestions may not be useful to you as a tool to use with the leadership but to work with in a journal or a supportive friend or counselor. 1. Review your committment to the organization. Before you leave completely consider gently passing on taking on new responsibilities. Perhaps you may find another path of service to the organization as fullfilling as the one you last held. 2. Take a sabbatical. Time away from a situation can lend some clarity to it that being involved cannot. 3. Realize that you may have grown and changed in some ways you aren't completely aware of. For all of the rhetoric of facing your shadowself and the related drama you may have simply reached a point in your life where you are ready to pursue another path of personal growth. If you are fortunate you may be able to maintain your same spiritual family, but then again, you may not. 4. If you are feeling that the group is stagnant, consider organizing a new program with the support of the group. You may feel as if the group isn't growing. After mapping out the work hours and resources needed you may choose to consider a new outreach project or program to pursue within the group. 5. Consider that you could be in resistance to growing in the particular way that this group is supporting you to grow. Sometimes as much as we think we are open minded and flexible our spiritual path can act as a magnifying glass to show us areas where we are not as we see ourselves to be. Instead of quitting be still and realize that the situation you are in just may be something you simply don't want to deal with, not a situation to run from. It may be a challenge to be faced. 6. Review your goals and boundaries within the group. It is possible that you have met your original goals for joining, or perhaps you didn't have any when you joined. Now with new responsibilities and changes in your life you don't have the free time you had before to attend every group function. Look at what your goals are. What are you in the group to do? Why are you in this particular group? If you don't know it is important that you find out. It is easy to feel unfullfilled when you haven't any clue what fullfillment is to you or how to measure it. 7. Look at the role you play within the group. If you are involved in committees that aren't working choose to relinquish that role when your term on the committee is up. Don't have a term? Start encouraging the group to set them. Not just for yourself but for everyone involved. Burnout can be dealt with and avoided with some planning. Working with these ideas may make the difference between revitalizing a spiritual organization or leaving it altogether. Meri Tahset is a Spiritual Counselor, Sistaservant of the Spirits, and Aborisha. She is co-founder of the Forces of Nature Metaphysical and Spiritual Center of Seattle WA. More info about her online courses in healing, rootwork, and spiritual studies can be found at http://www.sistahealer.com and you can reach her at forcesofnature@mindspring.com and (206) 781-3565.
MORE RESOURCES:
Spirituality - Google News |
|
|
|
RELATED ARTICLES
New Hope For Global Peace In a recent article entitled "Some Evidence of How We Are Spiritually Connected" I reported on a case study where I was able to give some evidence as to how individuals who have overlapping life histories share such histories as information stored in what I term "interpersonal", "shared" or "collective" thought fields. These fields hold all the overlapping memories, experiences and beliefs that the individuals who are connected to those fields hold in their consciousnesses. The Best Laid Plans We all know that the best laid plans of mice and men sometimes go awry, so we shouldn't be surprised when the best laid lifeplans go awry, too.What "looks good on paper" doesn't always look as good when it comes up in your life, especially if - like so many of our learning experiences - the person or the situation that we're dealing with proves to be less than a positive experience. A Crash Course in Tarot for Newbies #2: All About Tarot Decks If you would like to learn to read tarot cards, your first challenge is to choose a deck from the 8,000 or so published brands of fortune telling cards on the market. What works for one person often doesn't for another. Karma: Is It Good or is It Bad? You Decide! We hear this word so often and have one thing stuck in our mind - it's either a bad thing or a good thing. The other issue is: do we believe in Karma? Regardless of whether we believe in that word or not, it is still there. Getting Back to the Basics of Truth Anyone who has invested time, energy and effort into finding their own truth knows that ignorance is NOT bliss. Understanding the religious environment that we grew up in should be the natural first step towards defining our own belief system. The Importance of Honoring Mothers and Fathers With another year full of family events coming upon us, those of us that are lucky enough to have parents to honor will celebrate Mother's and Father's Day. We set aside one day a year for this, but it should be something we do everyday of the year, as commanded by God. Working with God Not a Failure!Those of you who are unemployed, or desire a career change, or perhaps, like me, want to expand the work you already have, may notice things are not happening as fast as you had hoped. Take heart! You are not a failure and there is nothing wrong with you!Recently I listened to a woman harshly chastising herself; "I've been avoiding doing what is necessary to get my new career going - I haven't written cover letters, made the necessary contacts, and have even sabotaged myself by stopping my daily runs. Spiritual Healing - The Hidden Truth and Misconception Throughout history, what is portrayed in all religions as being the manifestation of prayer or miracles is in fact manifestation of our connection with the essence of our Soul and the manifestation of the power of spiritual healing. We have heard throughout the centuries about such miracles that have happened to people, and how they changed their lives. Spiritual Healing: In The School of Christ Spiritual healing of the sick in Christ has many Christians in a kind of spiritual vise. On the one hand they read about spiritual healing in their Bibles. Being Being"You have taken yourself to be something that you are not". - Sri Nisargadatta MaharajEach is loved unconditionally, unequivocally, eternally. Zen and Peace (The Road To Lasting Harmony) Presently, many of us live in uncertainty. Due to the world situation and the many changes in society, there is a sense that at any time, our lives may be disrupted. How to Forgive Someone We've all heard the saying, "You have to forgive, but you don't have to forget." I won't refute that, but you have to agree that a lot of people use that excuse to never 'really' forgive at all. Life Dont Work That Way It would be nice if the planet - like so many other things in modern day life - came with a guarantee. "If, for any reason, this planet fails to yield the resources required for, or the environment conducive to, the continuation of the species commonly referred to as homo sapiens, God agrees to replace this planet at no cost to the inhabitants at any time within one eternity at no cost to the inhabitants themselves. Natural Talent Before Donna was born she took with her a dollar, Peter took with him a pen and Harry brought along a hammer. These were the only significant things that these people brought with them into their physical lives from birth. Knowing The Holy Spirit! "You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses?to the ends of the earth." -ACTS 1:8Thousands of evangelists from more than 130 countries have attended the International Conference for Itinerant Evangelists, sponsored by the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association. Attachment - Bondage or Moha - Their Role in Gaining Enlightenment Attachment.. Christian Ethics & Servant Leadership in Todays Workplace & Society Sundered Knight:Although the world, Denies the weak aid and justice, Scorns charity, Diminishes morality And Godly virtues daily.Holding no places for honor Nor honesty And exiling all Who hold these traits dear, Still, It is better to be a sundered knight Than no knight at allBy S. Gods and Energy An interesting question that frequently comes up is "Which Gods do you follow or worship?"My usual, and frequently misunderstood, answer is - "none and all of them". I don't debate the existence, validity or 'good'ness or 'bad'ness of any of the various deities. 10 Interesting Facts about Archangel Uriel 1. The name Uriel means "Light of God" or "Flame of God. Shallow Victories How many of you out there have ever wondered if a life of faith is worth it? Don't shy away from me, because you know there have been instances in your life when the bad guys won. The world is not fair, and the concept that good always triumphs can seem like fiction when you look around and see deceit running rampant.
|
| home | site map |
| © 2006 |
