Nearly two months ago, Princess Nokia spoke atBrown University about spirituality, and nearly a month later, all of social media began spreading her infectious vibesat least 40,000 times. On Tuesday (July 11), the Afro-Nuyorican took to her Instagram account to thank everyone for the positive affirmations and messages sent her way following the viral clip.

The 25-year-old recording artist also took the time to open up about her journey to the level of spirituality that she has reached thus far.

READ: LAMC SummerStage Battles U.S. Radio Format With Princess Nokia, F & Mon Laferte

When I began my spiritual journey almost 6 years ago at 19 years old, I had much to learn about the mysteries of life, indigo phenomenon, clairvoyance, magic, the reclamation of afro diaspora, conscious evolution and vibrational oneness, the Metallic Butterfly artist began. It has been a wonderful, eye opening last few years of studying and co existing within the sacred realm of light. It has been a both painful and rewarding path that has tested my discipline, commitment, and health. It has tested my emotional, psychological, and spiritual well being. It wasnt always rainbows and sage bundles.

In the last month I have received a large amount of positive affirmations & messages in regard to the viral clip of my talk at Brown University regarding spirituality & magical identity. I have been overwhelmed by the amount of LOVE that has been received and communicated by SO many people, of all ages and worlds alike. I never imagined that my thoughts on spiritual solitude and evolving within the divine feminine and sacred living would be regarded so warmly. Thank you world, for acknowledging my intellect and beliefs, that are deep rooted in so much love and positivity. When I began my spiritual journey almost 6 years ago at 19 years old, I had much to learn about the mysteries of life, indigo phenomenon, clairvoyance, magic, the reclamation of afro diaspora, conscious evolution and vibrational oneness. It has been a wonderful, eye opening last few years of studying and co existing within the sacred realm of light. It has been a both painful and rewarding path that has tested my discipline, commitment, and health. It has tested my emotional, psychological, and spiritual well being. It wasnt always rainbows and sage bundles. In fact it took a long time to fully understand and utilize the information and lifestyle that id been studying and trying to use. What I will say, it has all been worth it, to bask in the knowledge of self, the love of GOD, and understand the conscious mind. It has been life changing to study different forms of healing, wellness, therapy, and apply them to my self with the utmost of purity and good intention. Spirituality is a general connection to the Divine and Sacred. It is a relationship and knowledge of higher cosmic learning. It is a pathway to higher consciousness, and vibrational living. It is a vital part of re healing this broken society and world, but healing ourselves as people. It is a part reshaping our concepts and perceptions of health, interaction, energy, and almost every facet of every day life. Ive decided to use @smartgirlclub as a bigger platform in helping communicate this education. It will be a platform for spiritual wellness, Divine healing, Educational magic and Afro indigenous identity @smartgirlclub

A post shared by New York City Aficionado (@princessnokia) on Jul 11, 2017 at 9:20am PDT

Before thanking the world for acknowledging [her] intellect and beliefs that are deep rooted in so much love and positivity, Nokia continued to note that the journey has been all worth it.

Since her fans and the rest of the world were so drawn to her spiritual wealth, sending positivity and affirmations her way thereafter, she decided to reciprocate. The G.O.A.T. rapper-singer announced that she will be utilizing her Smart Girl Club platform for spiritual wellness, divine healing, educational magic and Afro indigenous identity.

READ: Solange, Willow Smith, & More Plot 2017 Afropunk Atlanta Takeover

Big ups to Destiny Frasqueri for spreading the majestic Afro-Latinx spirituality vibes, because there really is enough to go around. Scroll through some of the Smart Girl Clubs posts below to catch the vibes, education and positivity.

READ: Sampha, Kaytranada, Princess Nokia & More Announced For Afropunk Brooklyn 2017

READ: Femcees Are Still MIA On Major Festival Bills, Care To Explain?

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Princess Nokia Will Use Smart Girl Club To Promote Afro-Indigenous Spirituality - Vibe

Trish Roddis. Photo: Matthew Peddie WMFE

For nearly 10 years the Community Center 729 in Orlando has been a place of yoga, meditation and spiritual retreat. Founder Patricia Roddis has another mission too, which is helping the homeless.

Roddis started the Non-profit Community Center 729 in 2007 as a place to explore spirituality. The center,just off of North Mills Avenue, offers classes in yoga, meditation and spiritual development.

Roddis also helps the homeless by providing them with food, clean clothes and other essentials. said Roddis.

It came down to IDs, steeled toed shoes, and resumes, said Roddis.

And that pretty much summed up what was the difference between someone getting a job and not.

The center always has clean clothes and can help with food when it is needed.

If I want to really sum up the center that is one of the amazing things about it, I can put out a news letter saying that this is what were wanting [items for people in need] and it floods in, said Roddis.

The center holds meditation classes around every night, and yoga classes every other night at the center, and serves all walks of life.

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Intersection: Community Center 729 Explores Spirituality And Helping The Homeless - WMFE

Low-cost, local events happening this week. To be included, your event must be family friendly, cost less than $25 per person and take place in Cecil County as well as adjoining areas within a 20-minute drive. Please submit the event title, time, address to accent@cecilwhig.com. Once approved by an editor, the event will be listed until its completion date. It will run in the print edition as space allows. You can also submit to a separate online calendar at cecildaily.com.

ICE CREAM SOCIAL,7 to 8:30 p.m. at Oxford United Methodist Church, 18 Addison St., Oxford, Pa. Free.

YOGA, 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. at Painted Turtle Arts Studio, 13 N. Main St., North East. Ongoing $15 drop-in. Multi-level for everyone. Call instructor Laura Hannan at 1-540-421-0296.

CLUTTERERS ANONYMOUS, 6 to 7 p.m. at Janes United Methodist Church, 213 N. Walnut St., Rising Sun. Clutterers Anonymous is a 12-step program to help people solve their problems with clutter/hoarding. There are no dues or fees. Contact Martha H. 443-350-1483.

YOGA, 7 p.m. weekly classes at Cecil County Arts Council, 135 E. Main St., Elkton. Intro class is free. Then pay $10 per class or buy five classes for $45. Classes are designed for new and experienced yogis. Contact class instructor Sarah Mester at smester@comcast.net.

IMPROVE MENTAL HEALTH, 7 p.m. at 229 E. Main St., Elkton. Panic, fear, anxiety, depression. Attend a free weekly meeting with Recovery International.

FREE LUNCH, 12 to 1 p.m. every Friday at Elkton Presbyterian Church, 209 E. Main St. provided by Elkton Community Kitchen. All are welcome. For more information contact elktoncommunitykitchen@gmail.com.

SUNDAE AND A MOVIE NIGHT, 6:30 p.m. at Zion UMC. Make your own sundae and then watch "Beauty and the Beast." Free.

SMART RECOVERY, 10 to 11:30 a.m. at Janes UMC in Rising Sun. This meeting is for those recovering from the disease of addiction. This is an open support group that meets every Saturday.

SATURDAY EVENING SERVICE, 5 p.m. at Trinity Episcopal Church, 105 N. Bridge St., Elkton. Will recur every week at this time.

PUPPETS AND PEACH ICE CREAM, 6 p.m. at Harts UMC Amphitheater, 3203 Turkey Point Road in North East. Puppets and music performance by Jack Foreaker. Free admission. Refreshments will be on sale, including Harts famous Turkey Point Peach Ice Cream.

OUTDOOR WORSHIP, 9:30 a.m. rain or shine outdoor interdenominational service at Elk Neck State Park hilltop shelter, 4395 Turkey Point Road (Route 272, 9 miles south of NEUMC). Gil Nagle.

PARISH SUNDAY SCHOOL, 9:45 a.m. at Zion UMC in Cecilton. Recurs weekly.

DEBTORS ANONYMOUS, 6 to 7 p.m. at Janes United Methodist Church, 213 N. Walnut St., Rising Sun. Debtors Anonymous is a fellowship of men and women who help each other solve their problems with debt. DA is a 12-step program. There are no dues or fees. Contact Martha H. 443-350-1483.

NARANON MEETING, 7 p.m. at Bethel Lutheran Church, North East. Hope and Peace every Monday. Contact Lorri: 443-250-0909.

WOMENS NA MEETING, 7 p.m. at Bethel Lutheran Church, North East.

YOGA 4 SENIORS, 9 to 10 a.m. at Painted Turtle Arts Studio, 13 N. Main St., North East. Pre-registration is required. Call instructor Laura Hannan at 1-540-421-0296. $12 per class if all six are pre-paid or $15 drop-in.

SENIOR MEETING, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at St. Stephens Parish Hall in Earleville. Anyone 55 or older is invited to attend. Come and meet your neighbors. No membership fee. Lunch is served. Come for the fellowship, speaker, see what events we are planning. Questions call 410-275-8150. Recurs weekly.

MENS YOGA CLASS, 11 a.m. at Painted Turtle Arts Studio, 13 N. Main St., North East. Pre-registration is required. Call instructor Laura Hannan at 1-540-421-0296. $12 per class if all six are pre-paid or $15 drop-in.

COMMUNITY ARTS AND CRAFTS, 1 p.m. free instruction at St. Stephens Church, 10 Glebe Road, Earleville. Ongoing drawing and painting classes for beginner or serious artists. bspelled123@gmail.com. http://www.communityartandcrafts.com. Call Jerry at 410-275-2945.

TOPS, 5:30 p.m. at Rosebank UMC, Rising Sun. Nonprofit weight-loss support group, meets weekly. $6 monthly fee. First meeting free. topsrosebank@gmail.com.

NARANON, 7 p.m. every Tuesday at Elkton United Methodist Church. A Nar-Anon adult support meeting for those with addicts in the family.

MEDITATION, 7 p.m. every Tuesday with Three Roots Wellness at Painted Turtle Arts Studio, 13 N. Main St., North East. Learn basics of meditation practices and how to make it useful in your everyday life. Donation based. Registration is required email to angela@threerootswellness.com.

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Religion and Spirituality Events: 7/12 - Cecil Whig

Lisa Feldman Barrett does not want her leg to be broken. But shell choose a fractured tibia over the atrophying of her hippocampus any day. A stupid choice in the shaky world of hypotheticals, she tells me, but truth is its easier to mend a bone than grow back neurons.

Barrett knows plenty about neurons. A University Distinguished Professor of Psychology at Northeastern University, Barretts new book, How Emotions Are Made: The Secret Life of the Brain, is a groundbreaking investigation into how our brain creates emotions. While Im going to discuss this process in an upcoming article, the timeliness of her theory on neuronal damage and justice cannot be ignored. Suffice to say that instead of being reactionary animals in a world of stimulation bombardment, Barrett believes, with plenty of evidence, that humans are creators of cognitive and emotional experiences every step of the way. Emotions dont happen to you; you create them.

In her book she contemplates how the government treats the concept of harm:

The law protects the integrity of your anatomical body but not the integrity of your mind, even though your body is just a container for the organ that makes you who you areyour brain. Emotional harm is not considered real unless accompanied by physical harm.

If she were to break my leg, she says, she would be held accountable. But what if she berated me? Or inflicted casual brutality, as, say, countless trolls on Twitter every day? Communication and social skills are two reasons weve evolved into an apex predator that took control of the planet, yet the same skills compromise our public health when we peck out immature rants on social media. As she says, with a slight laugh,

The best thing for a human nervous system is another human, but the worst thing for the human nervous system is another human.

This problem is especially damaging to children. Bullying and abuse have long-term effects. Children who are bullied become sick more easily throughout their life due to compromised immune systems. Their hippocampus and parts of their prefrontal cortex suffer neuronal death. Chances theyll develop diabetes, heart disease, and certain cancers increase.

Even worse, their lives might be shortened. The protective caps at the end of your chromosomes are called telomeres. Each time a cell divides your telomeres are shortened. When they end up too short, you die. One of the main adversaries of telomere length is stress. Bullied children have shorter telomeres.

Barrett recalls that old trope about sticks and stonesnames can kill neurons is how she phrases it. Since our legal system does not associate words with weaponry she believes our society is ill-equipped to deal with pervasive bullying. And this is no longer a childhood phenomenon. We elected one of the biggest. What some call strength is really destruction en masse. Yet the blame is not aimed at him alone.

If you look at what has happened to public discourse and entertainment over the last decade you can see that we have a culture of casual brutality. The way that people look at and speak to each other has really deteriorated.

She mentions network television sitcom research that investigated the frequency in which verbal abuse, bullying, and relational aggression occurs. Once every four to five minutes a character is denigrated, usually to a laugh track. The victim often responds casually, taking it in stride as if no offense has been rendered. Thats not what happens in real life.

Barrett admits shes not a lawyer and is not equipped to deal with the specificities of law. Yet she believes emotional pain needs to be considered. In the long run its more damaging to the health of victims. Because emotional pain is not quantifiable in the way a broken leg is its difficult to measure the effects of bullying and verbal abuse. Yet over 20 percent of children have reported being a victim or perpetrator of bullying, while 13 percent have been involved in electronic bullying. Their pain and suffering is real.

Though uncertain how to approach this growing problem she says the research is crystal clear. Barrett casts aside any notion this is a liberal plea; the evidence is not debatable. And its not only affecting children. She links the record numbers of people on opioids and anti-anxiety and depression meds as part of the larger problem. Words can harm you.

If you and I wanted to sit down and create an environment that would make people sick and distressed, we couldnt have done a better job, frankly. This is why people think the political climate in the United States is very seriously a public health issue.

Our toxic political climate is doing irreparable damage to the national nervous system. We can no longer turn to elected officials for guidance, which brings into question their leadership capabilities. Our life spans are being shortened tweet by tweet. Whats trickling down helps no one, perpetrator or victim. Were all in this together. The longer it takes to realize that, the more we all suffer.

--

Derek's latest book,Whole Motion: Training Your Brain and Body For Optimal Health, is out now. He is based in Los Angeles. Stay in touch onFacebookandTwitter.

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Is Bullying A Public Health Issue? - Big Think

At a recent gathering, I heard a man say the following: We are concerned with what type of world we are leaving our children; We should also ask what type of children are we leaving for the world.

As a practicing Buddhist for over ten years, my belief system is simple, effective and always provides me with opportunities to grow and evolve.

There are not many institutions that allow individuals to constantly strive to better themselves and as a result, the world.

Most religions and spiritual practices encourage a great deal of conformity and very little self reflection that can, if we allow it, lead to some serious transformation.

I know of no one outside of my practice who is committed to self transformation to the extent that we (practitioners of my particular sect of buddhism) pride ourselves on being.

It has always struck me as odd when people say they have no spiritual practice and believe in nothing but themselves.

One of the greatest aspects of a spiritual practice is that it allows humans to be with other humans.

One of the greatest aspects of a spiritual practice is that it allows humans to be with other humans.

We learn and grow from human interaction particularly if what we are doing is focusing on personal transformation that engenders global transformation.

While openly admitting to having a spiritual practice is often frowned upon, it is imperative that they exist and people look at all the ways they practice spirituality without labeling it as such.

Anybody who fights for human rights, ending violence in all its forms and eliminating domination and unfair treatment of others and oppression is doing spiritual work and has a commitment to a spiritual practice.

Bell Hooks refers to those who do the work of ending domination as doing the work of love.

Men who want to transform themselves would be wise to heed these words.

As men, we must not be afraid to humble ourselves to the parts of ourselves that cry out and demand serious, real connection, change and uplift.

The most powerful men I have met have a spiritual core and devotion to spirituality that is awe inspiring.

We can let go of domination and king of the hill shenanigans that mask fears of the other and an unwillingness to be vulnerable.

With spirituality there is a wonder (a not knowing) that most men are uncomfortable with and yet this is what is needed if men wish to allow the best, most loving and thoughtful part of themselves to prosper.

Men have been taught that to wonder and not know is dumb, weak, unforgivable and can only lead to trouble for all involved.

When man can retire the cape, get off the white horse and admit: I dont know; the world and themselves can change and true transformation can occur.

We should allow ourselves permission to not know, to dwell in the spiritual.

This must be allowed without interference, judgement or punishment.

We can not demand that men evolve when the essential component of spirituality is missing.

Men who care for children, support the elderly by driving them to agreed upon destinations and who listen to women and anyone who might know more about a subject than they do are practicing a sacred spirituality.

Men have been taught that to wonder and not know is dumb, weak, unforgivable and can only lead to trouble for all involved.

Invite the men in your life to a temple, a mosque, Sunday service.

Remember no revolution or inner transformation can survive without a devotion to the spirit.

When I pointed out this reality, some folks didnt agree and doubted that the core of any revolution and social change was based in a devotion to spirit.

Any time there is a break away from commonly held beliefs regardless of their effectiveness or sincerity, you are asking for and ushering in a revolution.

We are asking men to change and show us their best selves which is revolutionary and can only be carried out when radical spirituality is at the center.

Men are smart enough to figure this out and there should still exist space for us all to question, debate and sample all manner of spiritual commitment.

Maybe you were brought up in the Judeo Christian construct (and if you were raised in America, you were) and have a difficult time breaking away from what is familiar and moving into and towards the unknown.

It is important that we open our hearts and minds to what other folks believe and the ways individuals structure their lives according to what they find important.

If any institution, no matter how well meaning, suggests that you be less human or give up big chunks of yourself under the auspice that you will win later, run.

Anything that demands more of our humanity and not less is what we should focus on.

Previously published on Anthony Carter

Photo by Nana B Agyei

Anthony Carter combines his love of theatre, writing, storytelling, and black queer feminist theory to create projects that inspire all to greatness, including having been a semifinalist in the Strawberry One Act Festival 2007 with his play Breakfast for Dinner. His book Unfettered Mind: The Importance of Black Male Mental Health, released in 2012, offers several winning strategies for remaining mentally healthy and emotionally resilient in a rapidly changing world.

Mr. Carters second book, Strong Stuff: Tips on Surviving Unemployment, offers insight on maintaining self-esteem and personal friendships while one searches for work. Based on personal experiences (2.5 years of unemployment and some homelessness), this latest book is full of exercises and quick easy to read and apply tips for thriving despite being jobless. In February 2016, he is publishing his first collection of Sci-Fi/ - speculative fiction short stories entitled Rules of Reality.

Anthony Carter and his husband are joyfully co-raising nine grandchildren while relentlessly devising techniques for the worlds evolution. You can visit him onlinehere.

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Developing a Spiritual Practice as a Way to Change Men and the World - The Good Men Project (blog)

Final year students of Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) at the University of Rajasthan (RU) will have to write a new paper from this academic session. The paper on Indian management thought and business leaders will have five units, said Naveen Mathur, professor of business administration at the university.

Last year, the university had incorporated lessons from the Indian epics in the syllabus of MCom (Business Administration), Master of Human Resource Management and Master of International Business.

The first unit of the new paper includes topics such as spirituality, Indian ethos and values, western values vis--vis Indian values and applications of yoga in management. The second unit has dimensions of Vedic management, Bhagwad Gita, Ramayana and Kautilyas Arthashastra and the third unit deals with Indian thinkers such as Swami Vivekananda, Mahatma Gandhi, SK Chakraborty and CK Prahlad.

The fourth and fifth units of the paper are devoted to Indian business leaders including JRD Tata, RK Bajaj, GD Birla, Dhirubhai Ambani, Narayana Murthy, Azim Premji, Lakshmi Mittal and Sunil Bharti Mittal.

The university has also recommended six books for the BBA final year students. Among the recommended books are publications such as Vedic Management by S Khanna and Bhagwad Gita As Viewed by Swami Vivekananda.

The addition in the BBA syllabus was made in the last academic session, but will find its way into the books from this session. Mathur, who was also the convener of the departments board of studies that took the decision, said that India has a rich intellectual history and its imperative to acquaint students with that history.

In addition, we need to subvert the Macaulays system that is prevalent even today, years after the British rule ended, said Mathur.

Macaulay, a British academic, was instrumental in introducing English and western concepts to education in India during mid nineteenth century. The knighted Britisher was known to be condescending towards Indian texts.

While the Indian epics and thinkers are only additions in the BBA, some western thinkers were compromised to accommodate the Indian epics and thinkers in the postgraduate courses.

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Now, University of Rajasthan's BBA students to study epics, yoga, spirituality in final year - Hindustan Times

Latina

Here's Why This Year's Afro-Latino Fest Will Spotlight Black Spirituality Latina A panel titled #BlackLivesMatter in Latin America, Part 3: Diaspora, Spirituality & Resistance," will feature Duke University Ph.D. student Ayanna Legros, along with various other forums advocating for black lives and the essence of spiritual importance.

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Here's Why This Year's Afro-Latino Fest Will Spotlight Black Spirituality - Latina

The world lost one of its greatest rappers ever when Mobb Deep's Prodigy passed away last month from complications related to sickle cell anemia. Prodigy had been battling with the disease for his whole life, which he discussed in detail in his music. Not long before his unfortunate passing, the hip-hop legend sat down with Dr. Siri Sat Nam Singh of VICELAND's The Therapist to discuss some of the pain, both mental and physical, that he experienced because of the sickness, which ultimately inspired some of the greatest hip-hop ever made. His session will be the show's season finale and airs on Monday, July 10 at 10:30p.m. on VICELAND.

"It made me not believe in God," Prodigy recalls his early dealings with sickle cell in his session with Dr. Siri. "Just having conversations with God, begging God to make the pain go away and then the pain wouldn't go away. So I'm like 'Who the hell am I talking to? God is not responding.'" Those experiences led Prodigy to search for spirituality and understanding in higher levels of consciousness, giving way to his openness to supernatural forces.

Though his death may have highlighted it, Prodigy's ability to share his pain, while dark at times, was one of his greatest gifts as an emcee. That vivid imagery and detailed accounts of anger and pain is what helped Mobb Deep rise to critical acclaim. His transparency touched The Therapist executive producer Andy Capper as a young fan and is why he couldn't let an opportunity to have Prodigy on the show pass by. "We reach out to a lot of people but when Prodigy came up as a maybe I said, 'We gotta get him,'" Capper said in a recent phone conversation. "Being a long time fan, I remember those records when they came out. It was like the Joy Division of hip-hop. Prodigy lived through a lot. He had sickle cell, he'd gone through other stuff, he survived G-Unit. Selfishly I always wanted to meet him but never met him."

"Whenever I'm conducting a therapy session, I really don't know what's going to unfold. That which stood out in Prodigy's session was the pain that he had experienced throughout his lifetime from sickle cell," Dr Siri remembered over the phone. "He had excruciating pain and said doctors couldn't help so the only one he could call out to was to a higher consciousness. I knew that was some of his work this lifetime; He had these otherworldly experiences he always talked about so it seemed like that was the gist of the session; this immense pain that he was having was deepening him into a relationship with that consciousness. Because that's all he could call on to get rid of that pain."

During the session, Prodigy touched on being delivered a message by a Jesus-like figure in Mobb Deep's earlier days, seeing shadows in his bedroom, and being visited by UFOs. Dr. Siri saw those experiences as the late rapper having a keen level of intuition and genius that even he may not have been able to fully process. "When I spoke with him he was so profound and so deep," Dr. Siri said. "Yes, there was this humility and this lack of real deep awareness of how intelligent and really sharp he was, even though he was legendary. He came across to me as way above average and still sort of had a mentality that he was every man."

When asked if Prodigy's death presented a dilemma on whether or not to release the episode, Any Capper believed that it would be a disservice to fans to not share it: "It was 100 percent the plan to put this out when we heard about his passing because it's like, this is Prodigy. This is one of his last talks. Why would you not put it out? As a hip-hop fan, I've always gotten frustrated with how artists are interviewed. With The Therapist, you're just getting these really open interviews with no bullshit around them. It's a great conversation with one of the greatest artists of all time. Why hold that from the world?" Watch a trailer for the episode below:

Follow Lawrence Burney on Twitter.

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Prodigy Spoke to 'The Therapist' About Spirituality in One of His Last Interviews - Noisey

If youve lived on earth a while, you have likely already experienced at least one tragedy or significant loss. Do you sometimes wonder, When will my next turn come? The answer is about as clear as a high smog day in Los Angeles. Only God knows.

Life (and death) are so unpredictable. Back in the day, people joked about how unpredictable the weather was but now your phone app tells you in seconds whether it will be raining next week or if you should stay indoors because of a heat advisory.

If only there was an app to clue us in on impending personal doom.

But really, would you live life differently? Here are some painful things I know people have endured. Just imagine:

You take your small child to the doctor for a sinus infection and find out she has a rare cancer and likely weeks to live. She survives but only after extreme and painful treatments for years to come.

Your sweet dad sinks lower into the depths of dementia, often not knowing who you are.

Your son is about to start a dream career as a pro ball player and suddenly dies from an unknown illness.

You reach across the bed to give your spouse a morning hug and hes cold to the touch massive heart attack in the night.

You find out that youve been cheated by someone you trusted and your life savings has vanished.

Your college kid goes along with friends to a concert and is killed in a car crash on the way home.

Your friend walks into a store thats being robbed and is shot. Wrong place, wrong time.

Your twins are 2 years old when you are diagnosed with late-stage cancer. Then your husband says adios.

This is just a tiny sampling of some I know about. Im sure you are already mentally adding to the list because its unending.

Tragedy, crisis and loss happen every single minute. Its breath-taking and impossible to fathom how other peoples lives keep going when yours is smashed to pieces.

Tragedy is a far cry from some of the things that cause stress and rob contentment on a daily basis. (Kids behaving badly, traffic, pressure from the boss, too little money). Perhaps God allows true devastation in order for humans to gain back some authentic perspective?

While there isnt an app to predict your upcoming crisis, there is a book that tells us to know it is coming. John 16:33 says, In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.

You may not know when its your turn for tragedy, but no one escapes this world without experiencing unexpected heartache.

All those people who joyfully went to see Ariana Grandes concert in Manchester didnt imagine or give a thought to being killed, maimed or in the eye of a terrorists storm.

The delayed point of all this downer/disaster talk is to be reminded that:

Life is so precious and yet so fragile.

Your turn for tragedy will come, but God will get you through it.

Worrying is useless.

You cant prevent or predict pain and loss, but you can be intentional about finding joy and choosing contentment along the way.

Remind yourself every day to distinguish between routine stress (life in a first world country) and true catastrophe. Youll be in a much better place to face the hard stuff ahead if you know and love God, serve others and value yourself. This is what Contentment Connection teaches.

I pray that you are feeling the comfort of the Lord if you are in the middle of a tragedy. I pray that you are embracing contentment if its not your turn yet.

Ahwatukee Foothills resident Diane Markins can be reached at Diane@DianeMarkins.com. See more of her writing at DianeMarkins.com.

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Loving God, serving others prepares you for tragedy - East Valley Tribune

Black resistance in Latin America and the Caribbean has been historically tied to spiritual practices. The preservation of Afro-diasporic traditions like santera, vodou, and candombl is already an act of defiance against the legacy of slavery, prohibition, and brutal oppression. Theres power in these practices, and a panel at this years Afro-Latino Festival in New York seeks to make a precise connection between spirituality, resistance, and #BlackLivesMatter.

We had organized two talks and co-edited a collection of essays that dealt with issues of transnationalism, conceptualizations of blackness, and cross-cultural solidarity, with regard to contemporary black social movements in both the U.S. and in Latin America, says co-curator Larnies Bowen, an NYU Latin American and Caribbean Studies MA candidate. Yet we realized that we had not yet seriously engaged spirituality in any form in relation to these issues.

The panel, titled #BlackLivesMatter in Latin America, Part 3: Diaspora, Spirituality & Resistance, is part of an ongoing #BlackLivesMatter series co-curated by Duke University Ph.D. student Ayanna Legros, which included several other panels, as well as an essay applying a transnational approach to the movement advocating for black lives.

Afro-Latino Fest 2016. Courtesy of Afro-Latino Festival

The organizers believe it is crucial to underscore the centrality of religion in the social and political struggles of afrodescendientes, as there is a longstanding commitment to spirituality in the communitys resistance efforts. Take the Haitian Revolution, which started with a vodou ceremony at Bois Caman. Or Brazils largest slave rebellion, the Mal revolt in Bahia, which began during Ramadan. Other examples include the Nat Turner Rebellion, the role of the Black church during the civil rights era, and African Americans and Puerto Ricans embrace of Islam during the Black Power movement.

As a student of the African diaspora, you learn about all of these major acts of black resistance that were inspired by or led by leaders of various spiritual traditions and/or religions. These are only a few examples, Bowen added.

Today, in the face of erasure, many communities have turned to ancestral Afro-diasporic spiritual practices, like the Afro-Mexican womens dance group Obatal, who use dance as a medium reconnect with their roots.

Now more than ever, I believe many of us are feeling a sense of urgency to co-create more spaces where we can access our ancestral medicines, preventative care strategies taught to us by our grandmothers and to reclaim practices that support our physical, emotional, psychological, and spiritual well-being and agency, says Beatrice Anderson, an artist, healer, If practitioner and one of the invited panelists. Our ancestors spiritual technology made it possible to withstand the most traitorous and violent times.

Afro-Latino Fest 2016. Courtesy of Afro-Latino Festival

Recently, music and TV have become powerful vehicles for making the transnational and individual healing power of Afro-diasporic beliefs visible, particularly for black women. Thanks to the Oshn imagery in Beyoncs massively popularLemonade, and artists like French-Cuban duo Ibeyi, Daym Arocena, NY-based Oshn, and the Puerto Rican group F, African-derived spirituality is enjoying plenty of visibility in pop culture. The challenge is translating individual empowerment into a collective effort.

With this moment of heightened black activism, from Black Lives Matter to Buenaventura, were seeing greater visibility of African-derived spiritual traditions here in the U.S., like the prevalence of Orisha imagery in Lemonade, online conversations around bruja feminism and its hashtags, and Princess Nokias song Brujas, says Bowen. As she notes, this past month, Colombians in the regions of Buenaventura and Choc went on strike to battle the economic injustices they have faced in predominantly black areas of the country. While these strikes have an obvious connection to the struggles of black diasporic people living in the United States, much of these and other movements for black justice in Latin America arent explored up north, despite the ostensible rise in conversations on Afro-Latino representation.

The issues [in Latin America] involve police and state-sanctioned violence in many cases complete abandonment of whole regions where black folk live, says Amilcar Priestley, one of the main organizers of Afro-Latino Festival. In many communities, issues of violent displacement due to narcotrafficking, civil war, mining, hydroelectric projects or tourism/hotel development abound. Prison conditions, lack of jobs, daily racial profiling, being able to wear natural hair or braids as a professional or someone who is employedSound familiar?

Featured panelist Beatrice Anderson shared how African-derived spirituality is tied to healing work, and given President Donald Trumps push to gut the Affordable Care Act, she says it is crucial we act now, given the effect it will have on women, girls, and trans folks. Systemically and historically, white supremacy and oppression have had very specific and long-term effects on the mental, emotional, and physical state of black, indigenous, and people of color, she concludes.

Afro-Latino Fests symposium will also include conversations touching on activism, environmental rights, culture, and, in line with this years theme A Tribute to Women of the Diaspora womens issues.

Afro-Latino Festivals AfroLatinTalks symposium will take place at Harlems Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Friday, July 7. Visit the Afro-Latino Festival website for more information.

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This Year's Afro-Latino Fest Will Highlight Black Spirituality as ... - Remezcla (blog)

You never want to admit that your mental illnesses affect the most important aspects about yourself. You cover-up, you lie, you bury the sick parts of you and hope theyll just go away one day.

My own mental illness came to affect the part of myself that was trying to heal me.

I was ten when it was first suggested to me that I might have depression, and for a long time it didnt seem to be something about myself that I could help. I was constantly sad and sluggish, with my world sounding muffled and appearing grayed-out and blurry.

It was always a silent, cloudy day.

At the time, I considered myself Christian in name only since I knew of no other path I could walk. But I can recall several times in my life when I isolated myself and prayed as earnestly as I could -- palms pressed so hard that they could fuse, eyes clenched tight, head bowed low in respect -- that this numbing ache that engulfed me and all the problems it caused in my life could just go away. If God saved people, what would it take for Him to save me, to bring happiness and life to my world again? No response could bring me the change I desperately sought.

At fifteen, by chance, I ended up with a book that would slowly introduce me into the world of Paganism. The words and knowledge I drank in ended up nourishing my heart and soul in a way I had been starving for for ages. The magical spirituality called out to me in a language I could finally understand, one Id never heard from other religions I had grown up hearing about. My world opened up that day, blooming like a flower right before my eyes.

What drew me so much to Paganism was the emphasis on personal power and healing. They werent new concepts to me, as they were advertised in countless self-help books my older sister recommended. But the language in those pages seemed too impersonal and clinical, and never clicked with me. Paganism wove my own natural interests of the earth with my need to seek a healing touch for my life. It really struck me, like sparkling white inspiration, that I could become a stronger person on the inside by manifesting my wishes with physical act and spiritual intention. I didnt have to leave it in anyone elses hands, or wait for a miracle; there was a personal power already inside me that could influence my environment and shape my life for the better.

(For the record, I dont dismiss Christianity or professional self-help methods; after all, these both helped the well-being and peace of other members of my family. Neither were simply for me, is all.)

Everything went well for a few years, as I studied and read with enthusiasm. I was in college by the time I could start practicing Paganism with others. Most days went well, and brought a unique happiness to my life. But in practice, I came to some familiar roadblocks.

Sometimes I was too depressed to work enough energy for a spell. My spellwork became sloppy and my meditations were sometimes less-than-fulfilling. During rituals with my group, I often wondered if I was able to draw enough energy to contribute, if my magic was potent enough when I had to dig at the bottom of the barrel.

Then I began to have doubts -- was I enough to even follow the Pagan path, to bring healing and change?

It suddenly seemed daunting and too tiring a wish, all the research and energy I had to expend to learn how to better my world.

I came to learn an important lesson: by no means is my spirituality a magical -- if youll excuse the pun -- cure for my mental illnesses. If it was, then there would be no work put into taking care of myself. This wasnt a path I wanted to give up, simply because of all the love and magic for the earth and the universe and myself.

Nowadays, I realize that the small things are all the difference in the world sometimes. As long as the intention is there, you can make magic; your personal power doesnt have to manifest in mighty, flashy ways.

I cant have in altar in my current living situation, and neither can I do particularly large spellwork. But I still rub lavender oil behind my ears to calm my anxiety through the day. I still make chamomile and mint teas to soothe my depression. I light cinnamon incense or white candles if I feel there is too much negativity clogging up the house or if I simply need a healing touch. Sometimes Ill stare at the flames flicker or the curling wisps of smoke, imagining casting my anxious or depressive thoughts into the blackest part of the flame, and have them evaporate away from me.

These are not flashy pieces of spellwork, and are so mundane that anyone could do them, but tiny tools such as these still provide bits of magic to my life, and surround me in a clean, peaceful aura that makes me feel like I do have the power to heal myself, to bring power to myself.

It takes time. Perhaps a lifetime. But I have the tools to weather through the bad days; Im learning more and more how to channel my energy, how to bring positivity to my environment. Even if I feel the heavy weight that my efforts are fruitless, what matters is that I do them anyway. As I learn more about myself and this path, I discover new ways to heal both others and myself.

And that word is more magical and powerful than others may realize, and its the reason I still do anything that I do:

At the end of the day, I want that to be my personal power.

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Personal Power: My Experience with Spirituality & Depression - HuffPost

I am frequently asked whether religious or spiritual practice can improve our mental health, or mitigate specific symptoms of a mental illness.

The answer to this is difficult for three primary reasons, mainly centered on generalization.

First, there are myriad religions and spiritual traditions, and to lump them all into one category is misleading and mistaken.

Second, mental health is a deep, highly personal, and multi-faceted phenomenon.

Third, and above all, we are all individuals; the way we react to our inner and outer landscapes is as varied as Nature herself.

That being said, we can certainly make some useful distinctions.

Today, lets look at religion versus spirituality.

As I see it, religion is a structure of beliefs usually centered on a singular conception of divine identity as well as a body of text like the Bible which provides a structured bedrock. Many folks feeling adrift as the result of a mental illness will find solace and security in a religion.

While belief may be a profoundly personal journey, the external referent is commonly a necessary foundation its inherent proscriptions and (often) inflexibilities a comfort.

Spirituality, in its more basic colloquial definition, is more ephemeral, perhaps more personal though it is an absolute precondition for religious belief.

Folks whom I have interviewed for this article have described their personal spirituality as ineffable, fluid and deeply individual. (I will say, too, that many of my religious friends describe their faith experience in the same way.)

But here on the Coast, especially, there is sacredness about the forest and ocean a sense and experience bordering on mysticism that can soothe the troubled mind of its difficult moods and give deeper meaning to existence.

Decades of studying, experiencing, sharing and writing about mood and mental health have revealed to me that most folks living with emotional distress follow a pattern a bit like the stages of grief.

The first stage is: Why? Why me? What did I ever do to deserve a mind so uneasy and exhibit behaviour so unlike me? So out of control? This is the stage most often accompanied by a sense of guilt and anger.

It is at this point that religion may provide a necessary port in the storm, for religion (as I have briefly defined it) is steady, proscriptive. A degree of inflexibility, orthodoxy, is an anchor. But that is sometimes not enough, or is just the first step.

For some folks, the why question yields to acceptance, where the quest for understanding and deeper existential significance moves to a state of surrender, where the separation between self and ego melts into a sense of unity with Nature.

We on the Coast are blessed. We have incredible, quiet forests to walk, full of colour and birdsong (and the odd bear). We have beautiful beaches with their tides and smells. And we have churches, for those who find solace there.

When we come to understand ourselves as being in harmony with Nature or with whatever divine presence we recognize we find peace in the knowledge that we are a part of creation, no matter what our ego tells us. And that is where self-judgment ends and the path to peace begins.

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Religion, spirituality and mental health - Coast Reporter

Local DJ Namaste Shawty, also known as NoNo, plays tracks by underground artists, focusing on female rappers and punk artists, [anything] with a message to empower ourselves. Shes joined by two co-hosts: Oakland rapper Queens D. Light and activist Imani Atlantic, whos currently pursuing a PhD in microbiology at UC Berkeley. Over less than two hours, the women open up about a variety of topics, from mental health and social justice to sex, witchcraft, race, and pop culture.

Las Brujas Radio is gaining popularity in an internet landscape thats increasingly receptive to occult and pre-Christian religious influences. You may have noticed an uptick in friends discussing their astrology signs or paying attention to the phases of the moon. This cultural infatuation is spurred in part by content circulated on platforms like Tumblr and Instagram, where mystics can share their practices with increasingly wider audiences.

For Las Brujas, the emphasis is on witchcraft as a mode for self-care and healing. Most episodes focus on a specific political or social issue. In addition to sharing their own perspectives on a given topic, the women highlight tools to help their listeners cope, from rituals and spiritual texts to services available in the community.

As Atlantic articulated it, the shows mission is twofold: To connect folks, our homies who have businesses or art projects, and to speak on our own experiences and not have it be whitewashed, not have a man tell us what our stories are.

Thats especially crucial when many of the non-Christian rituals gaining popularity are also being co-opted and whitewashed. Expensive ayahuasca retreats, for example, cater to predominantly white audiences. Las Brujas aims to reclaim these rituals for women of color and other groups that historically were persecuted for practicing them.

All of the women mention the energy of the Earth, nature, and the cosmos as important for their spiritual development, and the show incorporates customs from a variety of sources. One recent episode featured a ritual calling on the power of Ra, the ancient Egyptian sun god, and on their latest episode, NoNo started the show by reading a formal affirmation that was intended to break contracts with outside energy that wasnt serving her.

Affirming yourself is something that people have to do every day in the face of oppression, Queens explained. She emphasized that while some rituals require special knowledge or preparation, others are daily practices that many people engage in without even realizing. We wanted to make it so that its not taboo to talk about ritual, she added.

In a previous episode, all three hosts found that they start their mornings with the same custom that gets them ready for the day. We found out we all be dancing in the mirror, said Queens. We be dancing naked in the mirror in the morning, and thats part of our personal rituals that we didnt even know we had in common.

In addition to destigmatizing witchcraft, one major cornerstone of the shows activism involves publicizing resources: giving shout outs to fundraisers going on, publicizing events in the community, and highlighting organizations and programs that listeners may not know about. In their latest episode, Las Brujas highlighted the birth services and doula training program offered by Oakland womb practitioner Sumi Franklin.

Much of Franklins work focuses on queer families and families of color, and the hosts talked with her about issues facing these communities throughout the birthing process, from gaps in insurance coverage to the legal thicket of queer parenting rights. Queens, who was eight months pregnant at the time of the show, answered questions from listeners and addressed some common myths about pregnancy.

This emphasis on audience participation, on making the conversation comfortable and accessible to their listeners, allows the women to bring up urgent social issues in a way that isnt draining. And by destigmatizing spiritual practices that have helped them cope, Las Brujas empowers their listeners with healing techniques that help them take on these issues.

As NoNo put it, Were saying fuck you to mainstream media and creating our own outlet to express ourselves and create a sense of community.

Las Brujas Radio is recorded monthly. To find out when the next show will happen, check Instagram.com/LasBrujasRadio. To listen to previous episodes, visit Soundcloud.com/NamasteShawty/Sets/Las-Brujas-Radio.

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Las Brujas Radio Champions Spirituality for Political Empowerment. - East Bay Express

The five of us, all in our 20s, recently went for a trip to Uttarakhand in North India. Our prime destination was the holy city, Haridwar, where we reached a day later than expected after being delayed for 26 hours due to fog. We spend the first day sleeping like babies after a tiresome train journey.

The next day we planned to contact a local guide who would help us take a stroll around the city. It felt amazing as we spent the evening by the beautiful Ganges and observed the people around. There were kids attracting the coins thrown into the river as offerings with magnets. People floated flowers on leaf bowls and incense sticks on the water, making it look like a river of lights.

This and the sandhya-arati(evening prayer) performed by the priests at dusk were the most satisfying sights in the three week trip. They were a treat for the eyes. At Haridwar, we visited the Patanjali Yogpeeth, which is not only Indias but probably the worlds largest yoga institutes.

We went around the legendary temples mentioned in ancient Hindu scriptures like the Adi Badri, which appealed the most. Another was the Surkanda Devi temple, one of the 51 Shakti Peethas located high in the peaks of a mountain. Legend has it that because of the steep climb and the time it takes to reach the temple only a selected few, blessed with divinity, could make it to the top.

The Mansa Devi temple was comparatively easier to reach, but both could not be covered on the same day. Haridwar is a moderately congested city like Kolkata. However, one can spend days just observing the beauty of this city. Rishikesh was also a part of our trip.

There we visited the famous suspension bridges like the Ram jhula and the Lakshman jhula over the Ganges which remains crowded all day. We travelled to Kankhal with which our Haridwar tour came to an end. Next. we started for the extremely beautiful town of Mussoorie.

The hill station was still in a mood of celebrating the New Year. It seemed a different place in terms of culture and weather.

It is much cooler and more beautiful in resemblance to the other northeast Indian cities. Often known as the Raat ki Rani, it really lives up to the name! The lights all around during the night, makes the city glitter like golden ink smeared on black paper. We were left mesmerised to have seen such an amazing sight for the first time. The next day we visited the Gun Hill and from there we went to Dhanaulti.

In the evening we went around shopping for souvenirs and gifts for home. As we looked around the market, beautiful Garwali folk music was being played which sounded light and pleasant to the ears. We expected to catch a glimpse of Ruskin Bond at a cafe he is heard of usually visiting and meeting his fans, but was deprived he couldnt come that day. We hired a car from Mussoorie to Dehradun.

This city was special to us because of its strategic and military importance. We first hit the streets of Moti bazar where second hand army gear was available for sale as well as many other things ranging from daily-use products to clothes. I was delighted to have bought a beautiful World War II British Army dagger replica, of robust construction and good quality.

After taking a stroll around for some more time and tasting the street food of the city, we called it a day. Next morning, we went to the Rajaji National Park which is a lovely tiger and wildlife reserve, Robbers Cave and the Clock Tower. That was the end of our trip.

The next we boarded the train from Dehradun station, rich with colonial extravaganza. We began our journey back to home with lot of memories.

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Spirituality amidst nature - The Statesman

The spirituality of the Order, whose principal features are presented here, proceeds from the following of Christ according to the teachings of the Gospel and the action of the Holy Spirit. Its principal point of reference is the teaching and example of Saint Augustine, complemented by the tradition of the Order. The principal document of our spirituality is the Rule, which must direct our lives and action. Augustinian spirituality, developed over time, and enriched by the example and teachings of our forebears, ought to be lived according to the circumstances of time, place, and culture and in harmony with our charism.

The fundamental norm of religious life is the following of Christ, set out in the Gospel, that motivates us to live in love according to our particular consecration. So above all, we must have love for God and for our neighbor (Mt 22,40), as the supreme norm of the Gospel and the mandate of Jesus to his disciples, after the model of the early community of the Church in Jerusalem, established under the holy apostles (see Acts 2:42-47).

To love Christ means to love the Church which is his Body, mother of Christians and depository of the revealed truth. In the Church, we have been made into Christ. If he is the Head, we are his members, for the whole Christ is the Head and the Body. Let us be,therefore, witnesses of intimate union with God and a leaven of unity for the whole human race.

The Christian life will be renewed daily in us and will flourish in the Order if each of us will assiduously read, devoutly listen to, and earnestly learn the Sacred Scriptures, especially the New Testament, because almost every page resounds of nothing but Christ and the Church. Moreover, the friars should remember that prayer should accompany the reading of Scripture so that there may be a dialogue between God and man.

The Eucharist is the daily sacrifice of the Church, the Body of Christ, which offers itself to God in him. Therefore, all of us who have consecrated ourselves to Christ, who is loved above all things, should experience the same love for that great mystery that set the heart of Saint Augustine on fire. For the Eucharist is the sign and cause of the Churchs unity in the bond of love, and inspires apostolic activity and involvement in the world and in history.

We are all members of the Whole Christ together with Mary, the mother of Jesus. Mary is the sign of the Church: she gave corporal birth to the Head of this Body. The Church gave spiritual birth to the members of this Head.Because of her authentic faith, firm hope and sincere love Mary accompanies us while we journey in this life and sustains our apostolic activity.

We tend towards God continually and insatiably, consciously and unconsciously, in order to enjoy the infinite good that fulfils our desire for happiness, because God has made us for himself and our hearts are restless until they rest in him. For that reason, our common dedication is to seek without limits Him who should be loved without limits. But we cannot seek God together, except in Christ Jesus, the Word made flesh for us. He is for us the way, the truth and the life, such that starting from the visible flesh we arrive at the invisible God. For this reason, personal and community prayer, study and the cultivation of knowledge, reflection on the realities of our time and apostolic activity, are indispensable factors in our search, which lead us to the things which are the concerns of society. For nothing human is foreign to us, but rather involves us more in the world, the ambit of God's love (see Jn 3:16) and of encounter with him.

Love comes from God and unites us with God, and through this unifying process it transforms us, so that overcoming all divisions, we are made one, until finally God is all in all (see 1Cor 15,28). This communion of life which Augustine proposes to us in imitation of the primitive apostolic community (see Acts 2:42-47), is an anticipation of complete and definitive union in God and the way to achieve it. While it is true that this holy sharing of life among the brothers is a gift of God, still each one of us must make an intense effort at perfecting it until unity in love is achieved. This unity in love, composed of many souls, will continue to exist in the heavenly city, which "will be the perfection of our unity after lifes pilgrimage. Our communities ought to strive on earth to be signs of this unity, keeping the example of the perfect community of the undivided Trinity before our eyes.

Following the example of Saint Augustine, love for the Church brings us to a total availability for its needs, by accepting the tasks which the Church asks of us, according to the charism of the Order. Friars should remember that this availability for service to the Church constitutes one of the essential characteristics of Augustinian spirituality. In addition, when we are open to the world we feel ourselves in solidarity with the human family and involved in its concerns, especially through an openness to the needs of the poor and the suffering, in the knowledge that the more we are united to Christ the more fruitful will our apostolate be.

Finally, in order that our Order may always go forward in keeping with its true spirituality, the friars should strive to offer "free service to God," not forced by necessity, but moved by love. Without seeking their own righteousness (see Rom 3:10-20; Gal 2:16) let them do all things for the glory of God, who works all things in all (see 1 Cor 12,6). Let them live in the assurance that: "It is a grace of God that the brothers live in community; it is not the result of their own doing or their own merits; rather it is his gift." This is to fulfill the saying of the Rule that we should observe all our obligations in a spirit of charity "as lovers of spiritual beauty ... not as slaves living under the law but as men living in freedom under grace." We who have been freely created and redeemed, freely called and justified, should render thanks to God and carry out our mission in peace and humility, rejoicing in hope and in the expectation of the crown of life (Rev 2:10), by which God, in rewarding our good deeds, will in fact be doing nothing more than crowning his own gifts.

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Spirituality - Order of Saint Augustine

Spiritual but not religious.

This tagline has become increasingly popular with the millennial generation aged 18 to 34 and University of Virginia Associate Religious Studies Professor Matthew Hedstrom has spent a lot of time asking why. Hes finding answers in todays consumer capitalist culture.

A Pew Research Center survey, published in November, revealed that millennials are less attached to organized religion than their parents or grandparents were at the same age, with only about 40 percent saying religion is very important in their lives. However, the same survey revealed that about 80 percent of millennials believe in God and increasing numbers identify with statements like I feel a deep sense of spiritual peace and well-being or I experience a deep sense of wonder about the universe.

UVA Today sat down with Hedstrom to find out more.

Q. What are some factors driving millennials away from organized religion?

A. I think that a lot of it has to do with the perceived political entanglement of religion, especially Christianity. Really, when we are talking about people leaving religion, we are talking about people leaving Christianity. When you look at the numbers, the growth of the religiously unaffiliated is almost entirely related to people leaving Catholic and Protestant churches.

There has been a particularly steep drop-off since the 2000s, which I believe can be attributed, at least in part, to the sex abuse scandal in the Catholic church and the debate about gay marriage.

This does not mean that millennials dont believe in God. There are a growing number of religiously unaffiliated millennials who still report believing in God, and even praying regularly, and many of these call themselves spiritual but not religious.

Q. What is the relationship between millennial spirituality and consumer capitalism?

A. Spirituality is what consumer capitalism does to religion. Consumer capitalism is driven by choice. You choose the things that you consume the bands you like, the books you read, the clothes you wear and these become part of your identity construction. Huge parts of our social interactions center on these things and advertising has told millennials, from birth, that these are things that matter, that will give you fulfillment and satisfaction. This is quite different from agricultural or industrial capitalism, where someones primary identity was as a producer.

The millennial approach to spirituality seems to be about choosing and consuming different religious products meditation, or prayer, or yoga, or a belief in heaven rather than belonging to an organized congregation. I believe this decline in religious affiliation is directly related to the influence of consumer capitalism.

Q. The abundance of choice available to many Americans today has led to what psychologists call analysis paralysis being afraid to make a choice because there are so many options. How has this impacted millennial spirituality?

A. Millennials, especially middle- and upper-class millennials, have so many options, as it has become easier to move around and interact with the rest of the world. A peasant living in 14th-century France would not have faced the same conundrum about whether or how to be a Catholic. A millennial today can access information about Catholicism, Protestantism, Judaism, Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism and various pagan beliefs with just a few clicks, or just by talking to people they encounter.

This is both liberating and paralyzing. Having so many options creates a lot of anxiety about which religious beliefs, careers or relationships millennials should choose. Spirituality allows millennials to avoid choosing one religion and instead combine elements from many.

Q. There are many criticisms of the millennial generation that theyre entitled, lazy or materialistic. Youve studied them and taught them for years. How would you characterize millennials?

A. In many ways, I see this turn toward spirituality as a rebellion against the materialism they have been surrounded by. The millennials I see have a lot of economic anxiety, which is very understandable after the recession. They wonder if they will be able to have the same lifestyle their parents had. They are worried about student loan debt and about getting a job in the current economy. They want to be financially comfortable, but I think most of them only see this as a means to an end.

They also want to be a part of something larger a spiritual belief, perhaps, or a movement to improve the environment, or social justice. I dont see millennial college students today as shallow or selfish. I see a deep amount of understandable anxiety and a lot of care for the larger world and lifes big questions.

Q. Do you see the move away from organized religion continuing?

A. It is hard to say for certain, but I do think that many of the things driving this shift such as consumerism or scientific critiques of traditional religion are not going away anytime soon.

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Why Millennials Are Leaving Religion But Embracing ...

The Hindu

Spirituality is Manan Vohra's ally The Hindu The batsman from Chandigarh is only 23 but says he has found his peace of mind from being spiritual. Here in the city to represent CromBest in the TNCA first division league, Vohra told The Hindu on Tuesday, I feel spirituality has helped my cricket ...

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Spirituality is Manan Vohra's ally - The Hindu

CHENNAI: As children, many of us have played with magnets and discovered the quantum-electric fact that the like poles of magnets repeal each other, while the opposite poles strongly attract each other. This attraction-repulsion phenomenon of electromagnetism is what makes the generation and its usage of electricity, practical in so many ways. Interestingly, the properties of electrical energy can be compared amazingly well with those of the spiritual energy or soul. There are several interesting parallels between the two.

From a spiritual perspective, balance is the most vital principle for a happy life. Hence, we need to be detached and loving while playing our roles in the world. We need to discern and decide wisely how much thoughts and emotions we should invest and when we should be detached and silent. Just as any aberration in the flow of current blows the electric fuse, lack of balance in human nature makes one confused. There are certain things that can be called good conductors of electricity while some can be called bad conductors. Similarly, our intellect may also act as a good or bad conductor.

A good intellect will retain powerful thoughts and vibrations and channelise them into positive actions, whereas negative or waste thoughts will obstruct the intellects ability to imbibe wisdom.So in order to maintain a constant flow of energy, a soul needs to avoid contact with negative things. Just as a flaw in an electrical circuit leads to a short circuit, similarly any flaw in the soul will lead to failure or short-lived success. However, a soul can experience constant happiness, success & peace in life by connecting to almighty the supreme powerhouse. When we connect our mind to HIM in soul consciousness, i.e. by removing the insulation of consciousness, we are able to draw unlimited power from HIM. This energy then empowers the soul to perform actions that not only bring happiness to ones own life but also to others with whom one interacts.

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Spirituality, magnetism in parallel - The New Indian Express

From 21st Century Science and Health:

If God causes a person to be sick, sickness must be good and therefore health must be evil, for all that He makes is good and will stand forever. Or, if violation of Gods law produces sickness, it is right to be sick; and we cannot if we would, and should not if we could, annul the decrees of wisdom. It is the transgression of a belief of human mind, not of a physical law or law of divine Mind, which causes the belief of sickness. The remedy is Truth, not mortality with its beginnings and endingsthe truth that disease is illusion. Anything unlike God is unreal.

If sickness is real, it belongs to spirituality; if sickness is true, it is a part of Truth. Would you attempt with drugs, or without, to destroy a quality or condition of Truth? Lets say sickness is not real. Lets say sickness and sin are unfiltered and unprocessed images that can be filtered and processed by divine Science to show us health, holiness, and spirituality. This process or clarification of information is accomplished through Spirit, Christ, or the advanced appearing of Truth. This is the deliverance which comes through God, the divine Principle, Love, as demonstrated by Jesus.

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Reasoning with truth - Beliefnet

Low-cost, local events happening this week. To be included, your event must be family friendly, cost less than $25 per person and take place in Cecil County as well as adjoining areas within a 20-minute drive. Please submit the event title, time, address to accent@cecilwhig.com. Once approved by an editor, the event will be listed until its completion date. It will run in the print edition as space allows. You can also submit to a separate online calendar at cecildaily.com.

YOGA, 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. at Painted Turtle Arts Studio, 13 N. Main St., North East. Ongoing $15 drop-in. Multi-level for everyone. Call instructor Laura Hannan at 1-540-421-0296.

CLUTTERERS ANONYMOUS, 6 to 7 p.m. at Janes United Methodist Church, 213 N. Walnut St., Rising Sun. Clutterers Anonymous is a 12-step program to help people solve their problems with clutter/hoarding. There are no dues or fees. Contact Martha H. 443-350-1483.

YOGA, 7 p.m. weekly classes at Cecil County Arts Council, 135 E. Main St., Elkton. Intro class is free. Then pay $10 per class or buy five classes for $45. Classes are designed for new and experienced yogis. Contact class instructor Sarah Mester at smester@comcast.net.

IMPROVE MENTAL HEALTH, 7 p.m. at 229 E. Main St., Elkton. Panic, fear, anxiety, depression. Attend a free weekly meeting with Recovery International.

FREE LUNCH, 12 to 1 p.m. every Friday at Elkton Presbyterian Church, 209 E. Main St. provided by Elkton Community Kitchen. All are welcome. For more information contact elktoncommunitykitchen@gmail.com.

BUFFET BREAKFAST, 7 to 10 a.m. at Oxford UMC, 18 Addison St., Oxford, Pa. Buttermilk pancakes, french toast, scrambled eggs and more. $7 for adults, $3 for children 3 to 10. Non-recurring.

SMART RECOVERY, 10 to 11:30 a.m. at Janes UMC in Rising Sun. This meeting is for those recovering from the disease of addiction. This is an open support group that meets every Saturday.

SATURDAY EVENING SERVICE, 5 p.m. at Trinity Episcopal Church, 105 N. Bridge St., Elkton. Will recur every week at this time.

SUMMER SING CONCERT, 6 p.m. at Bethel UMC, 208 Bethel Church Rd. in North East. Special Guest Ninth Hour Legacy with appearances by 3 Days Torn, Dean Sapp and Bay Church Worship Team. Concert is free to all. Contact: 443-309-9965 / 443-907-9236. Non-recurring.

OUTDOOR WORSHIP, 9:30 a.m. rain or shine outdoor interdenominational service at Elk Neck State Park hilltop shelter, 4395 Turkey Point Road (Route 272, 9 miles south of NEUMC). Wayne Lutz.

PARISH SUNDAY SCHOOL, 9:45 a.m. at Zion UMC in Cecilton. Recurs weekly.

FAMILY AND FRIENDS DAY, 3:30 p.m. at Elkton Presbyterian Church, 209 E. Main St. in Elkton. Special guest: Sensational Stars. Non-recurring.

DEBTORS ANONYMOUS, 6 to 7 p.m. at Janes United Methodist Church, 213 N. Walnut St., Rising Sun. Debtors Anonymous is a fellowship of men and women who help each other solve their problems with debt. DA is a 12-step program. There are no dues or fees. Contact Martha H. 443-350-1483.

NARANON MEETING, 7 p.m. at Bethel Lutheran Church, North East. Hope and Peace every Monday. Contact Lorri: 443-250-0909.

WOMENS NA MEETING, 7 p.m. at Bethel Lutheran Church, North East.

YOGA 4 SENIORS, 9 to 10 a.m. at Painted Turtle Arts Studio, 13 N. Main St., North East. Pre-registration is required. Call instructor Laura Hannan at 1-540-421-0296. $12 per class if all six are pre-paid or $15 drop-in.

SENIOR MEETING, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at St. Stephens Parish Hall in Earleville. Anyone 55 or older is invited to attend. Come and meet your neighbors. No membership fee. Lunch is served. Come for the fellowship, speaker, see what events we are planning. Questions call 410-275-8150. Recurs weekly.

MENS YOGA CLASS, 11 a.m. at Painted Turtle Arts Studio, 13 N. Main St., North East. Pre-registration is required. Call instructor Laura Hannan at 1-540-421-0296. $12 per class if all six are pre-paid or $15 drop-in.

COMMUNITY ARTS AND CRAFTS, 1 p.m. free instruction at St. Stephens Church, 10 Glebe Road, Earleville. Ongoing drawing and painting classes for beginner or serious artists. bspelled123@gmail.com. http://www.communityartandcrafts.com. Call Jerry at 410-275-2945.

TOPS, 5:30 p.m. at Rosebank UMC, Rising Sun. Nonprofit weight-loss support group, meets weekly. $6 monthly fee. First meeting free. topsrosebank@gmail.com.

NARANON, 7 p.m. every Tuesday at Elkton United Methodist Church. A Nar-Anon adult support meeting for those with addicts in the family.

MEDITATION, 7 p.m. every Tuesday with Three Roots Wellness at Painted Turtle Arts Studio, 13 N. Main St., North East. Learn basics of meditation practices and how to make it useful in your everyday life. Donation based. Registration is required email to angela@threerootswellness.com.

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Religion and Spirituality Events: 7/05 - Cecil Whig