Welcome to a View From The Ground. Yes, another blog but, this time, it’s a slightly left of centre look at a subject which has been high in my thinking for some time. Why? Thank you for asking. Mainly because the subject is something which, in my humble opinion, needs to be looked at.
I’ve been intrigued by spirituality for some time. Partly because I regard myself as a spiritual person but equally because of the various forms it appears to manifest itself into.
So, to start with, let’s look at the definition of spirituality – ‘the quality of being concerned with the human spirit or soul as opposed to material or physical things.’
I think that is very conclusive. However, I then looked at Wikipedia and I want to share some words from their page on spirituality: –
‘Traditionally, spirituality refers to a religious process of re-formation which “aims to recover the original shape of man,” oriented at “the image of God” as exemplified by the founders and sacred texts of the religions of the world. In modern times the emphasis is on subjective experience of a sacred dimension and the “deepest values and meanings by which people live,” often in a context separate from organised religious institution. Modern spirituality typically includes a belief in a supernatural (beyond the known and observable) realm, personal growth, a quest for an ultimate/sacred meaning, religious experience, or an encounter with one’s own “inner dimension.”
The meaning of spirituality has developed and expanded over time, and various connotations can be found alongside each other. The term “spirituality” originally developed within early Christianity, referring to a life oriented toward the Holy Spirit. During late medieval times the meaning broadened to include mental aspects of life, while in modern times the term both spread to other religious traditions and broadened to refer to a wider range of experience, including a range of esoteric traditions.’
I hope I’ve not bored you. I just thought the above text was useful to put into context the traditional definition of spirituality versus a modern, I think, more self absorbing definition.
Now, let me set things straight. My words are just that – mine. This is not a view about any religion. I wouldn’t be so insulting to comment on anyone’s religious beliefs. I guess I’m looking at how a more extreme, radical take on spirituality could be taking a stranglehold on something which is meant to be for the good of all.
A sweeping statement? Maybe, but I believe I have experienced enough to get hold of a brush and sweep away.
I’m not into where badges as it were, but when I look at the way I try and live my life – through love, helping others before myself (unless the oxygen mask drops down on a plane – then I follow the pre-flight instructions), not basing my life around material things (any more), and trying to spread positivity – some would pin the spiritual badge on me. And that’s just fine.
There are always turning points in life and I had one a few years ago when I was encouraged – positively – to re-evaluate the way I looked at life. It was a positive turning point.
For some time, it all developed quite nicely. However, I then started to see – in a few others, one of whom you could say I was rather close to – a darker, more ego lead version of what they still claimed was spirituality. Let me expand (not just my stomach).
I’m not sure how many people have come across the ‘significance’ of the number 144,000. Again, to many, this is just another innocent connection into spirituality. I would have to say, I was one of that many. It seemed like a number, or at least 144, appeared randomly. I got almost obsessed – I’d look at the clock – 1.44 pm; a score at rugby – 14 4; etc. Of course, I didn’t obsess at every other time I saw on the clock or every other rugby score. Yes, I was hooked.
It took a significant ‘jolt’ to shake me into seeing this focus on 144,000 was an obsession.
I’ve been doing a little digging into the meaning of 144,000. Here’s one, in that it is a number one that represents ‘either descendants of Jacob (also called Israel in the Bible) or others to whom God has given a superior destiny with a distinct role at the time of the end of the world’.
Interesting! Let’s just repeat that – a superior destiny with a distinct role at the time of the end of the world.
However, let us not forget that 144,000 is mentioned in the Book Of Revelations. The following are not my words but something else that I have found on-line. The Book Of Revelations predicts and forecasts ‘the incarnation and arrival of 144,000 lightworkers who will save earth from the “forces of darkness” during the end times of the kali yuga. Most of the 144,000 lightworkers are now here and in the process of “waking up” to their divine purpose and mission on earth. The majority of the 144,000 are advanced incarnated starseeds from more advanced planets, although some of the 144,000 are advanced local souls of earth. Most of the 144,000 are now in the process of “waking up” and coming out of their long mental and spiritual hibernation, slowly but surely realising that they are here to assist in the great transformation of earth.’
Now, if you are still reading this, I don’t know about you but most of that reads like another language. However, the key part for me was ‘they are here to assist in the great transformation of earth’.
So, straight away, I have a conflict in my mind – are the 144,000 special ones here to have a superior destiny with a distinct role at the time of the end of the world? Or are they here to assist in the great transformation of earth?
Maybe it’s all down to your particular leaning. Or, is it all down to what fits with your own ego? Just throwing that question out there.
Call me naive – go on. ‘Jon – you’re naive’. Thank you. Anyway, as I’ve said earlier, I see spirituality as something which is about looking inwards at yourself to then be able to look outwards to help others. It’s about not being materialistic but about concentrating on supporting a greater good.
So, where does this ‘greater destiny’ fit in?
So, please let me look at this ‘greater destiny’ malarkey. I have been closely connected with someone who believed that they were 1 of the 144,000 and they believed they were in contact with others who regarded themselves as 1 of the 144,000. I seem to remember that 2 of said group felt that they sat at a table with others and in fact I think a group of 12 connected together. Now, thankfully, I wasn’t 1 of the 12 otherwise I would now be hearing screams of ‘Judas!’
Be it my not being one of the privileged or maybe it was my growing scepticism of this collective of chosen ones, but even last year I started to wonder what the mission was this ‘higher order’. Believe me, it was the latter. The idea of sitting around a table believing that I am akin to being one of the disciples is bordering on laughable. As an over weight, over aged, gruff Yorkshireman, I’m very happy in my earthly skin thank you very much. The only hot air I blast out follows a good old Indian meal.
Well, as the 2 referred to above decided that their ‘greater destiny’ was so great that they abandoned life as we know it – i.e. walked away from family, friends (well, one of them had friends), but more importantly, their children, you must question this extreme take on spirituality. Does abandonment of your children and responsibilities fall into the definition of being ‘here to assist in the great transformation of earth’? Let me leave that question hanging there.
Sticking to the debate over whether the 144,000 special ones are here to have a superior destiny with a distinct role at the time of the end of the world or here to assist in the great transformation of earth, does that bring the requirement to operate under a new name – as an Archangel?
I love it, and I can feel a book coming – Archangel Delight.
Anyway, in my plight to truly understand this subject, a quick look at the various definitions of Archangel was, let’s say, insightful. These words I found particularly interesting – ‘Archangel is a classification of angels who have great rank and power. Apparently, there are three archangels: Michael, Gabriel, and Lucifer.’
I kid you not when I say that I have seen a communication from 1 of the said 2, signed off as Archangel Michael. I’ll just leave that thought there, with a question – is this quest for the greater good or is this a misguided belief that when the predicted hell reigns on Earth, he with wings and she by his side will rise above the hell and land back on the ground to take their view and to use their skills to life off the land with the other 139,998 life lottery ticket winners.
Don’t worry by the way, I can think of at least 2 predicted world endings that have passed with a whimper – although, when my beloved rugby league team, the mighty Leeds Rhinos were fighting for Super League survival last year it felt like the end of the world.
So, my interest in this extreme form of spirituality has found a group of people who appear to believe that they possibly have a ‘greater destiny’ and an even smaller group who have transformed into Archangels and who, in their higher ‘state’ seem to be gathering a group in their ‘safe’ environment.
Now, I am of an age when I remember a so called group who traded under the banner of the ‘moonies’. For those who don’t know them, the moonies were / are ‘a religious group whose members must obey its rules and teachings completely’.
I am not suggesting anything here, but just throwing it out there. I did have a coffee with a group of moonies in the 80s and was invited to a meeting. Suffice it to say, I’m glad I left it at the coffee – and now drink tea 😱.
The other thinking, at best, is a group of people gathered around an Archangel and partner could be seen as a sect? A sect – ‘a group of people with somewhat different religious beliefs (typically regarded as heretical) from those of a larger group to which they belong.’
As I keep saying, these are just my thoughts as I try to understand this extreme form of spirituality which makes 2 (maybe) normal (maybe) people walk out on their children and, one of them, a family to whom they were a pivotal person. Is this normal spirituality or a dangerous extreme version?
Please be assured that I truly respect everyone has a right to an opinion, a belief, but my concern with this ‘version’ of spirituality has grown. I have seen at first hand it’s damaging effect.
Me? Well, I will keep going on my path. To be a reliable, loving, supportive, unconditional father to a Ben and Liv. To be a loving son, brother, uncle, brother-in-law, friend etc to all of those who mean everything to me. And now, a loving partner to Audrey – the truly awesome soul that I am blessed to have alongside me.
Thank you for reading this. I’m not sure how many people this blog will reach out to but it needed writing. Cathartic in the very least.
Jon
View From The Ground 