hey, I'm game but it seems that we don't have any other takers I don't know what's going on but nobody is in the mood for a good discussion lately.

I might be confused (or closer to the truth - it happens to be the same sometimes).

When we look out side ourselves - for God(dess), truth, validation - we become separate. We mistake material goods or the opinions of others as satisfaction of our search when, in time, they prove themselves to be elusive, or unsatisfying.

However, when we look inside ourselves, we find our connection to others and the world around us. Potentially, a longer term form of satisfaction and contentment (if not outright happiness).

Alone in a crowd. Connected when alone.

As an introvert, I have no problem with this concept. However, for those who enjoy the company of many others, does it still work? Or, how does it work? How do you know if it's working?

Another question I have pondered, why does religion always seem to need a crowd, but spirituallity does not?

For those of us who like the company of others... We no longer crave that company. We are never alone, and we never feel alone, even in a crowd. ( something that plagued me my whole life)

You know it's working because you no longer need the outer validation of others, at least that's my experience. People also start to seek you out, they want to know what you know.

Too many people out there see what we think as heresy. It is "Satans" way of tricking us and leading to slow destruction. They are afraid to take the step off the cliff that leads to the changes that make you a truely spiritual person. It's easier to have a scapegoat for your faults and flaws. Not to mention to take the fall for when things happen that you aren't happy with. It's much harder to be able to look at any situation and understand that at some level you are the one that is responsible for what is happening to you, and that you are the only one that can change it.

Both of you have a very good point and I just wanted to point out that one has to be in tune with oneself in order to do so with others. ...be that family or whoever.
We just have to understand why most religions came into existence and how they are different from spirituality.

Most religions, while they contain many truths, are fear-based and deny the miracle of the Divinity in our souls. By doing so, they limit the amount of love we can give to ourselves, and therefore naturally, the love that we can give each other. Instead, we judge, we fear, we hold back - and we don’t even recognize that we are doing so, and thereby we deny the utmost beauty of life itself. However, we must come to realize with our logical mind that religions were originally created to help mankind deal with the great fear of death and dying and mortality versus immortality. Once we understand this premise it is easier to move beyond irrational response to spirituality through fear and to move on to a higher expression of love and divine connection.

There is no one who can tell you how to find your personal truth or your blazing, undeniable truthful connection with the Great Spirit. (God/dess, the Creator, the Infinite, the One, (or the Many) or whatever represents the Divine to you. We are abundantly blessed in the Western world to live without fear of persecution for exploring and expressing our spiritual beliefs, and we should make the most of this freedom. In choosing the paths which best express our personal truths and innermost beliefs, we honor ourselves and each other, and most of all, we celebrate Spirit.

It's a good thing this is all considered a journey, because I am SO not there yet.

Working on it tho'.

Breath in, breath out, repeat.

Yep and guess what??? The journey isn't done when this life is over. At that point the journey is just beginning.

So... Keep working on it, you'll get there.