The Sensation of Spirituality

Finding Something More

There is a phenomenon that I’ve been watching, where people who are seeking for that something more in life get involved in certain types of spiritual practices that include outer forms like yoga, sound baths, and a host of other practices from around the world that are more and more prevalent in our western societies. People are searching for meaning in practices that have been part of other cultures’ finding of meaning. Most of these are directly related to the outer senses. We gauge their effectiveness on how we feel afterwards. 

I, too, like to partake in some of these popular spiritual practices that I find valuable. A couple types of yoga work amazing for my body, my flexibility, lowering stress levels, and generally feeling better. I love going to my yoga classes. Breathing work is also hugely valuable to me, especially as it relates to my favorite activity of surfing. 

Nat & friends doing breath work training for surfing

There are many activities that help to live a healthier and happier life, and I fully encourage doing those things that work. That’s why they are popular. Pop-spirituality is an industry because there is so much value in it. I would probably be considered as part of it in some of the work I do. 

Though I see those activities as beneficial, the feedback I hear from people is that they are looking for something more. Some people then turn to consciousness altering substances. They may have a seeming incredible, insightful experience from these, but it is unsustainable. As much as it opened a little window into a psychic realm (a realm much lower than what is actually available naturally, often with unseen negative consequences), it doesn’t usually release them from or resolve them of their karma a.k.a. their life lessons. 

Eventually, the seeker realizes they haven’t found in popular spirituality what they were looking for. They feel there is something deeper that they aren’t getting to.

While we were designing the 5 week class that we are going to begin this week (find out more on that here), Mark and I were discussing this phenomenon that both of us are seeing. He made an astute observation that people are looking for the “sensation of spirituality”. That description really rang true for me. People are doing activities that make them feel spiritual, and they experience the sensations of being spiritual.

My reference of spirituality is a bit different.