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Post by brooklynberry on Mar 22, 2011 13:46:35 GMT -8
my higher power is a benevolent sort of energy, it's not even human or right or wrong. It's a warm, positive thing. Sometimes I feel it when I am wrapped in a cosy blanket, or very still in my head and heart.
Would love to hear what others believe in
(please, if you are really into Jesus and God, I am not starting this to be converted and find being pushed towards that disrespectful. please respect the diverse spirituality of others)
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Post by melsoul on Mar 22, 2011 13:59:36 GMT -8
Happyberry--I really like that image. I think I'll carry that with me.
I've considered myself sort of an esoteric Christian with New Agey leanings, but find that my conservative Christian upbringing has really skewed my image of a Higher Power. I really have trouble trusting my Higher Power as a result. So images of a non-human, benevolent energy really resonate for me right now.
My idea of a Higher Power is still evolving ...
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Post by LovelyJune on Mar 22, 2011 15:20:46 GMT -8
Love this topic-- thanks for posting it! I am all over the place spiritually and I believe that because there is one certainty about God (that no one knows the truth) that we are free to create him/her/it as we please. And that just as there are billions of unique personalities on the planet so then should there be unique interpretations of a higher power. That being said, I tend to believe my HP is the earth and that the spirit of him/it/her is in everyone and everything-- a tree, a rock, a frog, a branch, a homeless person...
Philosophically, I lean Buddhist, Taoist and Zen. These are the beliefs I tend to meditate on.
I also have a rather strange concept (maybe picked up from somewhere?) that the dead are actually our HP. And that every time someone dies God becomes larger; the energy becomes more powerful. When I was going through recovery in fact, all of my dead relatives stood behind me in support and carried me through. It was a wonderful, empowering feeling.
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Post by overcomer on Mar 22, 2011 15:57:52 GMT -8
@hb: This is an interesting post. It's good to know how others feel. melsoul: I also grew up w/ a Christian religion until I found out FOR MYSELF that a "PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP" w/ my HP and NOT a religion, is the ULTIMATE ANSWER. Eventually what is our true, personal belief by choice will come out. LovelyJune: The TRUTH speaks for itself and stands the test of time. At least in "the END", IT SHALL BE KNOWN well by anyone/everyone. When the imperfection disappears the PERFECTION will appear in the plain daylight.
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Post by LovelyJune on Mar 22, 2011 16:31:43 GMT -8
@healthy-- not quite sure what you're talking about, but just to reiterate what happyberry said, this is not a thread for preaching. If you don't believe what I believe, that's OK. But please refrain from conversion-language.
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Post by Healing Ku'uipo on Mar 22, 2011 18:40:33 GMT -8
hmmmm... I grew up with Hippy Esoteric, Kundalini Yoga Ashram parents...( Parents with major Problems mind you)Even had a step mom who was a Hawaiian Kahuna...(no Christianity at all) and it has taken me till the last few years to figure out What I believe what My higher Power is, which is different from theirs.
At the moment my higher power is me. It's my Wise Woman that is connected to the Universal Source.... I connect within me and to those "above" who are my guides to help me. I also defintely think my deceased Grandparents are a help... And I get help being in Nature. I did a vision quest last year and it blew my mind, I felt completely connected and part of the Earth Web, that my higher power-source and the Earth and animals higher source were the same... The more In recovery I get, the more connected to my higher power I want to be!
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Post by overcomer on Mar 22, 2011 19:28:20 GMT -8
LovelyJune: "not quite sure what you're talking about," I was referring to your earlier reply: (that no one knows the truth) .. "But please refrain from conversion-language." Believe it or not, I'm NOT preaching nor trying to convert, this is just the way I talk. For example, I NEVER officially endorsed any particular brand but when I liked a particular product, I talked about it AS IF I'm a salesperson for it. My family and friends said they want to have my excitement, optimistic attitude, boldness, etc. Bec I appreciate even the "little things" and I tend to remember and focus on the good side to the BEST only and I'm bold to speak the truth out of love. That's all. But I understand you and anyone else who might not understand me and/or my intention. I leave all in HP's hands. : ) @hb: Pardon my curiousity, but if you don't mind, may I politely ask> at this point in time what do you think is not causing you to believe in JESUS/GOD specifically? You may or may not answer this Q. But again nevertheless I respect you and thank you.
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Post by brooklynberry on Mar 22, 2011 19:43:13 GMT -8
It's not about Jesus or not Jesus. If itsnonly that then a lot of people wouldn't come into recovery. It could turn people off. I don't want this to even be me talking about why my hp isn't Jesus but rather what it IS.
I often think of the big bang...what happened right before it?
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Post by overcomer on Mar 22, 2011 20:02:15 GMT -8
@hb: "I just don't believe that my higher power is so limited that It only communicates vis a vis humans." WOW! I agree w/ you! HP should be "LARGER than LIFE". HP communicates to everyone and everything! The HP I believe is the CREATOR of the entire universe and speak to and in-charge/control of non-living things as well. Thank you so much for responding! That's something I liked about you ever since I've known you in this board. That's why in this board you are among my most-liked person. Nothing is impossible w/ HP. In HP's time, who knows what will/can happen? HP is all-knowing, all-powerful, gracious and loving. I pray that whatever HP's offer by grace may you have the faith to receive it. That's all. TY!
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Post by overcomer on Mar 22, 2011 21:46:11 GMT -8
PS: I personally don't go after labeling myself. I can live w/o being called a christian actually. For me it's only a term/label. What's inside the "inner being" before the CREATOR is what counts.
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Post by LovelyJune on Mar 23, 2011 2:56:22 GMT -8
I don't believe Jesus or anyone else for that matter is a "Savior" or the son of God. 80% of the world also agrees with me. But I do understand how others may come to believe this. It's called faith. And that's a good thing. But Jesus is not for me. I have faith in other things. There are other great worlds of belief out there that I prefer to the Christian one. The other point is here, like HB said, this is not a thread about defending Jesus or not. It's about discussing other beliefs. So...maybe we should stay on topic, including me And by the way, i love your idea Healing. Nice.
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Post by leebriar on Mar 23, 2011 3:47:41 GMT -8
I am Christian however I found this prayer in the CODA big book and I read it every morning:
Oh Great Spirit Whose voice I hear on the wind And whose breath gives life to All the Earth Hear Me I am one of your children I need your guidance and support
This prayer feels very Native American and brings me much comfort and peace.
Peoples spiritual beliefs are very private I feel and should never be challenged or ridiculed.
Bible thumping is a big turn off and alienates us from the very thing that God wishes for us, love and connection with one another.
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Post by LovelyJune on Mar 23, 2011 4:54:00 GMT -8
lee--
Nice prayer. And I agree about the bible thumping. It always has the opposite effect.
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Post by overcomer on Mar 23, 2011 4:54:03 GMT -8
leebriar: At the end of the day it's between GOD and us/ourselves. I believe in being cautious what particularly I speak of (doctrine of faith) if I profess that I'm a Christian. Bec GOD will hold the teacher more accountable for leading/misleading others. If I'm a servant of GOD, I'm only after pleasing GOD and/or gaining HIS approval, not people. (Galatians 1:10) So when I speak I try to check my motive and pray about it 1st if it's GOD-pleasing/glorifying or not.
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Post by overcomer on Mar 23, 2011 4:58:15 GMT -8
LovelyJune: Well, true believers are usually motivated to share the WORD of GOD out of love. In the end everything will become clear for everyone by GOD's grace. So I leave that matter to HIM.
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Post by brooklynberry on Mar 23, 2011 5:07:13 GMT -8
Maybe I'm being controlling but bible quotes, etc are not what I intended for this thread.
I love Pema Chodron. I feel challenged by her. I love when she challenges us to be a spiritual warrior and do what scares us. That is recovery for me!
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Post by overcomer on Mar 23, 2011 5:14:44 GMT -8
Just for clarification purpose, I did not directly quote the Bible here.
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Post by Healing Ku'uipo on Mar 23, 2011 5:37:10 GMT -8
Happy- I teach World Religions for a living : ) and I have to say that a few years ago I taught about The Big Bang theories, Blew my mind!! Wow! Incredible stuff. That's all I'm going to say about it... but Wow is this amazing that we are alive! I wanted to add something else about my Higher Power, that I always felt like I was guided and protected, but always had free will to make my own choices, including terrible choices and potential dealthy danger. While being lost in addiction I was addicted to asking my higher power for help. But it was like plucking daisy petals...Does he love me, does he love me not? Please tell me higher power? ? I became addicted to this. And the answers were never true! I still fall into it sometimes. So as I grow more confident to really be In Truth, my relationship with my Higher Power is changing... I am excited to see what comes next!
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Post by brooklynberry on Mar 23, 2011 6:29:27 GMT -8
I totally agree. I always have a changing idea of what my HP is and I love it!
Btw my parents' home in Maui was blessed by a Kahuna when they moved in!
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Post by melsoul on Mar 23, 2011 6:50:28 GMT -8
I like Pema Chodron too, and Jack Kornfield. My reading interests definitely have leaned lately more toward Buddhism--mainly because I'm going through such difficult emotions and both authors encourage acceptance and moving through difficult emotions to find healing. Even though it's difficult, that resonates with me.
"When Things Fall Apart" by Pema Chodron really speaks to me.
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Post by LovelyJune on Mar 23, 2011 11:53:08 GMT -8
Also try: Thich Nhat Han
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Post by brooklynberry on Mar 23, 2011 20:23:52 GMT -8
My dear boyfriend has a thich t-shirt that says "no mud, no lotus" So very true...and one of the many reasons I knew he was mr. Right!
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Post by LovelyJune on Mar 24, 2011 11:02:27 GMT -8
Love it, Paisley. Thanks for sharing.
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gordana
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Post by gordana on Mar 26, 2011 6:57:47 GMT -8
My Higher Power is changing all the time. The first time I went into recovery was from Incest and was introduces to my Inner Child. My flashbacks were healing, dissociative disorder was understood, and healed. My Higher power came through my therapist. When I am in touch with myself, i know my HP is with me. It is a calm, strong feeling loving, caressing energy. It is me. Then my HP changed and the Universe became my HP. Now, the wise, more mature part of myself, the part that observes my life is my HP. Its always changing. Always a mystery to me
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Post by peacenluv4evr on Apr 3, 2011 16:00:02 GMT -8
Thank you so much for starting this thread. I am a non christian who was looking for a higher power and a lot of my friends were pushing Christianity on me, really made me uncomfortable. But, I have also recently started reading up on buddhism and I found this book, buddhism and the twelve steps. You dont have to be a buddhist, its just for people who struggle with a higher power!!
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Post by overcomer on Apr 3, 2011 17:04:36 GMT -8
Peace, I'm sorry for any discomfort it may have caused you but I guess your friends love you and care for you to share their faith w/ you. I wish you well in your personal journey in discovering the truth and HP. : )
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Post by dorkestbeforedawn on May 31, 2011 19:13:15 GMT -8
Heck yeah--where has this thread been all my life? Lol
I have had experiences where I felt cosmic stuff, but I am thoroughly convinced that it was my powerful imagination and capacity for intense emotion. I am more of a "god is nothing" type.
No supernatural phenomenon like luck, fate, juju, chi, reincarnation, ghosties, or aliens. Every action has a natural cause and effect. Granted, we cannot explain or measure some of them, YET, or maybe our species will run it's course before many of them can be explained.
So yeah. I guess I'm a nihilist, if that word isn't self-contradictory hahahah
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Post by soulseeker on May 31, 2011 19:27:29 GMT -8
I love the mystery.
I know the divine is real, I don't need to define it.
Nature is my creator.
I heard a great one today on NPR. It was a scientist who used to say he was a Episcopalian, then an atheist, but now he considers himself a possibilian! I love it! Everything is possible, we don't know anything for sure!
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Post by LovelyJune on Jun 1, 2011 10:55:19 GMT -8
I always go back to the oneness of us all. It's hard for me to accept unnatural myth about heaven and hell etc. But I strongly believe in the power of life and death, yin and yang. I too feel the power of my dead relatives. And the power of the universe. I think life itself is an absolute MIRACLE.
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Post by Susan Peabody on Jun 1, 2011 17:31:13 GMT -8
To me spirituality is a benevolent force in the universe that when tapped into gives us love, strength, guidance, self-esteem and everything we need to RECOVER and become the best people we can be. (self-actualization)
Ask and you shall receive. Knock on the door and it will be opened.
When I personify this force I come up with J.C. or Goddess. Sometimes a mother or father figure. To each his own.
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