Observations Of Spiritual Blogland
As I've noted a few times on here, this arena in Blogland is new to me. I've been enjoying reading about people's interpretations on spirituality. I notice:
...that very very few people mention sex, alluding it no more than once on their blogs, if that. Is this because spiritual people aren't sexual? Is it because the topic is verboten? Is it that sex is not considered a part of a spiritual quest? Where is this vital, core piece of our humanity, this place of connection with the divine? Are spiritual people uncomfortable talking about sex? Is sex still relegated to the sinful, the untouchable, even in our enlightened times?
....that when I shared this observation with someone I know who has both a spiritual and sex blog, she pointed out that not only is sex not discussed, but anger isn't either. I hadn't noticed, but am now looking for it, too.
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After writing the above, the computer did a jiggle, needed time to regroup so I went to read a book for my coaching called "The New Male Sexuality." I opend the book and the first line I read was:
Interesting. Are spiritual people unwilling to speak to things that have to do with the old brain, the Limbic system, the place of chaos and primal urges? The study of Neurotheology has discovered that the initial brain patternings in Ecstatic Spiritual Experience and Orgasm are the same pathways, both having origins in the Limbic system...also where anger begins. Why the taboo? Is there a taboo?
Time to ponder.
18 comments:
Interesting observations. I've noticed this as well, and although I don't post often on the subject myself, I do have a draft waiting in the wings that expressly deals with sexuality as it relates to spiritual practice.
Another perhaps related thing I've noticed is that if I do share about anything that I've struggled with, even if I am OK with it, people seem to feel the need to offer advice to change me. I get a good chuckle out of it, but it does sometimes make me think twice about how to frame what I want to say. Maybe this is why people don't want to address any of the topics where attachments can be strong. Either they want to avoid those topics altogether (i.e. they're "bad"), or they don't want to invite "fixing" feedback.
Peace,
Mike
My, my...You certainly ask excellent questions! *smiles* And what fascinating science! Excellent post. I'll share some stuff that one of my spiritual teachers shared with me. I'll call her Blue. Blue spent a few years living on Pine Ridge reservation, studying with a few medicine men and trying to learn the language...She was trying to find herself. Blue is a very well educated woman...the kind who thinks about things like we do...wants to put science, emotions, motivations and spirituality all together and see what she comes up with.
One thing that she learned by observation and personal experience is that spiritual people usually have a point in their spiritual journey when they face their tiger and they've got to wrestle it into submission. The tiger is the thing that tempts us in our personalities...the thing that we'd loose it all for if we loose control of ourselves...Well during this point of truth, that temptation rises in us like a wild thing and leads us around by the nose, hard, fast and furious. If we can wrestle it into submission, we grow peaceful, content, balanced.
If we aren't able to get it under control, our mastery of life suffers...we tend toward a chaotic leadership, and a stressful lifestyle.
For most of these spiritual people that tiger is sex.
She saw more medicine men running around jumping anything on two legs with a heartbeat and a libido than she could count...and she faced a similar hurdle herself.
I have faced this hurdle in the last year. I'm still struggling with it. Last year it cost me a trip for a ceremony that I feel profoundly invested in...because I was too unfocused to do what it took to get myself there.
Spiritual maturity includes bringing the sexual into the spiritual realm and helping it find a balanced place in life...along with every other thing...especially anger, jealousy, greed, selfishness, pride, and thinking one is a victim in life.
We have to not only deal with the shadow sides of being human, but embrace those things which are wonderful and be deeply comfortable with them...learn to use it all for good.
I personally think that its crucial to talk about sex and anger and many other things people feel uncomfortable talking about. Our humanity is the very thing that makes our spirituality so magnificent.
Howdy Mike- hadn't thought about that fixing aspect, either, but it's true it's there. People are trying to be kind on here. I would imagine if they are hearing a challenge AND in fix it mode, both would be in play.
thanks
Hey, Greenwoman-
Here, here!!! I always look forward to your candid discussions of all of it.
I find it interesting that many gurus and spiritual leaders have sexual issues...often their undoing.
Also reminds me of one of my Teacher's sayings: that if we turn off one emotion, we turn off the whole spicket.
This is a very interesting observation. I don't believe that the lack of discussions about sex and spirituality are intentional, nor do I believe people who are on a spiritual path feel uncomfortable talking about sex. What I believe you are observing is that people who write and talk about spirituality are more focused on the soul, the spirit, the overall consciousness and that sex is not a subject that comes up when speaking of these things. When talking about spirtuality we tend to focus on what we want to expand and therefore you do not see a lot said about anger, greed, envy, etc. When you do, it is to discuss how to move from these emotions into a spirtiual way of being.
Great post, made me think. Matter of fact I will be mulling this over for a few days.
Hi, Mark-
from your post:
"What I believe you are observing is that people who write and talk about spirituality are more focused on the soul, the spirit, the overall consciousness and that sex is not a subject that comes up when speaking of these things."
Why not? People talk about losing weight, making money, having relationships, kids...do you think that sex is separate from Spirit?
Mmmmm....I had a thought...I often do that...sort of have a finish the sentence begun in the blog in my mind or I argue with something in my mind when I read...The best responses though are the oh wow....never thought of that ones.
anyway, I found a response in me to Marks comment. He talked about emotions like greed ect aren't spiritual...
I have always had the sense that emotions are a part of being human, just as holiness is part of being human. So is physicality...If any part of that beingness is said to be unacceptable, then beingness cannot really happen. It will always be a struggle.
We are born into the life to be a human being...when its time for us to be fully spiritual again, we'll shed this human body and do that. In the mean time, we are supposed to be learning the soul lessons of being human...and that means to be emotional and visceral. I think that is what balance and beingness is really all about.
Just my two cents.
Hi, Pamm :) Can't remember everything my lost response said a couple of days ago...(thanks for sending the tapes, btw!!)
Anyway, I remember a couple of things I said. For myself, I'm writing about whatever is on my heart at that particular moment.... sex just hasn't been on my priority list :) I would imagine most people that blog do just that...write whatever they are most focused on at the time.
In several of my stories, I've talked about anger...my anger, specifically...especially what happens when I perceive an injustice of some type. But like Mark said, it's not something I want to build energy around, so I'm trying to write about the things that I want to increase in my life (rather than the opposite...one of the reasons I had to take a short brake from writing about politics, the War, etc....I was getting pretty heated)
I think I mentioned in my previous comment that I am a recovered sex addict.....I haven't written much about that part of my journey on my blog (have elsewhere, to great extent, for the purpose of offering assistance to others in the same situation!). But maybe I will :) HOWEVER, that being said, sex is one of those issues that can be very ... tricky ....to discuss in a public forum. Too often I see those that are supposedly 'spiritual' using their expressions about their sexuality in ways that I don't believe are really enlightened! LOL For example, many times their sexual discussions/writings turn into more of egoistic sorts of 'look at how wonderful I am' sorts of things... And often times there in what I consider to be an unhealthy tie between spiritual seeking and sexuality. These are just my opinions, of course!
Personally, sex is an important, vital and necessary area of my life, but one in which I hold in sacred regard. For that reason alone I don't discuss it publically very often. It's something that I entrust with selective and trusted friends only.
Have a great weekend! Looks like a beautiful day is shaping up and I'm out to enjoy it!
Hugs, Grace
I see/feel much the same, GW. Always fun to hear your Voice here and others that see with different eyes than ours.
Grace- I am curious about this statement of yours:
"And often times there in what I consider to be an unhealthy tie between spiritual seeking and sexuality."
I hope you come back so I can hear what it is that you mean by that. Yummy.
Oh, I'll be happy to elaborate! :) I'm not sure I can fit it all in this little comment box, however! LOL So this could be a great topic for a new post on my blog...when I do, I'll ping back to here so people know who gave me the inspiration!
Great, Grace...I'll look for it!
Anger and sex, Spirituality and love. Hmmm. It's true when I am angry the last thing I want is to make love or have sex with anyone. But I do want to jerk off like crazy when I am stressed. Not the same thing really? I think spirituality is just as taboo as sex or anger. In fact I think anger is a lesser taboo. People search for meaning in everything. Some in sex, some in anger. Some deny the anger, refuse to get angry and get ill. Does not having sex make you ill? Hmm it seems some of your expereinces have been deeply spiritual, and some just fun. I think you don't realise how spiritual you are and that this is why people are very attracted to your writings... you are not crass, you are not in it for the money, you are not profitering. You are loving in a spiritual way and it seems to be very complete. You spirituality is a goal for many and light to many and an encouragement to many. However when we differentiate between the human and the spirit, (afterall it's why there are these two words) we tend to bracket certain emotions and feelings as human, and other experiences as spiritual. To get to the point where you can be spiritual in all you do...well that is the goal of many religions, and also their failure. I can remember my novice master telling me, when I was given a massage as a birthday present to treat it as prayer, I did. I consider myself spiritual and quite sexual but rarely do I talk, if ever about them. I wouldn't have the confidence to teach people about either and perhaps this 'privacy' around these subjects has an awful lot to do with why we hear so little about them. In a perfect world would porn films and churches need to exist?
Blessings and thanks for adding your voice, as always, Warrior.
To me, sex and spirituality can coincide. It is shown each time a child is born out of happiness, or when people feel they have found their soul mates. The only way I think it could not coincide is when both have been abused. The ones that say they are spiritual, yet degrade things, and the ones who use sex as a weapon, deliberating hurting others.
Thanks for stopping by and commenting, Anonymous.
Hi, Pamm!
Got the tapes today...thanks so very much! I'm looking forward to hearing them.
On Monday and Tuesday I posted as I said I would...thanks so much for opening up such a wonderfully deep and diverse conversation :)
Namaste!
Oh, Goodie, Grace, so happy they arrived and hope you enjoy them.
It is a diverse conversation. One I want to contribute and continue.
Hugs and thanks for being your glorious YOU.
I don't know from neurotheology, but I do know some Psychoneuroendocrinology. But sex & anger, both get plenty of the jucies flowing. (How's that for technical?) Cheers, 'VJ'
Sounds juicy to me, VJ. And so now the fun begins as he has shown up!! Hugs your way-
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