The Nature Of Spirit

When getting a reading you may hear a psychic use the term “Spirit” during the reading. But what is Spirit? Spirit is another way of saying “God” or “the Divine.”

In my personal experience Spirit is the in-dwelling essence from which all things come. Spirit is the life force that dwells within us and in all living things, and represents each individual’s highest path and potential.

So how do we connect with “Spirit”?  The concept or idea of Spirit is found within many spiritual traditions. It is the reason why individuals to this day practice specific religions in hopes that they too can align themselves with the higher power or Spirit.

Feelings come and go like clouds in a windy sky. Conscious breathing is my anchor ~ Thích Nhất Hạnh

Prana

In the Hindu and other Eastern traditions you will find the word prana in the original Sanskrit. Prana  refers to “life force” or “life giving energy”. Prana is represented within these traditions as the beating of the heart, as well as breathing.  This is why along with the Eastern traditions there are many encouragements to meditate and focus on the breath. This is a way to align oneself to the prana within yourself.

Pneuma

Pneuma is a Greek word found in many ancient Christian texts.  The literal definition of Pneuma is breath, and when translated into English it is often translated as “spirit”. From a Christian perspective one of the things that Christ offers individuals is an understanding of the Holy Spirit or “holy breath”. In our modern culture we can understand this as our higher self, or higher consciousness, or the force within us that encourages our highest path.

From the perspective of the ancient scriptures it is said that when you follow this higher self you will attain the positive attributes of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, gentleness, goodness, and self-control.  So there is a definite reward within the context of ancient Christian understanding for following the “holy breath”.

Ruach

Going back even further, in Middle Eastern spirituality we find the word ruach, in the Pentateuch, Nevi’im, and Ketuvim. It is generally understood that ruach represents breath and wind, and it and is also translated into the English versions of these texts as “spirit”. It is referenced in these texts as the energy that animates mankind, and in the mythology of the origin of man we see that the Divine or Source of all things shared this life essence to animate the human world.

What we call ’I’ is just a swinging door, which moves when we inhale and when we exhale ~ Shunryu Suzuki

Spirit

The English word “spirit” is often times relegated to having a mystical quality, and the truest understanding of spirit can often be twisted into obscurity. From an etymological standpoint spirit comes from the Latin term spiritus, which again simply means breath. So when individuals are referring to “spirit” they are literally speaking of the “breath” which animates all living things. It certainly has mystical qualities, because each of us is a miracle. However, to relegate it to something disconnected from our human experience, or to think that “spiritual” is something that religious people do, or psychics do, is simply a myth. Every time you take a breath, you are engaging in a “spiritual” act.

Spirit can also be related to our eternal breath. As we saw with the ancient Hebrew myth, the essence of the Infinite or Divine was placed within each individual. This is why mediums often indicate that they are connecting to “Spirit”. This is because they are connecting to the vital energy of the individual they are connecting with. The “spirit” that is eternal and unchanging.

Breath

Breath is the fundamental currency of life. You will have enough breath from now until the day you die, and if your breath was taken away for even a minute you would not care about anything else accept for how to take your next breath. Spirit or breath is your most valuable currency, and when you can connect with it through meditation it can speak volumes in our lives.

Right now there is a “spiritual” shift taking place within the world. Individuals all over the world have been increasingly waking up to a whole new experience of life, and placing value on what has value. Connecting to the inner holy spirit is crucial in these times, because through that connection we can be at peace even in the worst of struggles.

There are many ways that individuals can align their spirit with their highest good. Getting a psychic reading, meditation, and personal prayer are all wonderful ways of engaging with spirit.