How To Be A Clear Channel

It is said that we are spiritual beings having a physical or human journey. I often also hear people say that some people are ‘more spiritual’ than others. I cringe whenever I hear such things, because we all come from the same Source, which means that there is no differentiation between any of us.

In fact, in nearly every spiritual tradition the term ‘spiritual’ is derived from one of two words. It either comes from the word breath, or it comes from the term life source.  This means that everyone that is alive and breathing is equally spiritual, no matter who they are.

It is true that there are some people who may be more effectively walking a ‘spiritual path.’  This is because such people embody spiritual principles to a greater degree, or are more in alignment with certain spiritual principles, such as love, joy, peace, and serenity. But we are all ‘channeling’ spirit at all times, because we are all spirit at our core.

So, what does it mean to ‘channel’ spirit?  Many believe that there are distinct supernatural components to being spiritual, which may sometimes be the case. However, channeling spirit simply means to live in such a way that you actually embody the primary spiritual principles.

Channeling spirit is simply living a life that exudes love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, gentleness, faithfulness, and self-control. These are principles that show up in nearly every spiritual tradition or belief system. In Christianity, for example, these principles are known the Fruit of the Holy Spirit.

There are various ways to become a more effective channel for spirit. The most common are the traditional forms of spiritual practice, such as meditation and prayer. However, people often give up on meditation, because they psyche themselves out about its practice and purpose.

Man learns through experience, and the spiritual path is full of different kinds of experiences ~ Sai Baba

I have had people tell me that they believe meditation is to abstain from thinking. However, your mind was created for thinking, so it is impossible to shut down its processes. Instead, meditation allows us to see what is going on underneath the surface. Meditation reveals the inner dialogue that is contributing to our lives. This is important, because to gain the ‘fruit of the spirit’ we must first gain a clear understanding of what is actively contrary to the spirit.

Affirmative prayer is another spiritual practice that can be positive in cultivating one’s spirituality. This is about affirming the good that we say we want. Many people expend much mental and emotional attention on the things that they do not want. We tend complain and ‘stress out,’ and then wonder why life doesn’t seem to work well for us.

Affirmative prayer is about creating an affirmative statement that reflects the primary spiritual principles. For example, if someone wants to become a clearer channel of serenity, they may choose an affirmative prayer such as, “I am always safe.” If a person wants more love in their life, they may choose a statement like, “I love everyone, and I am lovable.”

Often the combination of both strategies, meditation and affirmative prayer, are helpful in becoming a clearer channel of spirit. Meditation helps to reveal the subconscious patterns that are contrary to spiritual principles, and the affirmative prayer is a proactive approach to reframing those experiences.

Talk to yourself in two languages – what do I need and what do I love – in order to balance the body and the soul ~ Peter Shepherd

The primary goal in becoming a clear channel is understanding that you are a clear channel. This means understanding that there is a purpose to life; that there is something greater than your human form. I remember my teacher used to say, “You are really here for a reason… and it is much more than just buying a new car every few years.”  This is a profound statement and gives a clearer insight into what it means to channel spirit.

Another primary goal in being a clear channel is cultivating trust in life. We must trust that life is a blessing and working for us, rather than against us. This requires faith and practice, but one effective tool for this is to greet life every day with gratitude. This is sometimes difficult, especially if you have a history of complaining, or seeing the world through a negative lens. Cultivating a life of gratitude and appreciation is therefore a primary step in creating a clearer channel for most of us.