Hi all,
I hope this doesn't get controversial - that's not my intent - I just thought it would be good to have a thread about what Higher Power means to people. Might help some overcome fears, worries about spirituality and also help us understand where we're all coming from a bit better.
So here's mine.
My higher power I call the Force. Yup, just like Star Wars (don't worry, I don't actually believe in a fictional world, just the concept of the Force). When the Force is first mentioned in Ep IV its described as
"an energy field created by all living things, it surrounds us, it penetrates us, it binds the galaxy together".
that definition is the basis of what I understand as my higher power. Energy created by all life, that exists in all life. I believe there is a sentience involved, a Will, if you will in the Force. It is a guidance system for all beings if we choose to tune in and listen. When I have a clear mind (that is unaffected by chemicals/substances) I can become empathic with other beings, have premonitions, visions etc. that can effectively guide my life in the right direction if I choose to listen. The more I tune in the better able I am to hear, the less clutter and white noise distract me from the Truth, or the Will of the Force. The less I tune in, the less I am able to hear. When I am drinkng heavily and regularly, I virtually can't connect at all. The connection becomes so weak and fuzzy that at times I would doubt it even existed.
Lots of people particulalry those who are agnostic or aethiest and have trouble with the concept of God, feel this way because of the evil in the world. The following explanation helped structure my belief system, and explains this dilemma in a way that makes sense to me. (the following is not my words).
In my understanding, the Force initially, before the manifested universes - is all Good. In manifestation, the Unifying Force splits into Dark and Light. It is the very Nature of the universe to contain polarity: Light/Dark, good/evil, red/green, you/me. But in the Galaxy, these polarities are only, in a way - imaginary. They are not Ultimate Truth. Ultimate Truth, in this instance, would be that the Force, at root, is only Good. Our luminous bodies are only the pure Light of that initial, Good Force. Within the manifested universes, the polarity of Light and Dark does arise, and it is naturally balanced. However, beings can tap into the Dark Side of the Force - and create an imbalance, obscure the Light. Yes, the imbalance begins in the hearts and minds of the beings in the Galaxy.
So there you have it.
I feel kind of weird revealing myself this way, but I'm starting to learn how much I've been hiding the real ME behind a bottle. Last night I peeled away a few layers of the masks I've been hiding behind. And even though this is online, and I am in a sense, hiding behind a keyboard, explaining who I am and what I believe is important to me, is a big first step. In time I'll be able to move through fear of revealing myself and BE myself in f2f situations. For now, I'll start here - and even this feels quite awkward and revealing.
Idgie
Hey idgie good on you for saying what you believe because that is what life is about and at times it is something i wish i could do more, i can talk the talk at times but walking the walk is scary at times.
I am comfortable saying God now because it is quicker than saying higher power.
To me my spirituality is all positive energy, Good Orderly Direction, Being as honest as i can each day with myself and others and smiling more. So many positive and spiritual things have happened in my life since i have acknowledged that i do exist and i am important. Then i asked God for help in my life not because i was in the s***e but because i truely am ready to have Gods help in my life, willingness is the key, my subconscious mind, intuition are all being expanded positively, sometimes quickly sometimes slowly it does work if i work at it.
The work i do in this life i do not want to waste in the next by succuming to addiction again, i like the saying where we are spiritual beings on a physical journey of learning.
At times i can feel and see(fleetingly at moment) spirit around me and others, and this is all totally straight no mind altering substances except life itself.
Idgie when ever i hit Auzzy order in a bag of coffee and take a couple of days off work and we will talk spirituality and recovery and all the wonderful things that being alive allow us to talk about.
Light and love zac
I am comfortable saying God now because it is quicker than saying higher power.
To me my spirituality is all positive energy, Good Orderly Direction, Being as honest as i can each day with myself and others and smiling more. So many positive and spiritual things have happened in my life since i have acknowledged that i do exist and i am important. Then i asked God for help in my life not because i was in the s***e but because i truely am ready to have Gods help in my life, willingness is the key, my subconscious mind, intuition are all being expanded positively, sometimes quickly sometimes slowly it does work if i work at it.
The work i do in this life i do not want to waste in the next by succuming to addiction again, i like the saying where we are spiritual beings on a physical journey of learning.
At times i can feel and see(fleetingly at moment) spirit around me and others, and this is all totally straight no mind altering substances except life itself.
Idgie when ever i hit Auzzy order in a bag of coffee and take a couple of days off work and we will talk spirituality and recovery and all the wonderful things that being alive allow us to talk about.
Light and love zac
Idgie....AWESOME POST!!!! I have a whole new understanding for Higher Power now and it isn't religious at all. Thanks pal....Hope you are having a great Arvo and none of those emus and dunnys are around you!! Ha ha...That doesn't even make sense huh? I was tryin' to use your words. LOLOL..
P.S. The hubby and I test drove a new SUV and the salesman was from Australia and he kept saying Arvo for afternoon too. I love it. I just can't seem to get it to take off here. LMAO
P.S. The hubby and I test drove a new SUV and the salesman was from Australia and he kept saying Arvo for afternoon too. I love it. I just can't seem to get it to take off here. LMAO
Hey Zac
sounds good, looking forward to it.
Val - buy an environmentally friendly car - forget the SUV!!!
sounds good, looking forward to it.
Val - buy an environmentally friendly car - forget the SUV!!!
Hi Idgie....Do you think I give a rats rear about what poison I am spewing into the air from my SUV when I didn't even care enough about my own body to not poison it with drugs and alcohol for the last 20 years???? Sorry if I am negative Nelly but that's how I feel today. Hope you are having a good day at work pal.
:) :( Vally-
:) :( Vally-
I never had a problem with the concept of God, I was always seeking him. I participated in the Christian, Catholic, Hindu and Mormon religions...I would always pray when I was in a jam or what I considered to be "near" death..prayed to bail me out and I promised I wouldn't drink or drug again. God, my Higher Power, is very personal to me...I embrace the Catholic religion, however, I do not attend Mass anymore, but am seriously thinking about starting to attend again. I have reliance on God now, not defiance...I pray that his will be done everyday, not mine (I pray the 3rd step prayer & 7th step prayer daily). I have a "God" box and put my concerns in the box and then ask that they be lifted up to him. I turn it over everyday. When I surrendered on November 22, 2003 that was just the beginning for me...drinking and drugging was but a symptom, you see I had a living problem, I didn't know how to live life without self-medicating. Now that I don't run the show anymore, I truly believe God does and that is a huge relief for me. God graced me with the gift of desperation and guided me back to the rooms of AA, where I have learned how live life on life's terms.
Zac - i like your idea of the positive energy. To me its like a reinforcing cycle, the more positive energy we create, the more positive energy we create - and vice versa.
So that's for you too Vally my girl - negative energy creates negative energy. That used to be the story of my life. Boy wouldn't take me long to get into a right tail-spin.
Hey you stopped poisoning your body - now its time to get rid of the poison in your mind - you know to what I refer.....go and unload it :).
cheers.
Idgie.
So that's for you too Vally my girl - negative energy creates negative energy. That used to be the story of my life. Boy wouldn't take me long to get into a right tail-spin.
Hey you stopped poisoning your body - now its time to get rid of the poison in your mind - you know to what I refer.....go and unload it :).
cheers.
Idgie.
We must have posted at the same time VWGirl - thanks for sharing that side of your journey.
I've never had much tolerance for the rituals of various religions, but at the same time I have a certain fascination with them - not sure what that dicotomy is all about.
I think you are a lot wiser than me if you can embrace the good in religion, I always seem to see the bad. Spirituality I can relate to, religion I can't. The fault is probably mine.
Idgie
PS I hope you don't take this post in the wrong way.
I've never had much tolerance for the rituals of various religions, but at the same time I have a certain fascination with them - not sure what that dicotomy is all about.
I think you are a lot wiser than me if you can embrace the good in religion, I always seem to see the bad. Spirituality I can relate to, religion I can't. The fault is probably mine.
Idgie
PS I hope you don't take this post in the wrong way.
Idgie, no not all...I'm not even sure if I want to start participating in a religious organization again, I go back and forth on it...that's what I love about the Program, there isn't any demands in regard to God and religion...I could never grasp the spiritual principles of the program when I'd gone to meetings before and this time, well it is so different for me...thank God!
VWGirl I am GLAD that you have found such great recovery. Your excitement, enthusiasm and gratitude for the life you have today is so honest and deep and comes through in all you say and do.
Isn't it funny how we spend so many years running round like headless chooks looking for God (HP) when he/she/it was right there all the time? That is what amazes me. Talk about over-analyzing and thinking everything to death.
That's me you know, alwasy got to figure out a new and complicated way to do everything, and analyze and over-think and worry everything to the nth degree. I wish I was a simpler person - I think I would be happier.
Isn't it funny how we spend so many years running round like headless chooks looking for God (HP) when he/she/it was right there all the time? That is what amazes me. Talk about over-analyzing and thinking everything to death.
That's me you know, alwasy got to figure out a new and complicated way to do everything, and analyze and over-think and worry everything to the nth degree. I wish I was a simpler person - I think I would be happier.
OMG Idgie, I over-analyzed everything too...and I have worked with engineers (Scientists and PhDs), so I've literally grown up around these folks....everything is black and white to them and working with these guys shaped my thinking over the years. Until I really accepted that my way wasn't working anymore, was when I could get sober...had to find another way and it had to be thru my HP. Now, the funny thing is, that the gal I'm sponsoring is questioning everything, analyzing everything, she has so much swirling around in her head...sometimes she takes all of her will back and calls me with the plans and good ideas she has....usually we talk and she realizes that it's just that, that she is not relying on God anymore. Immediately, when she realizes this while we are chatting, she calms right down...it's amazing.
Hey Everyone the old religeon card is great for a gathering then someone starts an organization and WHAMMO lets have a war to see whose god is the best. Yeah Idgie i struggle with the many different religeous disguises that greed and control have.
I shouldn't have to pay money, contribute wages, call other people who aren't part of my religeon hethens. It gets all to political, controling and hypocritical for me. and i have to hand over that resentment to my God who is all pure energy and learning.
Don't crucifie me if there are some religeons out there that are soley there for the individual with no door knocking, people knocking or bank rolling then cool and also if anyone is part of a religeon that allows them to feel good sweet, as long as there is no hard sell.
I might start a smile religeon were all you have to do is smile at people when you are happy although i can smile and think "nice arse" LMAO aw well back to just trying to be true to myself because if i am true to myself then i don't have to be hurting anyone else because of any fear or guilt.
Light and love Zac
I shouldn't have to pay money, contribute wages, call other people who aren't part of my religeon hethens. It gets all to political, controling and hypocritical for me. and i have to hand over that resentment to my God who is all pure energy and learning.
Don't crucifie me if there are some religeons out there that are soley there for the individual with no door knocking, people knocking or bank rolling then cool and also if anyone is part of a religeon that allows them to feel good sweet, as long as there is no hard sell.
I might start a smile religeon were all you have to do is smile at people when you are happy although i can smile and think "nice arse" LMAO aw well back to just trying to be true to myself because if i am true to myself then i don't have to be hurting anyone else because of any fear or guilt.
Light and love Zac
