Spiritual Acceptance

                  Spirituality is something that is deeply ingrained in every living person, whether it be full of life or utterly nonexistent. Each person has their own spiritual path be it Hinduism, Shintoism, Buddhism, Satanism, Christianity, Islam, Judaism, Taoism, Paganism, etc… Some people also have no spiritual path or preference at all and this is perfectly acceptable too.

                  So many, if not all, of the major religions, have some traits in common and when thinking of religions it is always best to focus on their similarities than their differences, as it causes one to be more accepting and tolerant of that religion which is so seemingly different form his or her own beliefs.

                  Now, when speaking of religion and spirituality, it is always a good idea to remember that they- though compatible and sometimes inseparable, are not the same thing- not exactly. A person can be religious and not spiritual just as one can be spiritual and not religious. 

                When it comes to these terms and others to describe a person’s belief system we must remember that everyone has their own path to follow and it is not our place to judge it. Though cults can take the form of religions they are not the same thing either and it is not wise to confuse the two, nor does it do a service to those who practice the beliefs in question.

                  I know Satanists get a lot of bad media, but they are no different than Christians. Each has good moral grounds, each has spots that need working on. I myself am Pagan. People come in all sizes, features, personalities- so why should our spiritual practices or lack thereof be any different?

                  I am Pagan, but a very eccentric one (more of a pantheistic polytheist, if you want to be precise). I draw my beliefs from many religious and lack thereof. Two of my favorite people in history were Buddha and Gandhi. They teach my soul such lessons and bring me such peace. They sing the wisdom of my heart and say the words of my philosophy. 

                 Myself and my spirituality are not likely to ever part ways- no matter which path I take or where I end up- my spiritual journey will always be there guiding me. I embrace the darkness. I embrace the light. I embrace the good, the bad, the things others may not want to see- I explore my soul and I embrace tolerance, individuality, and acceptance of all people no matter race, gender, sexual orientation, spirituality, etc…

                 Remember to follow the voice of your heart in all you do. Follow the voice of truth, harmony, wisdom, love and peace. These are the ingredients to happiness and understanding. If you are silent, it does not mean you are weak. It means you are strong enough to rise above it, strong enough to follow your heart. Strong enough to follow the way of love, even when that way is not the easiest. We’ll fall often- no one is perfect. But the point is to try. Understanding, tolerance, and peace within ourselves can show us how to live and make us truly happy.