Spirituality is often mistakenly thought of as
synonymous with religion, we can be spiritual without
being attached to any religion.The AA 12 step
program talks about a higher power which removes
the idea of a necessary supreme being. Having a
sense of something that is greater than the individual
applies to a wide sets of beliefs and experiences.
Occasionally we may, out of the blue, have a fleeting
sense of unity – no separation and no self – with all
and everything – such experiences can come when we open to them. A prerequisite for such experiences
is that we slow down and make space – something as elders we can have time for.
A way of approaching the progression of ageing is to see it as a journey towards completion, to wholeness and to self-realization. In all times there have been people who have lived to a great age and who have seen ageing as spiritually important although this has often been seen as time to seek forgiveness of the deity, etc. It is only in the past century, thanks to advances in health, diet, sanitation and education has the opportunities of an extended elderhood been open to so many of us. (In 2018 there were 12 million folk over 65 and 5.4 million over 75 in the UK (ONS 2019).) In essence, ageing can be regarded as a spiritual journey.
For many people religion
does provide for their
spiritual needs, for others
being part of nature fulfils
that need and for others it
might be through secular
meditation and the
practice of being present
to each moment. One of
the advantages in living at
this time in western
society is that we are free
to develop our own
spiritual paths rather than
have to blindly follow the
cultural norm without
question. We are free to explore our personal spirituality and to find our spiritual tribe.
See also the Spirituality section of the Wisdom page