The difference between spirituality,spiritualism & spiritualism

What really is the meaning of spirituality? And how is it different from spiritualism and spiritualism? There is still quite a bit of confusion about this. And not unjustly so; as there are several definitions of spirituality.

Spirit is the Latin word for mind. So being spiritual is above all: being spiritual. And as you will understand: this can be done in many ways!

Let's first say that spirituality is not always necessarily related to the paranormal. When someone claims to be spiritual, it is still too often thought that that person will then also engage in dancing tables and all kinds of mediums.

No.

Spriticism, spiritualism or spirituality

Spriticism and spiritualism have nothing to do with spirituality. At least, they may be, but they are certainly not inseparable.

Spiritism: The belief that after death, humans live on as spirits in the afterlife and are able to communicate with living people from the other dimension. This communication usually occurs through the intervention of a medium.

Spiritualism: The belief that you can communicate directly, without the intervention of a medium, with deceased souls or even higher beings such as angels, guides or God.

Spirituality: The belief that there is no one fixed faith, but that everyone has the freedom to feed their own 'mind' in their own way with that which is meaningful to them, be it religion, meditation, sport, dance or anything else.

Spiritists and spiritualists are by no means always spiritual, and many spiritualists are by no means always spiritists or spiritualists.

So it may very well be that a spiritualist or a spiritualist is so absorbed in his belief in spirits, guides, angels or God that he does not stop to think at all about what this actually means to him, how this belief gives meaning to his existence and whether he really needs it at all. The faith 'is just there'. Perhaps he grew up with it or 'doesn't know any better' than that it is the absolute truth.

It is nice that he can get so much support from a religion, but the spiritual piece of true inner awareness of what exactly faith does for him is missing here. This spiritualist or spiritualist in this case, despite his belief in spirits, guides, angels or God, is not being spiritual.

Someone who is spiritual may also follow a religion and believe in spirits, guides, angels or God, but in this case is more concerned with what this belief means to him, why this religion makes sense to him and how it makes him stronger in life. Perhaps he himself chose this faith later in life right because he is aware that this belief strengthens him in his 'being'.

So the person who is into spirituality in this case is also a spiritist or spiritualist.

It is also possible that someone is involved in spirituality, but does not actually believe in ghosts, guides, angels or God. This person is concerned with their own spiritual growth but not through a special religion.

The person engaged in spirituality in this case is not a spiritist or spiritualist.

Differences

Spiritism and spiritualism involve believing in things that happen outside one's own body (spirits, angels, guides or God)

Spirituality, on the contrary, is more focused on one's own inner experience, the psyche, one's 'own mind'.

You can read what spirituality means to me personally on the page: Spirituality is not floaty.

Of course, there is a chance you may not agree with this at all. Perhaps one of the definitions below is more appealing to you?

Spirituality meaning

Definition 1: Balancing body and mind through awareness of what is truly important to you without adherence to any religion.

Definition 2: Gaining self-insight through spiritual tools such as tarot cards, oracle cards, angel cards, pendulum, I-Tjing, Rune stones, etc.

Definition 3: Draw support from a religion (all religions possible) or cling to a form of superstition with the aim of becoming mentally stronger from it.

Definition 4: Valuing inner wealth more than material possessions.

Definition 5: A combination of the above.

So there is no single meaning of spirituality. What one does know is that spirituality always focuses on one's own 'mind'. Not for nothing is the English word 'spirit' a synonym for 'mind'.

Find more information on spirituality over the years and from multiple angles >HERE.

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