What do we mean when we say we're spiritual?

Seems like an easy question to answer on the surface, doesn't it? That's the rub...because when your brain starts to form the words for the explanation, it's at that moment you realize how many different tangents you can take.

Are you spiritual? Why are you spiritual? What constitutes being spiritual?

Does it mean we meditate every day, or stop to smell the roses and hug a tree, or just that we feel a connection to....something other than ourselves?

Is community spiritual? That great melting pot of people, beliefs and joy that meld into community would seem to be an outward expression of spirituality in it's purest sense, and yet that same community can dissolve in backstabbing, bad feelings and remorse. So fragile...

...is spirituality so fragile? Do we have to work everyday to remain spiritual? Is it something we have to renew as we wake each day or something that is always there, just waiting for us to reach out to it?

What if we don't make the choice to reach? Will our higher selves reach for us?

"Power Over" disease

Why is it that paganism today is swamped with individuals full to the brim with "Power Over" disease? They want Power Over others, power over their local communities, power over their covens, power over events in the area....where in "Do what thou wilt so long as it harm none (including yourself)" does it say...but oh yes, you can completely run someone else's life, or rule by intimidation, or evict people from a group or community because they don't believe exactly as you do? I am so tired of those petty, insecure individuals who feel they MUST be THE ONE and ONLY pagan in their area - that they have to be some kind of "clearing house" for the community at large, needing to provide their stamp of approval on everything.

Why aren't more pagan leaders standing up to these blowhards and protecting the young novices who don't have a clue? How can you sit by and allow this to continue? Why do pagans refuse to "get involved" - afraid of a witch war? scared of being "outed"? Guess what, if we don't protect our true paths, we'll have nowhere safe to walk on this journey. It's time to stand up, be heard, be fearless - and walk the walk that is our faith and belief. Time to put these overbearing dimwits on their butts and out of our communities for good.