?? for those who combine Christianity w/Spiritualism...

[soxthecatrules]

what practices of spiritualism do you use and what do you leave out? And why? Do you think the two can be combined?

i.e.---you may be okay with the use of crystals and essential oils and practice yoga on a regular basis, but, do not believe in angels or psychic readings, etc.

TIA

[genifer]

Well, I wouldnt say I combine spirituality with my faith as a christian but I have been known to break out my wii exercise game which has yoga on it and done the stretches and positions, and I have to admit I like those sorts of exercises and the effect they have on my body. I feel I need a gentle exercise regime for health reasons and yoga does it for me.

The only other thing I might consider is aromatherapy, but not getting well into it. I dont understand the spiritual connnection with aromatherapy tho. I just like the way essential oils smell (I have my faves). I wouldnt use it for healing purposes, tbh. I think maybe it might be associated with rieki which is something I wouldnt touch.

I dont believe in relying on crystals or psychic readings tho. I personally believe its not right for a chrisitan to be involved in that sort of thing bc... well I believe, and I really really believe this, that instead of relying on God, one becomes reliant on demonic 'forces' (for lack of a better word) instead. I realise others might disagree but this is my personal understanding on those sorts of things. Even if there is any information, or healing or whatever, that comes from one of those other sources, I believe its demonic in nature. I think to go into further depth I might find it difficult to explain. I believe there is power in them, but its from... the 'dark side' and not of God.

[soxthecatrules]

Thanks Genifer! I'm trying to get various POV to help me through this journey.

I guess I'm at the point where I'm okay with some of forms of yoga, most oils, and some crystals. Readings, cards, etc. I'm a bit uncomfortable with.

Something for you to think about....My understanding of the oils and crystals is that they are going to have their healing effect even if you don't say a prayer or incantation or whatever over them. Many of the modern pharmaceuticals have their power from natural substances. I guess one way for me to think about the use of herbs, essential oils, and crystals in their most natural forms is that if they were likely used in the time of Jesus for the curing of ailments then it is okay for me to use. They didn't have a Walgreens to go to. Not saying that I'm 100% correct in theory, but, it has been a concept that I have pondered.

[genifer]

I may have given away my ignorance on the subject but I have had absolutely no experience with crystals, I just thought that in the shops Ive seen them sold in they were associated with the occult and for reasons down to experience I steer clear of anything I know to do with the occult. I feel VERY uncomfortable with it.

[soxthecatrules]

I'm not so sure I would call it ignorance.

We each have different things we're comfortable with. When I first came to MDC many things (from CD to EBF) were foreign to me and I wasn't comfortable with at all.

To address the issue of the occult....there may be a ring of truth with that in some stores. There are places here in town that some of my Christian friends will NEVER set foot in. That's their choice and I respect it. I don't have a problem going into the stores, but, I know what MY intent is with the products I buy. Someone close to me makes some homemade body "spritzers" and other products from essential oils and herbs. I have no problem making those products myself and then using them. But, if they gave the products to me and I knew that their spiritual guide or leader had "blessed" them then I would be hesitant to use them. I know that probably sounds weird. We can acknowledge and respect others beliefs and still love them, but, we don't have to participate if we're not comfortable.

[akind1]

Like a PP, Essential Oils are herbal and natural based, i.e. DH has Frankinsense in his box of oils - a substance that has been around since Jesus's day for both its scent and possible healing properties. I have no problem with the use of essential oils or aromatherapy, any more than I have problems getting a massage

Yoga I like for the excersise and stretching. I am not "into" the spirituality behind it.

Psychics, horoscopes, etc, are not really my cup of tea. I have met enough persons that are gifted, so to speak, that I do think that they do have something real (from whence comes the knowledge, I know not) but I don't think we are meant to rely on information. Our source for information and guidance should be God and His Word. That said, people who do this "for entertainment purposes" why not? but it can be a slippery slope of temptation for some, from entertainment to using the "guidance" as a reliable source of how they should live their lives.

Angels are in the bible, I am okay with them. people communicating with them? seems weird to me, but so does praying to the saints (I am a Protesant christian and just was not brought up that way - I have no problem with those that do, it is just a concept that is outside my ken)

I take each thing on its own merit, I don't shy away from something, I like to research it and see if there is anything really valid about it. See if there is anything I like, that I am comfortable with, or would be of worth to me, and so on. Like feng shui - I don't know alot about it, but it seems to be alot about order and making room in your life for certain things in certain places. I am ok with order and organization, and some of the "rules" when put into practice seem to make for a very functional space. not so much others, that are for good luck or bad

[CherryBomb]

Yoga for stretching doesn't bother me, neither does aromatherapy or oils (generally speaking). That's about it, though. I don't believe there's any power in crystals and I definitely don't believe in psychics, horoscopes, reiki, tarot, etc. Even if the intentions of the practioner are good, I think they're dark and not okay for Christians.

I don't really understand the reference to angels. Are there Christians who don't believe in angels? I'm confused.

[soxthecatrules]

I don't know how I feel about angels. I guess I need to study more about them and how they fit into Christianity. The person I speak of believes one of my children is an incarnated angel.

[Katala]

Originally Posted by CherryBomb

Yoga for stretching doesn't bother me, neither does aromatherapy or oils (generally speaking). That's about it, though. I don't believe there's any power in crystals and I definitely don't believe in psychics, horoscopes, reiki, tarot, etc. Even if the intentions of the practioner are good, I think they're dark and not okay for Christians.

I don't really understand the reference to angels. Are there Christians who don't believe in angels? I'm confused.

I'm genuinely curious--what do you find "dark" about reiki? I'm not Christian, but I actually learned Reiki at a Christian (Catholic) center and was taught by a ministers wife (She was protestant, actually a denomination that's considered very conservative.) I know many many Catholics and conservative protestants who practice reiki; they all have told me that they believe the energy comes from god/the holy spirit; I'm only a level II reiki practitioner, but in my training and my practice, I've never come across anything that would conflict with Christianity at all. Heck, my mother in law is a self-described Christian fundamentalist, and she lets my DH give her reiki treatments.
I hope that my question didn't come across as confrontational in any way; as I said, I'm just curious

[Panserbjorne]

Originally Posted by soxthecatrules

what practices of spiritualism do you use and what do you leave out? And why? Do you think the two can be combined?

i.e.---you may be okay with the use of crystals and essential oils and practice yoga on a regular basis, but, do not believe in angels or psychic readings, etc.

TIA

Interesting question...essential oils were used in Jesus' time. I use them occasionally, therapeutically, but they are not my go to in terms of healing. There is a beautiful kit of EO's out there that are the 12 EO's found in the bible. Just lovely. I have most of them, but it's just a really soothing concept to me!

I use flower essences and homeopathy, which have a significant spiritual aspect to them, but the founders of both were very religious (Christian) and the original writings talk about our relationship with God, our covenant with God and our life's purpose quite a bit. I don't find them at all to be in conflict with my beliefs. I often say that my remedies are my prayers, and that's truly how I see them.

Angels...interesting. I think you are referring to people who use angel medicine and things? I'm fine with it. For me it doesn't take the place of regular worship...I see them as aspects of God. Certainly angels are part of christianity-but not in the way you often see them used in "new age" types of ways. I love angels. I find great comfort in their existence. I know that in my particular religion you don't pray to saints or angels, you go to God directly. I have to say there are times when it feels appropriate to pray to certain figures. Mary is one of the ones that I go to regularly.

I believe the world around us has healing gifts. I believe they were given by God. There are rocks, plants, oils etc that have medicinal uses and I can't for the life of me see why that would someone be inappropriate to use, or frowned upon in some way. I don't use rocks or crystals personally...but I believe they can have genuine properties.

So, clearly I have a different starting point and feel they can certainly be combined. Just my two cents.