Building Your Own Tradition

Eclectic is defined as choosing from different sources, not following any one system, while tradition is defined as the handing down of a specific system, set of beliefs or customs. I like the paradox offered by eclectic tradition, the idea that one follows a non-traditional tradition. Pulling inspiration from many sources.

“I think you have every right to cherry-pick when it comes to moving your spirit and finding peace in God. I think you are free to search for any metaphor whatsoever which will take you across the worldly divide whenever you need to be transported or comforted. It’s nothing to be embarrassed about. It’s the history of mankind’s search for holiness. If humanity never evolved in its exploration of the divine, a lot of us would still be worshipping golden Egyptian statues of cats. And this evolution of religious thinking does involve a fair bit of cherry-picking. You take whatever works from wherever you can find it, and you keep moving toward the light.”
—Elizabeth Gilbert, from Eat Pray Love: One Woman’s Search for Everything Across Italy, India, and Indonesia

I like to think of Spirituality as a journey, a personal exploration into one’s own religious paradigm. Our spiritual growth and nurturance, our own relationship with our (divine source or fill in the blank), is our own responsibility—in the end, it only matters what we think of ourselves, how we feel about our own life.

The right path for the individual is the right path to take. Sometimes the right path is the long-standing tradition. After all, there are reasons why a tradition has lasted the test of time, there is value to be gained in the time-honored path. Whether you choose a conventional or unconventional path, only you can know what has value for you. We cannot expect that spirituality is “one size fits all” when each of us is a unique individual.

Where to begin

If you don’t find it inside yourself, you’ll never find it. Spirituality comes from within. The divine is in you.

What is sacred to you? An uninterrupted cup of coffee in the morning? A walk with the family around the neighborhood in the evening? A solo bicycle ride, nothing but you, the wind in your face, and the open road surrounded by nature? Don’t worry about whether or not these things seem “spiritual”, but rather examine how these activities make you feel. How does it impact your day? Your week? Do you feel energized? Happy? Calm? Centered?

Follow your bliss. What are you curious to learn more about? You don’t even have to know why you feel drawn to it. Internet reading and book research is a great place to begin or seek inspiration (inspire = in spirit).

When I’m in need of inspiration, I often find it through community. Coming together with like-hearted folks, sharing in life’s joys together, my community keeps me grounded. Finding a workshop or a community gathering is an excellent way to experience, meet people, get fresh points of view, and exchange ideas.

Overcoming road bumps

It’s great to begin with a recommendation, but remember that because we’re each a unique individual, we will each have a different experience. It’s okay to be different than your friends and peers, this is about you! Remember that finding something you don’t connect with, means you’re one step closer to finding what you do connect with. Everything is a learning experience, which is why there are no bad choices.

If something doesn’t feel good, don’t do it. But don’t confuse this feeling with fear
of new territory—it’s by pushing ourselves out of our comfort zone that we grow. Sometimes we need to walk through our fears, as long as we are not putting
ourself in harm’s way. Above all, trust your own instincts. Listen to your heart the first time. We have a tendency to shut out our inner voice in the name of logic, when we are convinced that the “facts” tell us everything we need to know. Spirituality isn’t logical.

The path to success

Worry less about how authentic the path you choose is, and focus more on choosing to be your authentic self. Your authentic self is who you are, underneath all the layers of what you do. To live authentically is to honor your inner spirit, to stand in your truth, to know what is true for you. Spirituality is not so much about what you do or who you do it with, it’s a way of living in connection with your divine source—living a life that makes you happy. Surround yourself with people and activities that inspire you to create a better life for yourself.

Enjoy the process

This is the journey of a lifetime, not a destination. Explore it with patience and an open heart.