Spirit
By Jeannine Walston
Everyone is spiritual by nature. Many people recognize a connection to something greater than themselves and engage in some form of contact with spirit. Healing is about wholeness. We are whole when our spirit is united with our body.The spiritual dimensions of healing often become more prominent for cancer patients and their loved ones.
The cancer experience provides a vehicle for conversations toward a new understanding of spirit, spiritual needs, and more profound spiritual embodiment. For some, cancer shatters reality and invites a deep dive into profound aspects of self and existence. For others, this process occurs more gradually during the cancer journey and other aspects of life.
The spiritual dimensions of healing often become more prominent for cancer patients and their loved ones. The cancer experience provides a vehicle for conversations toward a new understanding of spirit, spiritual needs, and more profound spiritual embodiment. For some, cancer shatters reality and invites a deep dive into profound aspects of self and existence. For others, this process occurs more gradually during the cancer journey and other aspects of life.
What is the difference between spirituality and religion?
Many definitions exist for both spirituality and religion. The following comes from Lora Matz, MS, LICSW. As you read, reflect on your own perceptions about spirituality and religion.
Spirituality
Spirituality is about our core, our essence, our capacity to perceive ourselves in the context of a larger, organized, and unifying perspective that transcends our day-to-day experience and provides meaning and purpose to our essential human attitudes towards life’s events. Spirituality is what connects us and what we have in common. It is not a doctrine, metaphysical speculation, or deductive journey. Spirituality is a natural process of evolution, a birthright, a state of being, a lived experience, and a lived conclusion. It is our expression of an essence that comes from and is the divine.
Religion
Religion is a set of beliefs, practices, and a language that characterizes a community seeking transcendent meaning in a particular way, grounded in a belief in a deity. It is how we choose to feed, practice, and express our spiritual nature.
Reflect on how you define your own spirituality. Consider your relationship with spirit and the spiritual practices or support systems that help strengthen your body, mind, and spirit through healing. Engage in introspection and self-inquiry to explore the important dimensions of your spirituality. Seek out spiritual perspectives, ask meaningful questions, and explore strategies and resources that resonate with you. Ultimately, decide what feels true and authentic for you on your own spiritual journey.
Cancer and the Soul
Illness is a soul-shaking and soul-evoking experience. Cancer opens a deeper exploration of life, death, purpose, meaning, and other aspects of the human experience. Explore soulful opportunities for insights and transformation.
Spirituality Assessments
Reflect, identify, and define essential components of your spirituality. Our assessment shepherds you into self-inquiry toward better self-care, including your spiritual needs.
Prayer and Cancer
Prayer is experienced in many ways. Read perspectives on this sacred and timeless spiritual practice.
Ritual and Cancer
Rituals create a sacred space of purposeful intention and ceremony. Learn about how this practice offers psychological and spiritual support for healing.
Labyrinth and Cancer
The experience of moving through a labyrinth serves as a profound metaphor for life’s journey toward the center. Tap into the spiral path.
Existential Crisis and Cancer
An existential crisis challenges beliefs about life, death, meaning, purpose, our sense of mastery potency in the world, and the foundations of our lives. The crisis is essential to understand..
Living, Dying, and Cancer
When we die and how we die are significant factors in how people relate to mortality. We think life should be a certain way. Read about empowering perspectives on life and death with questions, strategies, and resources for exploring these topics during cancer and your life.