Q05

Have you had any particularly spiritual experiences this past year? How has this experience affected you? "Spiritual" can be broadly defined to include secular spiritual experiences: artistic, cultural, and so forth.

I finally tried pole dance/fitness which helped me find a new part of my sensual self and newfound physical strength. I've find that something is making me stronger and more confident. I've been going to class for months on the regular which I haven't done in a long time. I even started an Instagram profile to s showcase my progress. I take more pride in what I wear and even with my nails. I know the clothes and nails won't approve my pole skills but caring about it shows that I am showing my self love. While taking care of my family, I've been missing the pole and feeling my body getting stronger.

I don't think so. This has been a really weird year for me, with birth-control induced depression and then an ADHD diagnosis on top of a whole slew of friends' weddings, work obligations, and family drama. I haven't felt like myself in a while...if I even know what 'myself' means anymore. I'm hoping for lighter and renewed energy this year. Or at least to start feeling something other than drowning.

We are now well into the 3rd year of the worldwide covid-19 pandemic and I have still not returned to a church, with the exception of my parents 50th wedding anniversary mass this summer. But for cultural experiences, there is really nothing that compares to attending our first Broadway shows in New York City this past December, after the theatres had been dark for more than a year and a half and it was questionable how and when they would be able to return at all in the wake of the shutdowns and restrictions on outdoor gatherings. Our first show was Come From Away, and I was moved to tears many times as I reflected on the world that we've come to know post-9/11, on the pandemic, and on the way that grief has taken on a whole new meaning after these earth-shaking events. The next night we saw Hadestown, and again I had tears in my eyes at the closing bows, not only for the joy of returning to live theater, but in the shared experience of a glorious work of art, in the way that storytelling can provide comfort, and inspiration, and beauty. These shows were a true celebration and a powerful reminder that, at the very end, when all the material things of life fade away and every person we've ever loved may be far from us, the joy and meaning from art and music and theater can endure and leave a legacy to future generations.

Nature brought awesome destruction: another wave of COVID that finally reached my family (nothing serious thankfully besides extended congestion) and my first major hurricane (Ian narrowly unscathed in my area). But I was also a witness to beauty: a gator in the wild (#Florida) and none more than the miracle of childbirth of my son from my incredible wife.

My conversion. It was by far one of the most joyous experiences of my life. The anticipation and overwhelming feeling I felt going through the process was the deepest spiritual experience of my life.

No.

We summitted the Continental Divide, picking our away among campion as thunder and lightning crashed and flickered over a southern ridge. Then we drove headlong to Leadville. My eyes followed the silver threads of streams threading valleys hundreds of feet down over the edge of the cliffside road. I had to leave all that to return home to NYC. I do not think I belong on the East Coast any longer.

Honestly no, this year hasn’t been as transcendental for me, though I will say I did come to terms with my relationship to my career, which was really nice.

Being held by people who don’t need me to be rock-solid all the time and give gentle Grace for neurodivergence… learning what generosity is… finding solid boundaries with people when it’s not safe to be unguarded… understanding the Texas landscape better and being a bit angry about it… I ought to read more about spiritual anger this year. Finding my own form of consistency. Métis!!! Who is strange and organic and practical and wonkety. Understanding that shallow place where I don’t know how next to proceed with a project or I am scared to finish and I keep scrambling and distracting and dragging on a project when it’s time to test the weld metaphorically speaking with materials I can let go. You can’t just skip over it, and still get where you’re going — and that’s ok. PK4: “I got better at meditating, let’s go with that.”

I just watched a documentary about psychedelics and it made me a bit sad that I've never really had a profound spiritual experience. As an atheist, I'm not sure how to approach that and taking psilocybin under medical supervision is not exactly accessible. Maybe if I participate more in artistic experiences, which hasn't been much of a possibility during the pandemic either. The closest I have come to a 'spiritual' feeling this past year is probably visiting all the spectacular churches in Napoli. I guess something I want to explore more in the upcoming year, some sense of spirituality.

Being able to go to SHUL online is a blessing when you are differently-abled; no travel time, no trying to park, no horror at the way people eat from the kiddish tables... BUT at the same time, while we get to go literally anywhere in the world, there is no real community. We think there is, WE know THEM - or think we do - but there is no one saying your name and that they are happy to see you. No chit chat at catching up on how they are - whether you mean it or not in asking lol... But while folks are starting to go back, we are not and no time soon with a high risk person very ill around here. Still, even with the literal distance, the pixels of prayers really can be profound, and beautiful, and wise, and our new favourite shul is not even in our city which is awesome as what other backwards kind of blessings could we have if not for these hell-times.

The moment when Father Gary blessed me before my surgery.

I see how we complicate what could be a joyus experience

Yes. Kol nidre was amazing at grassroots this year. I felt so uplifted, almost transported. It was fantastic.

God, I am deeply afraid of you. Deeply, deeply afraid and horrified by the lack of stability of reality in this life. I came to trust you less and less throughout this year. I want to learn how to trust you.

This year my connection to nature continues to grow. Ikebana Shoka includes learning about plants, their names & qualities, how they grow, how they reach for the sun, & where to face them & use them. At first I felt unsure I could even learn all this, & I still know it’s a long journey & I might never reach a point where I’ve learned enough to reach the next certificate. Meanwhile I immerse myself in learning, observing, & connecting with the materials I work with. The Ikebono Ikebana Chapter two day workshop brought me to a place of further confidence which in itself is a gift as is the learning & connecting.

I have now been working at the embassy for over a month (since August 22nd, 2022) and am really enjoying being surrounded again by Canadians, notably French Canadians. It feels good to work around people who resemble me in many ways and in terms of language, a real delight to be flexing my French muscle. I have always loved promoting Canada and Canadian culture and I feel very fortunate to now be so connected. There are so many books at my fingertips and cultural events and I really hope to make the most of it in terms of reconnecting. It's been a long 10 years away and it doesn't seem like I will be back there long-term anytime soon. I am glad to have this opportunity to shine amongst my people. At the same time, I had a really interesting experience over the summer with Brandon and Gord at the OAG. Given my 'minority' status as a francophone in Ontario, I had never given much thought to the fact that the French were also settlers, therefor also responsible for many atrocities towards the First Nations, Inuit, and Metis people. I am not sure how to move forward with those feelings and how I can find my own version of reparations. I feel good about the work that I have been involved in and that has been accomplished so far at the Embassy since I have been there regarding relations with these groups and hope it will help to foster more growth and understanding within myself.

Some of the reading I have done this year felt quasi-spiritual. This little snippet I read, a real self care mantra, has truly resonated: I will start filling my own cup, being my own muse, knowing my own worth, loving my own skin, praising my own existence, validating my own journey, speaking my own truth, admiring my own reflection, experiencing my own love, enjoying my own company, extending my own energy, creating my own paradise.

still haven't gone back to church since the pandemic started, but am considering a return soon if only to pray fervently for my husband's and my own health with a cascade of recent and upcoming medical appointments lately.

I have had a lot of spiritual experiences this year. In general, they involve coming together with people and/or singing. The first was a Jewish women’s retreat and they include visiting eight of my nine great nieces and nephews for the first time since COVID and, this week, Spending 55 hours at the hospital with my client as she passed, listening to wonderful baroque music as well as my Cantor singing the Mi Shebeirach. I have also enjoyed some wonderful meditations in which I could feel my entire body breathing. I have thought about, rather than created art. I am working on something now that includes the womanly arts. It's tough, I don't have the right equipment, but I do have the skill set and can learn new techniques. I'm excited for my own spirituality and creativity.

'Spiritual Experience'..... hmmmm..... Can my mental health challenges be considered spiritual? I think so, because they went straight to my core, to my whole existence, to my existential feelings and fear. I've made a recent decision to come off Effexor and/so I can try psychedelic therapy later in the year or early next year in an effort to finally pack away the trauma I've processed and go flourish in the second half of my life.

Not really. Closest i can think of is driving out of the Sierras, near Yosemite after 3/4Price. My very brief overnight camping trip. It was so brief, but a much needed break in a monthlong stressful period. Waking up then next morning . Having reset, and blown off steam. The driving in the afternoon sun winding slowly out of the mountains, dinking in the beautiful vistas in that majestic setting. Being only in the moment. Sun on face. wind in my ear. asphalt under my tires.

Everyday can be spiritual if you let it be.

I’ve been following the Artist’s Way course this year and I am honestly impressed by how effective it still is. I really feel like I’m undergoing a creative reawakening although the challenge is how to apply that realistically to my life, given my caring responsibilities. We shall have to see if the universe will provide in my case,

Yes, leaving Triratna program and doing more mindfulness practice.

Today, I heard Jamie Kern Lima say, "Soul first." In that moment, I understood living with my higher self leading rather than my ego or inner child. Last night, Ananda's guided meditation I felt the sense of infinite and part of infinite is infinite. Sensing that Dad had choice to stay and struggle because there was more, or life lived was, "Good enough." I had a choice to be selfish and want him to stay and struggle, or accept his choice. Just now, I feel his gratitude in my acceptance, for my acceptance. Gratitude for himself, and him for me to have peace. The come to Jesus Mohammed & Buddha moment delivered by gall bladder attacks and fear of dying from the pain or procedures. Realizing that life in this plane is time limited. Has life lived been good enough? Have I mattered? It's spurred me to focus on actions that move me forward rather than binging Netflix. Recognizing Ho`ene expression of herself was a realization she's going to be all right.

Not a specific example, but exploring my artistic creative side for the first time (with the relentless support of my partner) has been fascinating, thrilling and really rewarding. I _can_ draw, kind of, and I can create images from nothing. That's an incredibly empowering feeling; the right image at the right time can change someone's perception and reality.

Uh, big time. Al Anon was an anchor for me during my first full calendar year of living with Leah. I’ve leaned into the wisdom refined by generations of love seekers. Jen has also unlocked a new way of being for me, fully present imperfectly and enjoying it. Business chairing was a spiritual experience in letting go. This whole spiritual expansion has allowed me to start learning in public and owning it. That accountability just means taking account of what happened, which I love to do. That I deserve that same attention I devote to accounting for external factors. That my will isn’t always the right way. That I have ancestors and even Einstein didn’t really understand life and resisted illumination to preserve his ego. That I want to move differently. And as it helps to be reminded every year, that if I don’t see the fruits of the trees I help plant, I’m in great company. <3

I read a book about how the Exodus--and many events of the Tanakh--just aren't real. I started reading the book after discovering some facts from the book on Wikipedia, and I wanted to investigate further. The whole ordeal caused a real crisis of faith, because I hate to think that we've been holding out to the world that our ancestors were slaves when they just weren't (and were never in Egypt!). But I've come around a bit, realizing that there is still real power in the story of it all, and that's brought me closer to the text than I had been before I started reading on Wikipedia.

I continue to attend Grace church and help with the food pantry. We have been given an opportunity to help more by combining with Setauket church to use our property for their furniture mission. I continue to feel that we are doing God's work in our mission. I continue to explore the faith that I have been blessed with by trying to imagine that the love of God is available to me. I have so many blessings and yet I am so aware of how they could be taken away because they are of the world. I look for the peace that is dependent upon God's love alone. Working on it.

I traveled through the Grand Canyon. I was incredibly lucky to get to share this experience with Native Americans who consider the canyon their home and were incredibly generous in sharing stories of their ancestors. Two scientists brought a completely different element of understanding and knowledge-seeking. When I arrived, I had a very difficult time connecting to the river and canyons. I had recently backpacked in Yosemite, where I felt very connected, and somehow did not feel a similar connection during the river trip. I wonder if changing places so quickly affected my ability to connect to the river. I was delighted and surprised this past week during a float from Glen Canyon Dam to Lees ferry to have felt the connection I was previously missing. A second spiritual experience, I read Einstein and the Rabbi and came to appreciate much from Rabbi Levy’s story. We are lucky to have her in Los Angeles.

A few times this year and last year, I have felt my father’s strong presence with me while I have been driving our car. These episodes leave me with a longing to have a conversation with him. But I also sense that he already knows what I am thinking and feeling. He died on Yom Kippur morning in 1975, at the age of almost 67 years old, a little less than two years before Michael, our first child, was born. I would have liked him to know and speak with both of his now adult grandchildren, and his two great grandchildren.

Honestly, So Many moments at my shul and in Jewish community. Exploring Judaism has led to me feeling more spiritually fed than I ever have in my life. So many of my questions and concerns that felt taboo to voice—much less possible to find satisfactory responses to—within Christianity feel like they are given space and care within at least the corner of Judaism I've become a part of. Judaism has space for agnosticism and deeply meaningful religious practice to co-exist. Judaism is full of people who also believe that G-d—in as much as Voix exists—is fallible. Judaism isn't concerned with converting the entire world to be Jewish. Judaism is largely concerned with life here on earth, not virtue—feigned or real—for the sake of an afterlife. Pkuach nefesh. Tikkun olam. Tzedek. My shul is focused on creating the world we want to live in. A world with justice for all. Equity. Having frameworks for the values I hold most dear makes Sense to my autism. And it feels like the Jewish communities I'm a part of are really doing their best to Do the work, not just talk about it. Judaism has space for all my emotions. Holds them as sacred. There is space for grief. Grief doesn't need to end. Grief is held and remembered, often multiple times per week, in community. There is also such space for joy. The joy of Shabbat. The sweetness of Shabbat. The intention of Shabbat. Having space joyfully set aside for rest—not as an inconvenience or a burden, but as crucial to life... a gift. Judaism gives space for my autistic, disabled, chronically ill self to be and breathe and rest. Taking one day every week to live in the world we are working to create. Following off the above, Judaism is, as my Rabbi put it, "hopelessly, relentlessly communal." Which also really feeds my autistic self. Christianity was so full of individual sin, individual repentance, individual "salvation." And that's... just not how my brain sees the world. Often the people most heavily feeling the consequences for sin aren't the ones perpetrating it. The world's Not just, and Judaism acknowledges that. What constitutes sin also makes so much more sense to me and the values I hold. Christianity makes sins out of anger, minor indulgence, "laziness"... But anger isn't inherently sinful. Anger is important. Anger rights injustice. Anger sets boundaries. Anger protects the vulnerable and marginalised. Enjoying something to the point of alleged excess, but not in a way that is actually Harmful is not a sin. Indulgence can bring joy. Indulgence can help heal disordered eating. Indulgence can bring people together. Laziness is a myth. Rest is important and Judaism recognises that! Laziness fights capitalism. Laziness heals bodies and minds, or at least reduces additional harm. Laziness enables us to resume the important work later—even if that work isn't something capitalism acknowledges as work. And there's so many other "sins" that aren't really sins. Calling them sins is really about control. Putting personal responsibility onto marginalised people while letting the powerful off the hook for doing the same thing, only in ways that are actually harmful. Because the real sin is hurting other people. Anger that punches down, figuratively or literally. Selfishness to the point of propping oneself up on the backs of others until they are crushed. Amassing wealth on the labour of the exploited poor. Ignoring intertwined collective and personal responsibilities in a way that causes harm. It's not individual emotions or vague categories of behaviour that are sinful; sin is callousness and injustice and harm. Another thing that has been meaningful to me within Judaism is cyclical time and ritual. Linear time has never made sense to me; I remember time as seasons and cycles that recede and return. Ritual feeds my autistic brain, which thrives on routine and repetition. The music—in all its minor-key beauty—feeds my soul. Stimming is so normalised within Jewish worship. Rocking is most commonly seen, but my joyous flaps also don't feel out of place. Nigun's are basically just verbal stimming. So much of the music is sung repeatedly, until you can lose yourself in an embrace of sound. So yeah. I've had a Lot of very significant, very emotive spiritual experiences this past year. Judaism feels like it is meeting my whole self and holding it in a loving embrace. It makes sense to my brain, nourishes my soul. I'm so grateful to be here, and so anticipatory of my future within Judaism.

I don’t know that I have had any specific experiences in the past year. I think I continue to think about my belief system and how I think about my morals. Spiritually and religion automatically make me think about mortality and what happens beyond our life which provokes anxiety, so I’ve been trying to reframe that as growing old is a privilege. I do, however, feel like my views are shifting away from pure atheism to a more agnostic view of the world, which in a way feels hopeful? I think of this more of a response in terms of humanity rather than spiritually: on the one hand, there’s the scientific argument that how can we trust something is there that we have no actual or tangible proof of - but on the other hand, how can we be so arrogant as to assume we are the most intelligent or complex form (of “life”, or something beyond) out there simply because we (believe we) have not encountered anything else? I guess maybe what I’m saying is in some ways I feel myself working to be more open to more possibilities and paths.

Following Ricky to his green pasture. It's hard to get beyond this right now.

Being at camp is always spiritual. In meaningful and sometimes unexpected ways.

My "spiritual" experience has probably come in two forms this year. First, as I noted last year, was the experience of travel. I have come to think of spirituality as a certain type of awe, and there was so much awe and wonder in our family trip to Italy. Much of it was found in the physical architecture of the place: historic sites like Pompeii and the Colosseum, religious sights like the Duomo, the Pantheon and the Vatican, and artistic wonders ranging from the famed works at the Uffizi to the experience of the Biennale. But there was some also in the form of travel itself, be it a high speed train through the Italian countryside or riding the vaporetto in Venice. And, of course, in the natural beauty of a rolling field of sunflowers in Tuscany or the profile of Mt. Vesuvius -- wonder. All of it brought a sense of awe. My other spiritual experience was quite the opposite: it took place close to home and much more regularly: yoga. My committed practice began just after I returned from London so I've now been at it a year. It has both irritated and calmed my relationship with my body. I find myself constantly frustrated but also always working on being in a place of acceptance. I've learned something about the value of self care, about working at a challenge in a consistent way and discovering slow but incremental progress, and about being grateful for that progress. It's been a lesson in slowing down, tamping down self judgment, and appreciating ritual. Most importantly, it has allowed me the regular practice of quieting my mind, of finding joy and calm in being in the "state" of yoga. It has connected me, more deeply, to my humanity.

My artist residency year at the village school was mostly draining, exhausting and upsetting, however, there were moments when I was extremely moved by the kindness, warmth and love given to me by the children and teenagers. Getting this exceptional and generous attention and gratitude filled my heart. Seeing the kids so proud of their achievements when working together or when we presented their art projects also felt very rewarding. My sister joked that my role as an artist in a mostly hostile environment, living in a hut far from home and my usual safe surroundings sounded as though I was an art nun. I think she meant like a missionary for the arts, trying to convince the people that this is what will save them and what has been missing in their lives (which I find a bit questionable) and because I had to disregard my own needs and comfort and at the same time give my time and love and ideas to the community generously. I laughed and mostly rejected this idea - because I don’t want to be a nun really. I kept questioning my mission there and its point. But especially looking back it was specifically the altruistic side of the project and the fact that what I offered was accepted hungrily by many of the children and teenagers, which does make it feel as though I did make a difference and as though it did make sense. Many of my experiences with the young people whom I worked and spent time with felt culturally and spiritually and quasi-religiously significant for me.

I went to a sound bath for a friend's bridal shower....it mightve been last year....that was beautifully spiritual :) I'm really getting into my pottery, loving it so much, it is a spiritual thing for me :) Getting more into my Judaism through the lense of my son, we are enjoying the holidays together :)

Each night before bed, I sing hashkiveinu and mi sheberach to my children. For me, the routine, the spirituality, and the meaning are knit together to feel like a meditation.

I can honestly say that this year has seemed quite spiritual. I think a lot of happened when I stopped drinking. It was like things because so clear with the Universe. There were so many times when I would ask for something and then it would appear. Not always exactly how I had anticipated - Pickleball, bracelets from Alana - (although sometimes exactly how I anticipated). I am not sure if this will be forever but it has been a really really amazing experience so far.

its funny how writing my book has become, itself, a spiritual exercise, and how i now feel that is how all writing should be. so yes, i have, and it has been dramatic. my overall engagement at shul these high holidays was way higher and more elevated than it's ever been and i liked that. i find myself actually wanting to belong to a shul somewhere. i feel a very close linkage between art and religion

I've spent the entire time trying to think of one. But I haven't. That's it, I guess. Maybe this year wasn't so spiritual. But I had personal growth.

It has been a gradual pressing into God and building into my communities. It has been valuable finding a place to be vulnerable and confess sins, and to see other people be vulnerable and confess sins to me. It helps me see that everyone is struggling with something, and I'm not alone in my flailing around trying to make sense of life. It gives me a new appreciation for the Gospel, seeing how Jesus redeems us from specific personal sins, and that is something that everyone needs universally.

Someone posted a meme of how all the apostles died. They all died in ways that people were put to dead at that time. (Stoning, boiled in oil, etc.) But they are all put up on a pedestal as martyrs. For some reason it just made me laugh because I realized just how many times they must have been told "we don't want your religion so shut up." And they refused?! The absolute stupidity of those decisions just struck me. To be told you need to respect other people's religious beliefs and refusing makes you an ass. I'm no longer sure what it makes a congregation of followers who praise these people like they were great.

In a lot of ways this past year has been a spiritual journey into parenthood. It has all of the ecstasy and agony - the exhaustion, the anxiety, the physical challenge, the love, the giggles, the milestones. Motherhood has made me look deeply at myself, reflecting upon who I am because of how I am reflected by others and by how I see myself. Its been about listening to my gut. and feeling so so lost. Finding strength in both myself and in my husband - navigating this new world together.

Going into the depths of fear & grief about if I was ever going to become a mom, if I was ever going to be able to be pregnant and with my own eggs, losing the one embryo we were able to make… I started praying a lot, at night, in the morning, in the shower, while meditating… trying to call my future baby into existence. Although I always envisioned a girl who I had even named, I’m so extremely grateful and feel blessed to be pregnant with this miracle baby who manifested right when I needed him to. I do believe there was some divine timing involved here and hope I continue to be blessed by it/with it.

I finally found someone who I love and respect, who loves and respects me. I don't want to spend my life without them, and I think the world would be a worse place without them in it. This is such a new feeling and it's amazing.

I realize that I play with peoples hearts as if they were nothing. I run from every relationship instead of facing it.

I have been writing again in a very serious manner and thinking about publishing. I have several finished works I need only edit again before I attempt to find someone to either represent me or publish my work. I am very excited to see what comes next and what I might be able to accomplish. Also, my daughter has started writing and the joy I feel watching her create is immeasurable.

Nothing I can remember specifically. I know that I have experienced small spiritual moments by trying to have mindful moment of things to be thankful for and by trying to see things in new ways as well as appreciating things that connect me with the past (such as hearing a song my mother liked).

Yes- the realization that I have lived in this place for 25 years now, and that I belong - that I'm an insider - that I'm someone seen as part of "the old guard". It gives me a sense of solidity and stability - a sense that it's way past time to let go of my old stories about myself as needy and helpless and annoying and ignorant. That may not seem "spiritual" per se, but the shift I feels profound and centering.

I was standing on top of the Green Monster, and this may sound silly, but I had a feeling of calm in my life. I was surrounded by those I love on a perfect fall day and felt nothing but peace and beauty in my life, like I was truly blessed. All the stress of my life just slid away in that moment.

I shared a deeply spiritual and personal story at High Holy Days Torah study with our new Rabbi. It was the time that God answered me after a lifetime of conversations. Related to the birth of our first child, I was clear before the birth that if it was a boy, I would not have him circumcised. Since I thought it was a girl, I did not make a plan. When he was born a boy, I struggled greatly with this question. I spoke to a rabbi (telling me "just do it" and walking away). I spoke a lot to God during those first days of my child's life. About the 4th day, as I continued to insist that I could not do this to my child, I received an answer, not from a voice in the sky but a small still voice inside of me. God told me that the choice was mine as to whether to circumcise my son. Then I was asked, Do you want your child to have a covenant with Me? Yes I very much did want that covenant. The choice was mine, but if I wanted my son to have a covenant with God, I would have him circumcised. I made the arrangements, and on the 8th day of his life, our child was circumcised in a brit milah at home. My opinions were set aside, and I followed what I believe God wanted of me. I have always cherished that decision that came from my conversation with God and from the gift of God's answer.

I spent a long weekend at the hermitage in Big Sur in May, 2022. It was a breath of fresh air. It was the first time I'd been away for any amount of time since February 2019. I have held the belief that I am the only one who can do or be for my girls. Luckily, getting away for three nights was absolutely incredible. So much so that in two weeks, I'm going again.

I honestly can't think of any specifically spiritual moment. But more and more I see parenthood as a spiritual practice.

No. Once again, I can't think of any.

Ahhhhhhhhh letting go of shame, especially recently. meeting myself. being on my own side. I have read so many books this year. I see it as a period where everything was stripped away, where it was just me. I faced my darkest self. I survived. I met myself. I started holding my heart. I am on my own side, no matter what. I trust myself. I know that no matter what happens, I am ok in myself. I love myself.

Learning about interdependence and impermanence from Secular Buddhism has been a spiritual experience for me. I have read about Buddhist concepts before but I don't think I was quite ready to receive and understand them. Knowing that we are all connected and changing is soothing for my soul and I feel like I could (and will) continue to think about this for many years to come in how it can impact me and others.

I was deeply moved on Holy Thursday during Lent regarding a recording of "Σήμερον Κρεμάτε - Today He is Hung upon the Tree ( Holy Thurs - Pl. 2nd Tone)". I felt, and feel, an incredible sense of sorrow that Christ died in the manner in which He died. Yet, I know it was not in vain and that His light never truly left us.

We have survived Covid (Oct2022). That is what Public Health is all about. No options not to get vaccinated. But continue to deal with Trump and his narcissistic ways. It is interesting to watch people look for an easy-out (drain the swamp), thinking one size fits all (if your not with us- you are against us… No Compromise) and ignore what they know to be correct and “fall on their sword” with guilty pleas from 6Jan idiots.

Absolutely! I have come into my faith and allowed myself to be transformed by the power of love. I have found numerous ways to serve my congregation and myself. I am learning to trust myself and others, to let the light of love shine.

La verdad es que tengo un poco abandonada mi vida espititual y estoy justo en un momento en el que me gustaría retomarla. Echo de menos los seminarios oxigeme y echo de menos los temazcales. Es una parte imprescindible de mi y necesito esta reconexio. Las postraciones en muchos momentos me han salvado la vida. Necesito encontrar otras cosas que me de la misma paz y energía pero que no necesiten movimiento (por si me vuelvo a lisiar)

No

I think mama’s death has been a bit of a spiritual experience. I don’t believe in God or anything like that, but it’s also hard to believe she’s nothing but a memory. There’s no way she’s GONE gone. My mind just can’t accept it. I feel like she’s around… in me and in my son. She had a very unique and very important role in my life. I don’t need her as much as I did even into my twenties, but I still need her sometimes. And I’ll still need her in the future. It’s impossible to accept I’ll never see her or hug her or talk to her ever again. Ever. That just can’t be right.

I've been thinking a lot about death. Not the dying part, but the being dead part. If there's an afterlife, which would be lovely (probably), it'd be nice to know about it because it would make life easier. This is where faith would be helpful. I don't like to think of not existing, but without faith it's the obvious result. All in all, I'm hoping that technology improves lifespans soon!

Music continues to be a "spiritual" outlet for me that allows me to feel and express emotions. I also feel like I have been able to connect with animals, specifically the chickens, this past year. When I got in the habit of visiting the chicken coop more regularly, I loved observing their behavior and social dynamics, and I loved being able to take care of them, setting out food and water for them, collecting eggs, cleaning up their coop. I've also gotten more and more used to having C as a member of the family (the "flock"!), getting to know her social dynamics, and feeling affection for her.

I started to feel like it is how we think shapes what we do. I am starting to think of ways to change my mind. Thanks for Mindfulness.

i read this book called "the power of your other hand" and completed the exercises it contained and that was a very inspirational and moving experience spiritually and emotionally and psychologically. it opened up a new way of seeing/experiencing/doing which affected me deeply. i loved it. i continue to practice writing with my non-dominant hand, although i have not done so in a while. and i remember to thank my non-dominant hand for all it does so easily that previously i took for granted. it really reminds me of how much we are programmed to believe and accept things just because that's the way they are and always have been. anyone who is an outlier/outsider knows how it feels to be overlooked and undervalued, misunderstood etc. and i know i easily slip back into the programming. answering this question has help remind me of how i want to be in a more sustained way.

For RH 5782 I launched a High Holiday choir. We returned for RH 5783 and the experience of preparing and directing this group has been tremendous. I feel that I am contributing spiritually and artistically to all of my singers, and the congregation, in addition to myself.

I want to say yes to this. I know there is a yes somewhere. Today and the past week or so I have woken to a beautiful and peaceful existence of our own making. I am hoping that once I settle into it, my spirit will calm and be able to be nurtured.

Very similar to what I have written the last two years: shavasana, the final part of a yoga session, laying quietly, letting your mind rest. I often think of a past powerful experience and let my mind travel there. When I visited China years ago, we went to Xi'an, where we visited a Buddhist temple. We were given a stick of incense and our guide encouraged us to talk to Buddha, saying He wouldn't mind whatever religion we were. I felt such peace at that temple. I have tried to carry that with me.

I feel like I tend to have spiritual experiences a lot and in many different ways. Sometimes they're religious (and really strong), sometimes they're related to a song or a book or a tv show, and sometimes they're just related to the world around me. My spiritual experiences this year happened on Broadway, seeing Hadestown (twice!!), and seeing Phantom of the Opera, they happened on Spotify (THANK YOU Conan Gray for being so incredibly moving), they happened through fiction and fanfiction: ships I love and Beartown by Backman, and they happened through the West Wing, the House of the Dragon, Fleabag, Killing Eve, Our Flag Means Death, and more. On the Jewish side: I went to Brandeis Masorti Havdalah at Noah Simon's bequest for the first time, and it was a small spiritual experience (but a spiritual experience nonetheless) that reminded why I love Judaism and Jewish experiences and shared community in the first place. Post-COVID it has taken me some time to return to the point of love and passion I had for Judaism pre-pandemic.

There are no spirits. I've had fleeting moments where it seems I break through my problems, but then I don't make any big changes. Because what's the point? I've traveled to the mountains and felt like it's wonderous. And still feel like a tiny meaningless shmuck.

A continuation of last year's spiritual experiences! I found the Arunachala Hill in Tiruvannamalai and felt and instant, electric attraction to him. 3.5 billion years old, the hill has remained unchanged ever since the dawn of life on earth. What are my trivial mental patterns and problems compared to him and his wisdom. He pulls me to be. I love going there and doing girivalam - the last one I did was last month. The last two km, I was completely destroyed. 4 hours of walking and contemplating this fact about the hill destroyed my ego. I was shattered. I was thankful. I also met Ganga Ma. She looked at me and something similar happened. Everything but her eyes dissolved around me. I feel lighter. My job here is to quiet my mind and open my heart.

I'm still not sure what the word "spiritual" means. In French, it's reflected as "witty", but that's clearly not what we're going for here. A spiritual moment... Hmm... Maybe a moment of optimism? When things felt like they were going well? No, that's not it. Spirituality is about *more* than just me. It has to be about me versus my... environment? That doesn't feel quite right either. I suppose it does require a god of some sort, a being you can use as a Hegelian flashlight. I guess an imaginary friend would fit this, as would an interactive memory of someone. An important element here is that it has to assuage loneliness (to some degree). Have I had any moments where I have relied upon an imaginary friend? Well, I talk to myself. A lot. Too often, words erupt from my mouth as soon as I swing open the door. Does that count as spirituality? Does it assuage any loneliness? I've started going to services more. I go to support Sarah. I also go because I enjoy being present in this community. It's made me see how unfairly I have maligned Christians for going to church. What if they just want to be part of their community? Why do I view it so strangely, when I do the exact same within Judaism?

My faith remains strong. It really deepened with my Dad's passing. I am so thankful of the knowledge that I will see him and Mom again in Heaven.

Practicing mindfulness has allowed me to more fully experience spiritual moments that I have always appreciated to some degree--being in natural places (especially near the ocean), enjoying time with family and close friends, positive interactions with people in general, and being inspired by learning from others.

I have been painting and making art again this last year, and it has been fulfilling and empowering. I still struggle to carve our time for it, but when I am in the midst of it I am able to lean into trusting my instincts, and learning to take more risks. I feel incredibly vulnerable when I paint. I assume that is part of the draw. Giving myself space to not be good at painting is an uncomfortable but necessary part of my growth. I sm struggling with patience and 'less is more' theory. There is so much to learn. It is both exciting and and overwhelming. When a piece turns out the way I intended, or I receive a pleasant surprise I feel satisfied and encouraged to keep going. I feel like there is something within me that is trying to make its way out through my art. I excited to see exactly what that is.

Meeting my son for the first time. I also have prayed for help like I never have in my life. Becoming a parent has been the most transformative experience of my life so far.

One small moment was at Shabbat services at the Kitchen a few weeks ago. During Kabbalat Shabbat, at the start of Shiru L'adonai, I felt deeply moved. WIth the words, the melody, the community, the view of downtown San Francisco. I knew I was exactly where I was supposed to be. That I had found my place here in this city on this Shabbat. I had just been talking to my therapist about finding a Shabbat routine, and now here it was. It was deeply moving.

In early August, I attended a conference and the opening keynote literally said the things in my head. I went on to use this moment of validation to negotiate my new job. Something definitely put me where I needed to be that morning.

Congress passing the Inflation Reduction Act was such a strong affirmation of the desire of many (including myself) for a better world that it made me feel connected to all who have advocated for federal climate action. After years, decades even, of failures, climate advocates have finally succeeded. When considering all the forces working against the IRA, you realize its passage was nothing less than a bloody miracle. I'm ecstatic for all the pro-climate processes that will be catalyzed by the IRA (some have already begun). I don't think it's wrong to say that this law will accelerate justice, and that makes me feel spectacular.

Two come to mind - the beautiful acoustics and marvel of hearing Vivaldi's music in his church in Venice.. and spending a week of true quality time with two great friends while unplugged in the PNW, camping and hopping AirBnbs. So hard to put into words, but I have never felt more connected with people, at ease, and filled with joy and curiosity for such a sustained time period. If we all had community like that surrounding us, no one would be depressed. But then vacation ended and we scattered across the country again :/

I went into labor on a Friday. We had a bit of a break in everything (not really sure how) around candle lighting time. So we lit our electric tea lights and sang shalom aleichem in the birthing suit. There was something really moving at that moment, knowing (hoping) it would really be the last time that it's just the two of us singing/being together for shabbat.

This one is about drugs again (just like last year). I took LSD for the first time, and it was one of the most spiritual experiences I've ever had in my entire life. I felt like I was plugged into the heartbeat of the entire universe and it was beautiful. I can't wait to do it again when the time is right.

Sobriety became spiritual in that I saw a bottom and better understand my addiction issues. I also gained from it that I'm not alone, no matter the teaching I was given as a kid through thirty-something told me

One of the things I love most about Judaism is that it builds in life cycle and ritual events to pause, reflect, and grow. I think I'm a better person because of the learning I've done as a Jewish woman. I'm seeking lowercase-t torah all around me, and that's spiritual. Mari Andrews writes torah. Her newsletters over email offer me nuggets of wisdom, challenge me to be reflective, and inspire me to share with friends and and family and colleagues. I’ll include one excerpt that I loved about humility. “As a favorite writer Brian Doyle wrote, "All you can do is face the world with quiet grace and hope you make a sliver of difference. Humility does not mean self-abnegation, lassitude, detachment; it's more a calm recognition that you must trust in that which does not make sense... You must trust that you being the best possible you matters somehow, that doing your chosen work with creativity and diligence will shiver people far beyond your ken...And you must do all this with the certain knowledge that you will never get proper credit for it, and in fact that vast majority of things you do right will go utterly unmarked. Humility, the final frontier."

It is hard for me to recall everything from the past year, but being able to sing without having vocal issues, focusing on the High Holiday service this year, has been very fulfilling and helped me to excise some demons and experience the day as meaningful instead of just terrifying. Spiritually, I have come to a better place of being open to happiness and closing off the channels that lead to despair and resignation. And there is plenty to despair about.

I feel like every time I’m in the ocean it feels somewhat spiritual. I remember one time in Tossa de Mar with my friends it was cloudy but we walked around this castle thing to this little section of beach and it was so beautiful. And then the sun came out and we went into this amazing clear water and just were so happy and help hands and floated and I felt on top of the world. It was one of those “this is what life’s all about” moments.

The closest thing would be reading “The Midnight Library,” a novel about what happens when you explore all the infinite paths that your life could have taken if big or small decisions had been made differently. I still think of this book often, as it made me let go of some “what ifs” and “I should have / shouldn’t haves” from many years ago. It made me realize that there are some constants - about myself, about other people - that would have led to the same conclusions, no matter what… or that other alternate futures would have had their own host of challenges given these steady truths. This has given me a sense of closure on certain things, and also helped me accept my mistakes or missteps in daily life with more grace

Being 50 feet under water with the fish in silence (except for blowing bubbles). I was reminded, yet again, that scuba diving is my happy place. The transcendence into another world that is stunningly beautiful, different but not daunting, and moves at a slow and quiet pace is magical and restorative. The slow and steady breathing, the curiosity and wonder, and being fully absorbed in the moment leaves me with a feeling of rejuvenation and gratitude for life.

Religious practice has definitely taken a back seat in my life these days, so maybe spirituality is in my connection with family and growing comfort in my little home. My workplace will always be a source of Jewish community for me.

Yes working with Gildas club and taking the art class has opened up my eyes and giving me confidence to see that anything can be art and it doesn’t need to be perfect.

Occasionally I am struck with gratitude. It comes over me suddenly, often in the presence of natural beauty, but sometimes in the sense of thankfulness that I have been allowed to experience something, even something apparently ordinary. Returning to the workplace and seeing my colleagues in person has made me deeply grateful. Sometimes I feel grateful for my abilities to do certain things -- understand foreign languages, write, read, hike, bike. I am conscious that I am getting older, and there are many things I no longer take for granted. I know I won't be able to do them forever, and I am deeply grateful to be able to do them now.

Just last week I was at a Catholic mass for my Mother-in-Law's funeral. I was so moved by the Father's sermon that I was able to see more so that God is God is God even if he is sought though different prayers, moved enough to get in the communion line and get a blessing from Father Richard. Never did I imagine that I would at all relate to a Catholic service.

In April we took our first trip since 2020 and went to Toluca and Mexico City. Rather than stay near the Zocala, we chose to stay in a neighborhood farther south, Coyoacan. It was one of those times when you walked into a strange place but you know you are home. The feel, the people - it was so special. We felt that this was an area we could live for ever. For the first time since I left the US, I felt like I was home. Now we have something to plan for and visualize how we can make it happen

Collective maternal sorrow and rage has seemingly brought otherwise quiet women out of their shells and in to their power. There's still so much work to be done, but it's been amazing to bear witness to the awakening that's been taking place.

I can’t think of anything particularly spiritual this past year. So I will say this: this year has been very much a year of t’shuvah in one sense: returning to myself. I have been more honest with myself in every way. I have shown more courage. (Am I about to write a “things I did right” version of Al Cheit?). I have shown more honesty and vulnerability in my relationships. I have taught myself how to be focused and motivated and bring my whole self to work (OK, Nilofer helped with this :) ). I have taken steps to make myself better. I have taken better care of myself. I have cheated on my eating plan less - focusing on me and not her absence. I have let fewer things bother me or knock me off center. I have given myself permission to be imperfect, yet to try. I hope I am in a better place and can keep doing this in the upcoming year.

My time with Ifa / Orisa-honoring tradition continues. I got to take another trip to barnstable county, and visited my ancestors' graves and found some new ones. I started dating Alan again, and feel a deep connection there. And my relationship with Andrew has deepened. I've been having dreams where my dad visits me, and I lost my ide the night I had a big deal and thought of him, missing him and anyone him to help mom get medical treatment.

Walking through the bamboo forest on the road to Hana in Maui. The beauty and stillness gave me a feeling of calm and peace that I rarely experience.

Immersion in the living water of Lake MacDonald for mikveh, to prepare to marry my beloved, had unexpected dimensions. I thought I was washing myself off but found that I was letting the sacred buoy me and enter all of my pores. It wasn't primarily removing past sins and purifying myself, it was opening myself to the possible futures we will explore.

Music - listening, creating, performing.

I feel so much more spiritually connected than I have in years, perhaps ever! I am so enjoying learning about astrology and human design and exploring crysyals, my alter, etc. Its been a fun, reflective and connected experience. Ive loved reading peoples cards for them and connecting more deeply to the moon.

At peace with the forest and nature. Feelings and practice of gratitude ….

Started intermittent meditation again- some days I feel more calm. Put down the siddur on Rosh Hashana and let the prayers and blessings flow through me. Stood out in the trees for the joyous cacophony of shofarim.

Not really anything that stands out.

The second Fire & Water retreat. Being in and with community, offering breathwork in person for the people I love. I feel so connected to that community and those people. Witnessing everyones presentation of learning and seeing how they've grown and changed and knowing the same thing is happening within me.

Always. Here's the big things I learned this year: 1) There are thought patterns left over from childhood, beliefs that my 5/6/10/12 year old self created based on my view of the world at that point in time. Now that I'm 35, I know better, but the false beliefs were still there. I took the time to illuminate them, ask them what they were (ex. you have to be perfect to be loveable, you are valuable when you show you can endure suffering), why they were there (you know the specific experiences), and if I believe them anymore (no, and no). Then, I had to choose differently. I had to tell myself "That's not me anymore. I'm in charge now, and I believe I am loveable, and I am enough just as I am." And repeat it every time those behavioral patterns came up, and really feel it. And wow, did that make a difference! I felt so much lighter. It was like someone took 1000 pounds off my chest. 2) I realized that there are things I want in this life. Like desperately want. The fact that they're not here causes some light suffering. But the whole reason I want them to come is because I believe I will be happier with them in my life (ex. $$$$, relationship, career). It's so weird, like I'm holding myself in misery until I get those things...which is the antithesis of the point of having them. If I want to be happy, I just need to be happy. Not delay it for anything else. Hold the hope and vision of them one day coming, but stop delaying my happiness now. 3) I realized that there is my core self, who I am underneath all the external things in this world, my inner conscious, barometer, etc... And that part of me, regardless of what happens externally, doesn't really change that much. If I gain 1000 pounds or suddenly look like Megan Fox, the inner self doesn't change. I am always gonna be me regardless of any experience that happens. The needle of who I am won't shift more than 10 degrees in any direction. So, I just gotta love myself right now cause it's not really changing.

After listening to a podcast on Jewish Institute for Spirituality, I wrote down the words to some beautiful songs. For many weeks, I was getting up before work to sit and meditate and learn the words and sing the prayerful songs. It was feeling so meditative and would bring me high in prayer. I could sit afterward and pray to start my day in a beautiful connective spirit.

Reading Tuesdays with Morrie with my partner, re-reading it with my dad with a chronic illness, meaningful conversations about life with friends, camping in the middle of nowhere with my partner, first Passover back with lots of friends and family since Covid.

About the closest I've come is actually spending more time than I have in several years outside in our garden. Being in the sun and amongst the flowers and growing plants feeds my soul.

In the Rosh Hashanah service I had some moments of spirituality. It was in person, but I might think about going to livestreamed synagogue services in the future. I think having to physically sit and stand up and down over and over and stand up for duration has a real impact on my ability to feel anything in a service besides fatigue - and even- anger. It's not physically painful anymore to do so but it just feels so uncomfortable. My best thinking and feeling has always happened while sitting...It feels so mundane but I'm beginning to realize it matters a lot.

Kayaking on the St. Lawrence River with my wife, Vickie, is both a physical challenge and a profoundly spiritual experience. I would include our time ashore on beautiful, serene Occident Island as part of the spiritual aspect. Being a small creature on a vast and powerful body of water, using only her own strength and determination to propel her tiny boat through constant chop, fierce current, and boat wake to places she could not otherwise reach, is incredibly centering. My soul is always refreshed on the great river.

Seeing “Twelve Angry Men: A New Musical” at Theater Latte Da in Minneapolis was tremendously thought-provoking and moving. It was an intensely spiritual experience for me. Going back to this theater and others, seeing plays and musicals, sitting surrounded by other people sharing the same experiences, listening to music in person, spending time in museums (including the experience of seeing the National Portrait Gallery’s Obama Portraits on Tour,) all in real time, in person, not viewed through a screen, were spiritual moments for me. These have brought me intense joy. As I am taking part in them, the masks that I continue to wear in public settings remind me to not take these moments for granted.

Our family is Mixed Secular. We come from Jewish and Roman Catholic backgrounds and we’re pretty good at not stepping on each others’ spiritual toes. Still, I do sneak in a bit of Jewish education when I can. When the family came for a Rosh Hashanah visit last weekend, I tried to explain to the grandkids how it’s a time to think how we could behave better, with more kindness, in the new year. Next day the family sat outside at a neighborhood restaurant having lunch. A street person came up behind to ask for money. He startled me and I gave him a sharp no. My 7-year-old granddaughter- nobody’s fool - asked, “Aren’t you supposed to be kind to people?” Reader, it stung. Next day a chastened grandma and her smart grandkids threw Cheerios into the Hudson River, to do Taschlich. Not to mix religions but -- fingers crossed.

Does having a baby count? Did that feel spiritual? The fact that I grew something, sustained something, created someone - isn’t that miraculous?

Probably my 45th birthday sitting in a vineyard in the shining sun and looking at mountains while hearing a guy playing “into the great wide open” it just felt like there is still so much more promise left in life. And I just felt really grateful to still get birthdays

To be honest no, I haven't. And I haven't explored much. My past year hasn't been spiritual at all, sadly.

The beauty of where I am in life is that I am finding spirituality in so many aspects of my life. Through my relationships with several Rebbetzen, through my weekly yoga classes, through my most recent Tashlich learning, even my visit to the beach, just walking along the shore, allows me to tap into my spiritual connections. It's been very uplifting.

Let me think about it… This year was not as spiritual as last year. If last year was Teshuva and being consistent, this year was about growth. About getting “there”. Luckily, or as a product of that, I got a great job, ended that toxic relationship and started a new one. Worked really hard on all these. I might say that learning how to accept an apology was almost spiritual. That moment with Dr Rabbi J was a point of collision of all the growth. I was a better Lucas at that moment than a week before when I got to the conference.

I've really become more aware of the burdens we put onto people that are already burdened.

This year I read the book "Signs: The Secret Language of the Universe" and it confirmed a truth that I've known for a long time but never had validated before. My therapist recommended this book to help me process some of my grief, and in turn I have come to have an active relationship with my loved ones who have passed on and with grief itself. I started asking my grandparents, elders, and ancestors on the Other Side for signs that they were with me, and then for signs that I was on the right path for big life decisions (like moving into our house and getting engaged). Every sign that I have since received and continue to see has been a blessing. From the beautiful double rainbow that appeared just before we got word that the house was ours, to the engagement that happened at the Kehlani concert the night before my own, to the many bees and butterflies and pollinators that I have seen since asking that to be my personal sign from above (most especially including the brilliant yellow butterfly that spent some time with us in Uncle Frank's backyard during his celebration of life), I have felt so in touch with God and the universe as a result of honing in on this shared language I have always spoken but now fully appreciate.

A few weeks ago I went to a fair where I learned some insights about myself. I think it helped me focus on gratitude more than the sometimes depressed FOMO mindset that I get. It's helping me refocus and redirect my energies for my maximum growth potential. It's fairly easy to slip into an attitude of thank you God as well as making it easier to just sit with feelings, even if I'm slightly uncomfortable.

I went to the Immersive Van Gough experience this year, being immersed with the artwork was an amazing experience.

The answer is not really. That probably has a lot to do with why I feel so detached from religion, my community, and a part of myself. I am not particularly proud of this answer.

How to let go of results when it comes to prayer. I rejoined the Holy Trinity parish in Georgetown and the priest said something that made a lot of sense to me and made me feel really really good. That answers don't have to be prayed for.

I'm listening to the Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks now and I feel such a deep appreciation and empathy and connection with Deborah's deep sensitivity, humanity, and profound intelligence. The latter I look at less so with connection than with admiration. I find myself moved to tears about which I'm not exactly sure, just the profound understanding of both the tragedy and glory of the many layers of the story of the family and the cells that Deborah evokes through her questions, and convictions.

Star Wars, which was artistic.

I am beginning to practice candle magic! I want to get more into energy veering towards paganism. I think that a lot of the symbolism I appreciated from my Christian upbringing was rooted in the pagan traditions, and I want to explore that more. I also have been capitalizing on the power of music through Baltimore Choral Arts, and I appreciate the opportunities to perform with them.

Hmmmm. No? Maybe occasionally? Nothing that throws me off into thinking about it. I do feel a responsibility to write the uplifting sayings outside, to maybe bring a bit of hope into our neighborhood. Maybe that's something. There should always be hope.

Spirituality, art and culture was put on a back burner in favor of achieving economic success and job stability. Every so often, I hear an old song that makes me cry thinking of better days. I'm fortunate that I can easily access the music I love.

Sometimes you see a really cute dog while you're on your bicycle or you notice a new detail on your commute. Those were my spiritual moments this year - ones that were simple and special in that one moment. Times where I was just glad to be alive and experiencing the world.

I have been working in our community garden in a weekly basis and it has been so wonderful connecting to nature, growing and harvesting vegetables and using them to make delicious home-cooked meals and preserves.

I loved my time in Ecuador and my time on my yoga retreat even though I was alone. I normally do very poorly alone but when I was able to just relax and be present and absorb the world, I actually felt a lot of orange and calmness. It was nice and even freeing to have full dyas to myself without obligations from others and guilt that usually comes with that

In-between Delta and Omicron, we were able to take our twice postponed trip to Kauai. Snorkeling among the colorful fish is always a spiritual experience.

Choir is back. In person. We sing together again. Masked for the time being, but together! I am seeing my choir friends again. In person! Making music in a group fulfills me in a way that nothing else does. Creating something so intangible, so beautiful is an ephemeral and divine moment. Our new Music Director (after months of interviews, meetings, auditions) seems to be working out well. Yay.

My most recent epiphany did occur when talking directly with HM. I was trying to rework Step 2, which has never really worked for me. I realized that I had to change my definition of "sanity" in step 2, then redifine "will" (step 3) as "desire to control" and "life" as "outcome of my actions." I hope I remember this later, because it made these two steps feel much more real.

This was the year I really got into davening. I can now emphatically define myself as a davening Jew, and I know that I probably won't ever find a home in a Reform shul ever again that really gives me what I need. It can be one of the most alienating things when you don't know what's going on, or immensely soothing if you do. I understand why we've been doing this for two millenia, in one way or another. I understand why it still forms a cornerstone of how we mark time. I find it transcendent to step into that space and read words that my ancestors read over and over again - albeit for most of history, only the male ones. I'm also staking a claim on a place in that line, for myself and all my sisters. Praying with a lay-led minyan also asks hard questions of you - questions like: What will you do to make sure we can still function if one specific person were to get sick? What skills can you bring to the bima? What can you learn? What do you want to learn? How will you do your part to support the existence of your community? How much obligation do you have to provide that support?

Setting inside the Vatican Museum, St. Peter's Basilica and St. Peter's Square in Rome. It's one thing to see the basilica on TV for Christmas Eve mass, but another to walk in the building and realize how big it really is. The same can be said for the square, who's horizon can be seen for miles on a sunny day. And then, there's the Sistine Chapel. The story of creation above my head, observed in silence and awe of the details hidden within the frescoes.

I can't point to one particular experience. Rather, regular meditation practice and my dharma study group ("virsan") provide a steady backdrop to my life. Joe joining in the daily meditation too, further cements this ground in our shared life. Perhaps in this category though was my 4 day residency at Playa at Summer Lake in late September/early October. Solitude. Nature (on a grand and pristine scale). Art making. Meditation. Journaling. It was magic and fed my soul incredibly. It also showed me how fearless I can be in art making when I allow and support it with space and quiet.

This year, I’ve been blessed to have definitive spiritual experiences of absolute clarity, oneness, and love. In late June, a mystical experience of unitive consciousness that restored and expanded my spiritual beliefs. The proximate cause of what is now my process of spiritual emergence. During it, I received the insight that the highest truth is interbeing. I learned this concept this year from a friend, and later, I learned more about it online. Days later, a spiritual experience in which I was overcome with forgiveness for everyone I could remember who had wronged me, and I felt gratitude and love for them all. This month, remembering the two experiences of unitive consciousness I had years ago. This feels like a homecoming. And the spiritual process of meeting, befriending, and loving the person who is now my fiancé, whose presence points me to the All.

I’ve had a sense of calm and connection to the world I’ve never had before. A returned wonder at the world and certainty that I don’t care what happens after death; I want to explore everything now, but slowly, and with joy.

I have finally decided to convert. I believe this will bring the most peace to my life

Last August i went to a radionic therapy and after i was feeling very sensible, seeing things and feeling Over protected from bad energies.

All my spiritual experiences have involved the beach at sunrise, full moons over a watery horizon, a Mother's Day turtle's nest in the sand, sharing the water with sharks three times in one week, riding my bike down the trail behind a gliding Cooper's hawk. Then there's the theater--the end of Marco Flores's piece for Out in the Tropics--when he put his head on the guitarist's shoulder. Hearing Naike Ponce from the front row in Cádiz in the company of the lovely Italians. Seeing Mercedes Ruiz at the Arsht, hearing Maria la Terremoto--twice, seeing Eduardo Guerrero. Walking with Mayte and Co. in Quéntar and planting carrot seeds in the huerto. Eating the Arab sweets from the little bakery. Hearing Silvana Estrada sing "Si me matan" in that online video. My heart... And who could leave out André De Shields's final performance in Hadestown?--Covid be damned! That man is the most brilliant exemplar of the power of stillness that I have ever seen.

Spirituality has seemed like an impossible goal over the past 6 months. New city, new job, fewer Jews, no time to catch a breath. I’m only just now able to begin the work of returning to any sort of spiritual practice, but have already seen the positive impact of re-engaging with this part of myself.

Childhood trauma has been fighting for attention this past year. I know I have to deal with it in the near future. But a more "spiritual" experience was an argument I imagined having with God. I have been so angry at the way my grandfather had to struggle to his death. I have lost my faith in God through being a witness to this. In my argument I attacked God with a furry and vengeance. He was heartbroken. And told me he would have taken my grandfather long before. But my Opa had promised my Oma to never leave her. And so he refused. He refused until I told my grandmother I am taking her home so I do not lose her too. That was his permission to end his struggle. This has given me peace. It has taken nearly 15 years.

Not so much, mostly just thinking about death; had the idea that perhaps the good die bc they won the game

My travels to Germany, Lithuania and Canada brought me into relationships with family that I didn’t know, and that closeness and love certainly felt deep and meaningful. The impact of seeing killing fields in Lithuania moved me very much and I am still trying to reckon with it.

I've started meditating. It's been quite wonderful to recognize that all of life is just consciousness -- or at least that all of life is mediated by and amounts to nothing more or less than the contents of consciousness. I'm interested, in the time I have left on earth, in becoming a keen observer of what it is to be alive.

I can not think of a specific spiritual event this year but I do feel like I am entering this new year a little lighter with a heart that is a bit more open. I am working on simplifying my work and my life. I want more time to have experiences and be with people. I want more time for myself to do things that I want to do not what feels like a "should do". I want more time to make a real impact. I have started some simplification and am committed to keeping this going. Being outdoors continues to be where I feel spiritually expansive. And - singing with the PCS choir is a privilege

Life isn’t all good or bad. It’s both. Always both. “Happiness for you all -though, mind you, I reckon you’ll have your troubles, and worries and sorrows, too. They’re bound to come - and no house, whether it’s a palace or a little house of dreams, can bar ‘em out. But they won’t get the better of you if you face ‘em TOGETHER with love and trust. You can weather any storm with them two for compass and pilot.”

We went to some excellent gigs over the past year or so, but my absolute favourite (possibly my best gig of all time) was seeing the Manic Street Preachers at Wembley. The Manics were my absolute favourite band from about the age of 13 - 22. It's no exaggeration to say that they were the most important part of my teenage years. I stopped listening to them when I got a bit older (and a bit less angsty I guess) but still thought about them a lot. I saw the gig advertised with Public Service Broadcasting supporting, and thought that Chris would up for it, which he was. I didn't really know what to expect or if they might be a bit past their best. Reader: they were INCREDIBLE. They kicked off the set with Motorcycle Emptiness and I was immediately a teenager again, struggling with loneliness and insecurity and finding my place in the world, and if that sounds negative it's really not, because the Manics helped me through that period, and again, it's no exaggeration to say that they gave me something to live for. I feel a bit tearful thinking about it now - honestly, I just loved every moment of it, and the following day I kind of followed my colleague around droning on and on about what an amazing experience it had been. Just the best gig ever. Nature-wise we spent some time in Juan-Les-Pins towards the end of the summer, and saw some beautiful scenery, and swam in some beautiful sea.

Doing my intuitive eating coaching. Playing music in preparation for the High holidays a few weeks ago. Seeing the leaves grow in my trees again last spring after a long winter. Buying a plant and for the first time ever, keeping it alive for months. I usually have a black thumb. In terms of tefilah that has been lackluster since Covid. I have found spirituality in other places.

Oh God, I thank you and am grateful for all your tender mercies. I haven't experienced a resurgence of my faith like I was hoping to even thought I love God and believe He is guiding me.

I am trying! Struggling with learning meditation but feel it will be good to do to heal my cancer. The only spiritual experience I can point to is the praying of the healing of my cancer by acquaintances and those I don't even know. Despite struggling with chemo and having to end it early due to my reactions to it, my lump was undetectable despite getting 1/2 the chemo I was supposed to.

I went to Disneyland Paris with my family (and our girl scout troop) this year, and I had an overwhelming sense of "home" walking into their main street. It's the same layout/design as the original, which I grew up going to every summer for years. I also haven't been there in eight or nine years now, so I don't think I'd realized how deeply I had imprinted on that particular configuration of buildings and sights and sounds that equated to happiness.

Going to the Kotel was INTENSE. I was nervous because it was such a restrictive experience, gender-wise. I'm non-binary, and outside of the tiny egalitarian section, the larger portion of The Kotel is strictly segregated by perceived gender (which meant that trans men who passed could not only go to the men's side, but also be given tefillin and permitted to wrap). I went to the women's section, and all I could focus on was the weeping of the women. And I wept, too, because this is simply unjust.

I didn't have any spiritual experiences this year.

Yes. By attending in-person Torah Study and Shabbat Morning services, I feel deeply connected to our traditions. I adore the singing and chanting. With often barely a minyan, and usually sitting by myself, I can get lost in the rhythms and melodies, not to mention the delight of Hebrew language (which I do not speak and do not understand, but find enchanting and meaningful nonetheless).

Reading "Sapiens" and then followed by "Swerve" clearly gave support to understand our mortality. There is no 'soul' or super being to judge or punish. We are here now, and we will no longer be - as a person and even as a species. It inspired me to read 58BCE Lucretius, "De Rerum Natura" (On the Nature of the Universe) Based on the teachings of the banned Epicurius.

Having a 'prayground' put in at the synagouge. It means I'm in the sanctuary for the first time in years and am starting once again to find the rhythm of prayer. Also reading Torah again for the first time since we moved here.

My wedding was a very spiritual experience! The tisch before the wedding, in particular. Being surrounded by my people and having them sing me into marriage was so meaningful. Also going to the mikvah before my wedding with my mom, and having her give me a blessing as I immersed. Being under the chuppah was very spiritual as well, especially the music of the wedding ceremony.

In an Elul-themed meditation retreat at my synagogue, we did an exercise that led me outside under an oak tree, where I spontaneously and independently prayed from my heart. I have participated in structured group and individual prayer but never had accessed this inner layer of my soul before. It inspired me to deepen my spiritual practice.

I finally let go of the religious beliefs I was brought up with. There was no singular event, but more of an awakening through many conversations, travel etc in the last year.

Hanging by me knees on the flying trapeeze on fathers day and then having Zakaria catch me as I let go and then having him drop me in the net, was a spiritual, artistic, cultural, event that happened last June. This affected me as a personal accomplishment and remarkable experience of weightlessness and trust.

Traveling to other countries is a spiritual experience for me. Wandering around lost in a new city. And performing shows for strangers who don't even speak my language. <3

Trans sex. Truly like this wasn't the first year I had sex as a trans person or with a trans person, but it is the year I've realized the beauty, power, magic, and spirituality in t4t sex. The feeling of sharing your body with someone who knows? Unmatched. It is soul-rejuvenating and swells the heart (but like in a safe way). Learning to follow the flow of our bodies even if it isn't what we were taught sex "should" or "does" look like has helped me feel so at peace with myself and my body, in and out of sexual activity. It is beyond spiritual.

Gratitude and awe at how much I have to be grateful for has been pretty sustaining. Concerns, anxieties, unskillful actions and responses don't disappear, but overarching gratitude is there.

For the first time in two years, I had the opportunity to sing in a choir, and what a choir it was! I attended a conference that had choral singing as one aspect of it. Many of the folks in the choir were church choir directors and accomplished musicians so the quality of that impromptu choir was very high. Singing some spirituals under the guidance of the gifted African-American director in the very beautiful Lutheran chapel was certainly an uplifting experience and had its "spiritual" moments that took my breath away. I also fell in love with the handbell choir that performed a couple of times - such an exquisite sound created by some very competent people.

Oh that play! That now will become real! I can't wait. Spiritual experiences for me once again live in the theater - being with audiences who felt seen in Paper Dreams - the paper son story, the immigrant story, families dealing with suicide. Bonding with the cast. It gives depth and meaning to my life. And then...Esalen. Meditating, writing, soaking, communing with nature. I feel completely whole. The last is the river trip. The most peaceful and whole I have felt in years. Extraordinary beauty. Deep presence in every moment. Heaven.

Support via the Weekly Prayer group at work. Some visits to the hospital chapel and many friends and coworkers praying for hubby's health and my well-being as I deal with his increasing medical issues. My faith has been fortified and did not need a building or a narrow dogma or narrow group of exactly like-minded individuals to do so. Thank you, God!

I started to go to Temple at every Sat. it has been amazing

The Omer Counting Whatsapp group. Doing the omer every day with Nikki on our road trip across America was really special

I went to the mikveh for the first time. Yael had told me about the community mikveh and I made an appointment for the Friday before Rosh Hashanah. I didn’t really know what to expect because I’d done a sort of ritual immersion before, just in the river in Western Mass, but never in a real mikveh. I didn’t really prepare at all for it, but I wish I had, because there were steps I didn’t really have time for, like taking off my toenail polish. I was in there by myself and trying to follow the laminated sheets of paper that they provided but I felt like I was in over my head, and also felt bad I couldn’t take my piercings out so it wasn’t halakhically correct, which for some reason bothered me even though nothing I do is halakhically correct. I really wanted this to be a spiritual experience, and in some ways it was, but mostly I felt self conscious (before who? God, I guess?? Myself? It’s not like anyone else was watching) and like I was stumbling through it. The mikveh itself was nice and saying the bracha and shehechyanu was nice, but I think I let perfect be the enemy of good a little bit here. Next time I want to prepare more beforehand but also just let myself be present. I felt the best afterward, walking home, feeling clean and relieved, so maybe that’s my spiritual moment

I'm struggling with this question at the moment. So much has happened in the last year, but I don't feel like I have had anything that I could call a profound spiritual experience. I would say that being able to walk on the beach and connect with friends has been profoundly moving and spiritual. I think of reconnecting with people who I wasn't able to see because of the quarantine. I think the closest I got to a true spiritual experience would be attending the BTS concerts in Vegas. It was such a beautiful moment of connection. I met so many new people, was so present during the concerts, and felt very in tune with myself.

Yes! Being introduced to Yemina, a Jewish teacher through Hannah, in intimate zoom sessions, was elixir. Therapy with my siblings, learning about the power of curiosity instead of judgment.

I have been speed reading through the bible. I have noticed an ongoing theme of tragedy in the old testament that is contrasted with the hope of the new testament. I see so much tragedy around me in the world and it is comforting to acknowledge the tragedy and remember that there is still hope to come.

Over time, I have grown very comfortable with my spiritual beliefs. I have found a way to view the concept of God within the frame of my Reform Judaism and without the image of the patriarchal "old white guy with a beard in the sky". I am most comfortable with the term "Shechina" which I take to mean the spirit that exists in everything. I find that my spiritual and ethical beliefs are supported well by my religion, which is a comfort.

Nothing comes to mind right now.

I had an opportunity to run with a run club when I first got to Montgomery. They took me down town. It was a really slow run. It it was really fun and Montgomery was so much more beautiful then I thought. I don’t know what I imagined but it was lovely. It brought back memories of going through the black history museum! I knew some of the things but to see it laid out… I could feel it on that run through down town Montgomery. My guides took me to a fountain where they used to sell slaves. There is a memorial for those who were lost through lynching… there are ghosts here! I can feel them!

Lots of spiritual experiences - studying Torah, studying Pirke Avot, returning to the congregation for Shabbat Services, etc... The important commonality of all these events is helping me cope better with my choices/position/relationships.

Definitely YES I learned to contact the spirit world through mediumship. No one is more surprised by this than myself. Both Mo and Spot passed on within the last year, and while that was devastating to me, Mo did come to me in a vision and showed me the exact dog I would get next... and the new dog, found at the dog pound, is awfully like Spot in many ways, and is a profoundly grateful and cheerful companion. I'm also finding that working with the horses can be quite visionary, certainly intuitive. I have also spoken to people who have crossed over, and most recently aided my friend Karen in her transition by letting her know that she would not be alone. It was one of the most profound experiences of my life. Learning to harness and control the visionary aspects has really helped me with my work, my boundaries, my empathy, and sense of self in the world.

This doesn't really match the question but there have been times (in the past year and a little beyond) that have felt very surreal and very magical when in large groups of people, especially with live music. COVID made that impossible so it was truly special to be in those environments again, if a little scary at times.

Yes … I got it in me to make my living space more pleasurable - visually … terraced and built swinging gates.

I feel small shifts in my inner state. Enabled, I believe, by Meditation, being part of the meditation community, journaling, opening my heart to friends and therapy. While I'm still obsessing about what my husband does or doesn't do, I have moments where I remember to offer my obsessions to Creator, when I ask Divine Mother to take away anything standing in my way of finding my way back to her, and mean it. The 3rd of the 12 step program says "made a decision to turn my will and my life over to the care of God as I understood him". Turning over my will, my desire/need for my husband to be anything other than who he is. Deciding I can turn over my comfortable life, house, financial security and face the possibility that all we can offer each other might not be enough.

I believe I have found the path I wish to follow.I’m going to ask a Rabbi for assistance in conversion.

My spiritual experiences seem to always be live music, whether as a performer or participate in. I get glimpses during minyan, but even more during Rosh Hashanah services even though they are on zoom. I start singing along and eventually "I" disappear, which is the essence of a spiritual experience to me.

Bringing my family together for my son's bar mitzvah was a spiritual experience for me - full of love, and seeing the big picture, and focus on what's important. In the spring, focusing on my younger son and his diagnosis of learning disabilities was another spiritual journey where I learned from generous friends who shared their family's journey, too. I have really really enjoyed being a more active part of my synagogue and Jewish community.

In the past year as travel started to become more possible, I initiated a practice of traveling solo to my alma mater for a three day, 2 night trip. I live in the Chicago area and only had to drive 2.5 hours northwest to Madison Wisconsin. In the 47 years since I graduated from UW, I have only been back to visit less than a handful of times, and always accompanied by others. I would not have predicted that taking this short drive alone would place me into such a profoundly altered state in a very short amount of time. Retracing my life as an undergrad, recapturing long buried memories of painful times that I thought I would never evolve from, as well as joyous moments I was grateful to be able to recreate, felt extremely spiritual. It was an opportunity for me to tune into my psyche and heart in a deeper way than I had experienced in years. There were many highs and a few lows that I encountered those days that I am still grateful for having put myself in that environment. Since the initial trip last October, I have returned to Madison alone twice more, each time for three days, each trip tickling similar places in myself, and plan to continue this practice.

I have had amazing experiences with prayer. If I am sincere, obedient to the commandments and honor the covenants I've made, 100% honest and completely willing to follow whatever counsel or revelation or inspiration I receive, then my prayers are always answered. Sometimes the answer comes as I pray. Sometimes it comes later as I ponder. It always comes. What a blessing and privilege.

Honestly, I don't think I did. I didn't get closer to God, he pushed me away. God is now a pawn being used by ultra-conservatives to designate the right and wrong, the good and bad, and to separate me from you. Its become a joke and doesn't provide young individuals to make an informed decision about their religious beliefs, only to feel the pressure and judgement from each religion and refuse all of them, as reality isn't actually dictated by a God, God himself is a belief. That's faith. Not real-life. Real life is death, cancer, murder, and God wont stop any of them. What a modern God is, is Trump's supporters telling everyone else that they are chosen, they are righteous, they are the important. Where the problem lies is that's not who or what God ever was- but now, it is.

Probably the only thing that qualifies as spiritual is gestating and birthing my son. It's so totally wild to think that a human came from my DNA and from my body and is now a little guy living his life and learning and exploring and growing. If I hadn't seen it myself, I don't know if I'd quite believe it happened. On the other hand, given that birth and motherhood is so intensely physical, in a painful and disgusting way, that it feels kind of wrong to consider it a spiritual event.

In the last month or so of the year, I actually began pursuing a project that my friends and I had been tossing around literally all year long--making a multi-cast audio production of my novel and to release as a podcast. I've always felt that connecting with my art is the same was connecting to God, and there's been something about the way the creation process has been going that has just made me feel like I'm doing exactly what I need to be doing.

Recently at a meditative yoga practice in Colorado - I overheard a conversation between two women - one assumed the other was pregnant and learned that she actually had cancer and the bloat in her stomach was due to tumors not a child - I immediately had this feeling wash over them that I need and should go lay hands on her and tell her she was going to be ok - it was so powerful and clear and stayed with me through out the practice in the end I opted not to bring more attention to her in the small shala and took a deep breath leaving it to the universe to decide but I feel in my heart of hearts and my soul of souls that she will be ok.

I have stood over too many graves this year, silently shouting at God for taking away friends, fathers, and even small children. Nearly every funeral has been for a peer, or someone younger than me. I thought at this age I would start to bury my elders. It's not like I want the old people to die. When they go, my grief is sharp and sudden, but it dissipates more easily into equanimity after I finish sitting shiva. But I cannot make peace with standing at the grave of a small child. I cannot find justifications for the birth of a new widow and a set of orphans. Certainly I have learned how to mourn with those who mourn, but I struggle to turn the pages of the siddur. My faith in the goodness of Hashem has been shaken.

This year, I could really engage with theatre as a patron. I have held on to the idea that I was somehow on the reserve list as an actor, ready to jump in at a moment's notice. Both when I took my family to NYC in April and went to see my friend Seb in Into the Woods in September, it sent my head spinning. It was like trying to follow directions to a place that no longer exists. When I imagine the lives I could have led, I always imagine them in best-case scenarios. If I had remained a professional actor, I would have achieved the success I sought. Perhaps, but perhaps not. And this realization has sort of freed me from the feeling that I "missed" something in my life. My path is exactly as it is, plainly. The success I have is the only success that there is for me, not some imagined success from a life unlived.

I have continued to move away from organized religion to a more spiritual, humanistic experience. I'm trying to put forth as much goodness as possible in the world and in my circle of family and friends. I've always struggled with the god that I was taught about in religious school, but I also believe the universe holds more than just right here. I will continue to explore this.

i joined a community for jewish [media name] fans. it went horribly wrong, and it really soured some friendships, creative writing projects, and other things i used to enjoy. but i'm moving through it. i have a new community now that isn't nearly as toxic to my mental health or my overall wellbeing. i love my current group of friends very dearly, especially the ones from the old group who stayed by my side, and i still love the ones i had to leave behind, even though the thought of talking to some of them again makes me anxious.

Losing our baby during the first trimester. It was certainly an event that made me feel and made me connect.

Being in NYU for shabbat after a year of hoshanot in a quarantine room, voiceless in a room full of people not sure what they're doing, trying to follow a nusach not my own - it was so lovely to be back in it. Now in Jsoc I only feel more in it than ever before - the rush of the singing, that "you'll never walk alone" feeling. Is this spirituality? G-D knows it's not been an easy year religiously for me but a good kabshab (even a slightly awkward Taiwan seder) reminds me that we're all scrambling in this thing together. Finding those brief moments with others who 識曲 is a pretty magical thing

Being with my Dad in his final moments, sharing the tears, watching the sun rise as the life inside him faded was a haunting yet sublime experience. As we went through shiva and the process of mourning with the small community of the island of Oahu and rain poured during his funeral, I felt this deep sense of awe, gratitude and peace

I think living in Synergy was very spiritual- I connected with myself in ways I had never before. It was being exposed to an environment I was so unaccustomed to but found my needs met in that was so wonderful. People in the commune in particular helped me understand myself and view the world in such wonderful ways. I definitely have taken a lot from that community and in ways that can't be reversed. I should also mention Ben I suppose. I'm at a point now where I'm very confused as to how to proceed, the amount of communication I should be upholding and so forth, but I really can't do all of it without recognizing that I feel this way because of how much he meant to me- and still does. It's all very confusing but being with him was one of my most significant life events ever. I grew, not changed, so much in the context of him and came to understand life as something so much more beautiful and precious. I now crave authenticity and present-ness so much more and am so comfortable with what is to come int he future. The world feels so much smaller after knowing him. Also, I had to experience some of the craziest parts of life (emotionally) and knowing I could handle things that high and things that low has allowed me to understand myself and be comfortable with myself in ways I never was before. Cheers to all of that and all of those wonderful experiences this year. And for what it has made me and will continue to make me.

When I was in the lowest lows lows of depression walking down the aqueduct in September. pain screaming through my body. a hawk in the glowing evening sky. swooped down, grabbed a squirrel and ate it, right in front of me. It took my breath away. took me out of my own mind. Stunned me with the beauty and ephemerality and presence of life. Shocked me out of my looping stories. The pain closed in on me again after that. And wouldn't let go for many many months. But that shining moment was one glimmer of the broader world I could sense was on the other side, still there. I was in an excruciating darkness, but for a moment I saw light. Also, lots of times with writing, when I really say it. I hope to have more of that this year, please. Also, any time connecting with my soul mate baby. He amazes me every day. So proud of him. My most shining achievement.

I feel I am far away from my relationship with the Divine – and I know this to be entirely my fault. I still have moments of profound awe, grace, wonder and humility – but they have become far fewer. I am afraid I have been infected by the global zeitgeist of fear that has continued like a co-infection of CoViD, of Ukraine. Fear is (and should be) antithetical to the feeling of being loved by G-d.

Yes, as I mentioned in question one I experience great spiritual growth in the past year. My trip in Israel made me a different person. My interest in the world around me, how the world works, and spirituality rose by a lot. Many events in Israel boosted this interest. For example in Eilat, Rustin, Talia Sol, and I encountered two girls sitting on the ground by an exercise place. Rustin approached these girls as they made a silly remark, and Rustin seemingly decides to respond for fun. These two girls were around the age of 17-19. One had a shaved head and a hippie look and the other looked fairly clean, long black hair, and also a hippie look. Both were barefoot. Both were smoking. Both were lost spiritually and were were like their fallen angels. We had at least an hour conversation with this two girls about spirituality. They were raised in extremely orthodox families and disconnected along the way because they could not understand the extremely religious ways. They felt lost along their life path and with Judaism. Our discussion opened their eyes because we explained what religion and spirituality meant to us and that it should not be so demanding. A weight was lifted off their chest because the girls thought that G-d wanted so much from them went it really wasn't like that. We learned so much on either side. Additionally, this story is a little silly but it felt like a major sign. Rabbi took us for a 3:30 am walk to the wall. After praying at the wall I took a seat and got myself comfortable. I look to the sides of me and see that my friends have fell asleep. Hands in my lap, I thank G-d for this amazing experience. There and then a famous pigeon from the wall used the bathroom directly into my hands. This may sound ridiculous to you but it was a wonder in my eyes. That could have landed ANYWHERE, but it went right into my hands. I got up washed it off, and just like that it was like nothing happened.

Yes. Trekking in Nepal this summer was spiritual for me. It expanded my spirit and made me feel whole. The weather was too foggy to see a lot of the spectacular Himalayan views that I anticipated from pictures, but the thick fog intensified the beauty of the trees, the ferns, the leaves, the mist, the stone steps, the waterfalls, the prayer flags, the things that were close within my line of vision. There is so much beauty in the things right in front of you when you have no other distractions.

Yes,

I am less spiritual than ever. More focused on cleaning up my home and emotional debris than in something greater than I am.

During the month I took after my hysterectomy, I made practices of waking, journaling, reflecting, even tried tarot cards. With more time in the day there were many moments of serendipity, stumbling upon an estate sale for instance. I’m not sure I had any revelations but did find myself recommitting to mindfulness. And thinking forward to the impact I can make—perhaps in my current role, perhaps in clean energy. Many possibilities.

Over the summer, we moved across country and joined a new shul. We’re experiencing our first high holidays in our new community. The rabbi’s sermon on Rosh HaShana focused on gratitude. It was just the message I needed to hear. It was thought provoking and reached my core. But it wasn’t the sermon alone that was my spiritual high marker. Immediately following was unetaneh tokef. The hazzan had a beautiful voice and hearing hundreds of people joining was impactful. The words of this teffilah were probably what penetrated my soul: who will live and who will die. Just the shabbat before the chag I finished saying kaddish for my father. Who will live and who will die? For the first year ever this prayer really made sense. A promotion, a move, a child’s success, another’s struggles. Everything crystalized in that moment.

This is a tough year to think about spirituality. In terms of cultural experiences, I did go to 2 theatre productions and a festival film that were all pretty amazing. Long Day's Journey into Night - super intense drama about a family dealing with a mother suffering from addiction. Safety in Numbers - hilarious comedy murder mystery Yuli - Spanish language biographic festival film based on the autobiography of Cuban ballet superstar Carlos Acosta.

God had restored my joy and hope for my future this year. I'm still dealing with grief. But it's not crushing and overwhelming like it has been.

I turned 65. While I didn't have to, I chose to use that as a chance to reflect on becoming an elder in a conscious way. It is a continued growth and mindset, a practice of sorts.

Being on the top of the open top bus in the pride parade felt amazing. The sense of community, the happiness, the excitement, the sheer joy. I was borne away.

We went to the Colorado Rockies over the summer and I think there were some views there that were awe-some. The mountains were not like the mountains we have here in New England. The lakes were not like the lakes we have here in New England. The scenery was just completely different and picturesque in a way I didn't anticipate from photographs I'd otherwise seen. It wasn't Iceland, but it was still neat. Speaking of Iceland, I saw Sigur Ros in concert for my first concert since 2018. For all the concerts I've been to and enjoyed, theirs are always the most amazing. And finally, believe it or not, going back to services in person this past year has been really good. I don't always attend, but after so much time not even getting to be in the synagogue, it was good to not only have services outside with other folks, but also to be able to go inside (albeit masked) and then to some synagogue functions without masks.

I have been studying theology this past year and this included a module on Spirituality. I was asked to undertake a spiritual practice for two weeks and write about it. Even though it was slightly manufactured and a cliche, I went to the French Alps and purposefully practiced silence for at least 5 mins every day for a week whilst up mountains. It was glorious. I now want to hold a space for silence in a local community space in a park (in the UK) so that I can introduce silence and meditation to others. So the impact on me has been important.

Perhaps the most difficult thing for me about 5782 was the absolute lack of connection I felt to my spirituality or to spirituality in general. I feel like I am awakening from a dead year. I suppose the good news is that I am awakening. Maybe another way to look at my present condition is that I am not awakening from the dead but instead healed enough from what felt like a moral existential wound at the end of the year prior that I am able to return to my feet and rejoin the world around me – leaving my emotional sickbed behind. I think I can get behind that imagine. The wound is no longer open, and isn’t there some wisdom about the strength of scar tissue? I attended Shabbat services on Friday (three days ago) for the first time since moving to Omaha. I went to Temple at Jared’s invitation, as Deana was doing Tashlich. I am rusty and out of practice with my prayers – but it was good to be back among my people. Or almost my people. Reform is not my home. That said, attending my have been just the spark I needed. This morning I am feeling a strong urge to pray under my tallit, another first since the move. My goal is to attend services at Beth El before the end of the year. This morning one of my Facebook memories was a quote about Teshuvah and my own personal drash on returning to myself. It is time. It is time to come home to me and home to my spirituality.

My daughter being able to walk again is incredible.

I am deeply involved in studying, practicing feminism, and all the possible existing forms of equality.

For sure. I had no white light moment, but I had a spiritual experience of the educational variety. Gd entered my soul and reignited the divine flame, the holiness of my soul and led me down the right path.

I have had an epiphany. I finally accepted that I cannot wait for everything to be perfect for me to be able to enjoy myself. There will always be something that needs my attention, and I should stop treating everything that comes us as if it was an actual problem. I can prepare for a worst case situation, but I cannot live in a constant threat mode. I may not have the power to change circumstances, but by understanding this I can change my additude. It is finally accepting when I don’t have control and not trying to substitute that with a fake fool’s and poor man’s control, which is just regurgitation and obsessive thinking.

I had to look at some other 10q answers to think of what spiritual meant to me. I bought a pack of tarot cards this year, mostly because the covers were very beautiful, partly because I wanted to see what it was about. All I kept drawing, from one card spreads to 7 card spreads, was the 'Fool'. A perfect idealisation of how terrified I was to start a new beginning. Each time I drew it I was on a precipice of telling my partner the truth about my relationship, of adapting to a new change, of dealing with emotions in the family, of achieving peace. I felt nothing exuberant in this situation other than the sense everything could be different. Since adapting to truth and change, I haven't yet had this same card drawn again.

Going to Chris church and also going to church with Drew reminded me about the community that exists in the house of the Lord. Also my relationship with religion and Christianity and reconciling with that fact that my relationship with God hasn’t been the best but that I can always do better. I’m hoping to grow more in my religious journey and where that exists in my life

A high school friend died & a group of her friends got together recently in the beautiful Black Hills (we're from South Dakota) to remember & honor her. I was moved to find how much we shared in our relationships with her & to hear people say that they would take in her gifts & generosity & live our own lives with more grace & beauty. One of my friends is in a group concerned with dying; they prepare for funerals, ethical wills & more. I intend to learn more & maybe find or found such a group in my own town.

I don't know if I've had any spiritual experiences this year. I feel very skeptical about Tarot cards, crystals, ayahuasca, and all that other shit. I had to try hard not to roll my eyes when I was asked to set an intention as I set this banana down for the birds. The guide told me that birds fly between worlds and are messengers therefore if I set an intention the bird will fly away with the intention. I decided to go along with it and asked about something to do with retirement. There was a beautiful bird with, I think, red wings who kept flying back and forth to the feeder. When the woman did my bird tarot cards I got the Quetzl which signified looking at the deity within. I think it's bullshit but it does offer me a different perspective -- to examine the goddess within me which is a very difficult concept for me to wrap my mind around.

Not particularly, although I do feel more centered and grounded and able to tap into my own inner peace in the midst of chaos in a way that is new to me.

Same as last year with climate changes and an angry Mother Nature.

I went to the RRA Convention. I was not going to go at all because I couldn't take off of work to go. But then I realized at the last minute that there was a hybrid option. So I went virtually and it was the most spiritual experience I have had in years! First of all, the Shabbat morning service. It was in two parts. The second part - the Torah service - was led by Rachel Weiss and someone else. It was brilliant! It was phenomenal! I have never seen anyone make people on Zoom feel so seamlessly included in what was happening in person. It was just an amazing experience. Then, later in the day, there was a chanting session with Shefa Gold. I have been to many incredible chanting sessions before, but none actually led by Shefa herself. Let me say that I have never had an experience like this in my life. It was almost like an out of body experience. I can hardly even describe it. It was absolutely incredible. It was like the definition of unity and oneness and infinity all at once. Something inside of me broke open. It was amazing.

The Bat Mitzvah was very spiritual and increased our involvement in the synagogue for the year. I'm sorry Tallulah won't continue with her Jewish education and hope it doesn't stop us from participating over time, but at least we have Camp Tawonga.

I consider the work that I do now as a sexual assault examiner to be deeply spiritual. I've had the opportunity to watch patients go from a place of deep dissociation and trauma to one where their stories are organized and calm and they can imagine what their world will look like tomorrow. It has been emotionally and physically exhausting work and I'm not sure how long I will be able to do it for. However I'm grateful to be here now, and I found that the art therapy I do to process my experiences with this complicated system and this difficult work to be incredibly valuable and moving for me personally.

I’ve levelled up and been committed to inner work and being self led. It’s taken a long time. I’ve listened to God and my higher self as my compass. My beautiful puppy Bailey has allowed me to open my heart and find more compassion for myself and others. I’ve overcome my debilitating depression and been able to soar independently (getting my own places, paying all my own bills, being a dog mum and making the trip over to the US). I’ve been inspired by books, music, people and art along the way.

We just got back from visiting the World Trade Center memorial in nyc and that really affected me. I remember that day so vividly as well as all of the footage and stories I’ve read since then and being there was more intense than it’s been in the past. I also think it has to do with having kids now and thinking about how and when they should hear the story of what happened that day/those weeks.

I had some psychological and emotional realizations, but I didn't have any spiritual epiphanies this year at all, until I went to Erev Rosh Hashanah services at CBST. Phenomenal experience. Beautiful music. Plus, I didn't have to talk to anyone!

I don’t think I’ve had any particularly spiritual experience the past year, but I have continued a certain degree of soul searching in order to become a better man and husband. For me, this has a similar effect as spiritual experiences because any soul searching experience does tend to occur on a spiritual level. This has a soothing and calming effect on me and does help guide me down a better path.

Spiritual? Does that mean profoundly moving? I think I weep a little every day but I also laugh like mad every day. I am moved by small acts of caring.

Going to see the Oratorio for Living Things was very special. It came after a few months of living in New York, and realizing that I wasn't taking advantage of the myriad shows here! My vision of my New York self included a lot more Broadway. Plus, I'd just watched Tick, Tick, Boom which made me CRAVE the feeling of NYC in the 90s, seeing culture-creating shows before they were big (like Rent). Oratorio tickets came up, and I went. The theater was small and all-encompassing. The sounds came from all around, literally, with folks singing above and below. To the side and in front. It felt really special. The man sitting next to me was also super into it--him and who I imagine was his son. I love seeing people absolutely taken by things. Its what we're here for.

I like Shabbat with my children. We spend the time to all say one thing we like about each other in lieu of blessings over the children (the one really good practice I took from Honeymoon Israel) and it gives me pause to see the amazing humans they are growing into.

The last several years my mom, who has reached 100, periodically asks me what I think about the after life. I’m sure it’s on her mind these days. I remind her that dad. who was agnostic. Was very surprised by something he saw right before he passed. So I believe there is something past this life. In addition, looking at a dead person, one only sees a shell. The spark, the spirit is gone. Where did it go? I don’t believe it’s just the lack of breath and heartbeat that makes a human body so empty. I’m not sure why God put us here but I feel we do have a spiritual purpose that we continue to work on after passing. I’ve attended several funerals lately from various faiths. One thing in common- celebrating the goodness of the deceased and how they lived.

Just as I commented last year, this is a tough one. I don't think I really opened myself to the spiritual this year. It is really hard to express how transformative the last couple of years have been...not directly because of COVID, but all that surrounded it. In 2020, I had a fairly profound spiritual reading Care of the Soul and going through the pandemic. Even 2021, being catapulted in the deans/directors role I felt that sense of purpose, but this year has been about reality. About grounding my life, my expectations, my imagination into the real and embracing it. I also made a goal last year, regarding how I experience the winter and I do think that I succeed in that. I really tried to enjoy all the seasons. I want to embrace that again and hopeful from there cultivate the sense of awe that comes with the spiritual. I also plan to read over the course of the year Thomas Merton's New Seeds of Contemplation which will definitely move me into the spiritual realm.

I've started to see more potential for the great left-right divide to be bridged by issues in common, which I find hopeful.

yes, having covid.. wow. nothing like that before. true not doing anything! and psychodrama session with leticia nieto - wow... got sick sick for 2-3 days after. and had THE most honest conversation with a former partner that i have ever had! truly lighter after that. also further releases in 2nd psychodrama session, and session with anusuya starbear. <3

Friday night services are always a reminder of how much I love being Jewish. The same is true when I’m at the synagogue on Sunday morning tutoring B’nai Mitzvah students.

I think the closest thing to spiritual would be, like, talking to Jason and Amelia and feeling though even though my life is stable, it's not what I need. It's not good for me. Like, that I can take a chance. That I can maybe be happy even with the disasters happening around me. That I can help and be helped and grow. I think growth is the real thing here. Even if the world and my country is dying, I can still live and grow despite the catastrophes around me.

I read a quote from Wayne Dyer... Something like... stop thinking of yourself as a body with a soul. You are a soul with a body. That really resonates with me. I've been working on a little illustrated journal around this concept. I'm stretching my "artistic abilities" and having fun as I dig deeper into my own feelings about body vs. soul.

Thanks in part to therapy and also to reading from some online "gurus", I have finally been able to see and appreciate all the beauty around me. I have learned I can focus on all the bad around me or I can focus on the good and beautiful. I choose now the good and beautiful.

I've spent a lot of time in the woods, mostly alone. It's such a peaceful place for me usually. It's felt like the cornerstone of my spiritual practice.

Every time I surf I feel a little more spiritual, so as long as I'm doing that consistently I feel good about my place in the world.

My faith is getting stronger and I'm getting more organized, I'm working towards baptism. My son and his family have started attending church and, when asked, I shared my reasoning for leaving that faith and changing religions. I was able to explain myself fully without causing tensions.

I feel that I have not any spiritual experiences except for finding that I am still surviving after the loss of my husband. I know he is near me and the kids.

Not really this year. I think maybe at this point I should just accept that spirituality is not really something that I'm seeking or that drives me. At least not at this point in my life.

No particular spiritual experience, just a continuation of trying to be kind in every situation. Takes work and sometimes the best way to be kind is to just walk away.

I routinely try to be aware of how the universe cares for me I practice gratitude regularly and strive to more so daily

When my sister had a heart problem (not an attack, but a failed heart part), it made me question so many things: How could I live without my best friend? How is this fair - I'm older!? What will this do to my mother (still alive)? She is a glue that holds parts of the family together since I live remotely (in Oregon and they're in Texas).

Thanks to the encouragement of my friend, I returned to the beach. It had been a long time since I grabbed my beach chair and towel and simply sat listening to the waves. It made me appreciate the passage of time, the sun beating and comforting me, the sound and feel of the waves and the power of taking the time to sit still. It has become one of my favorite ways to spend my time. It instantly changes my mood and allows me to be thoughtful and kind to myself.

In May I attended a Centering Prayer Meditation retreat for a weekend and met several people that I had been meditating with over the past 18 months. The entire weekend was a spiritual experience!

Well, I still haven't grasped Ataliaism yet, that's for sure. I suppose I got heavy into meditating before Adar was born to try to visualize my birth and get in touch with her in the womb. I felt very disconnected from her during my pregnancy and the last few weeks I tried to create a spiritual connection with her

This summer I visited Spain and Israel. While in Spain I went to Toledo and visited two of the historic synagogues. I felt very connected to the Jews who used to live there and in awe of the community and spaces they built. In Israel I felt very connected and at home with the other Jews on my trip. This year I’ve also been researching Jewish clothing for my thesis, and through that I’ve learned a lot about Jewish life throughout the diaspora and across history. I feel a lot more connected to our collective past and found that a lot of the clothing resonated with me a lot.

Having surgery reminded me that I am mortal; that reminded me to focus on what I consider important in life over daily routines.

To be honest, I've felt more disconnected from church this year. It was already hard to get back into a routine of going to church after COVID, and then when I had my surgery, it was even harder once I was healed. I've only been a handful of times since July it feels like. I also really struggled with the Catholic church when the Supreme Court overturned Roe V. Wade. I sort of had an existential crisis, and it honestly made me not want to go to church for a bit. But even though I don't agree with everything the Church says, I do feel at home when I'm there.

This year I had an opportunity to read more philosophy and take time to actually think about life experience in a much deeper way. Unfortunately, it has made me feel less significant and that our human lives may not be as purposeful as we hope.

At Ariel's funeral, I looked around and knowing his body was buried but his soul in shemaim, was first time where I really viewed people as neshamot. I looked at my chayalim and I looked into their souls. Felt like what they say about tzadikim that when they look at you they look at the neshama. I saw the purity of each person. The uniqueness and delicateness of each neshama. I want to try to take this and learn to see people in this way too. I think easier when looking at person and not talking to person. But I really want to view people as neshamot

It was so moving and spiritual to engage in the rituals of Rosh Hashonah this year - particularly being back in person for the first time in 3 years. I sat in my usual spot with my usual cohort, got to mingle and smile and laugh with many in the community, and close my eyes and listen with bittersweet joy and tears in my eyes to the sound of hundreds of people singing together. I am so grateful to that community, to the lovely Rabbi and lay leaders for building that container for us all. We sing a song with the refrain "here we are again, for the very first time". I can't imagine ever taking that possibility of being together for granted again, even as I know the memories of the pandemic and trying to engage in services over zoom will fade.

Sometimes I feel connected to Higher Power but nothing specific is coming to mind right now. I've been doing exercise/meditation with some regularity, as well as going to my local park, which helps with that connection. The best example that comes to mind is listening to Jared Halley's Linkin Park mix on YouTube. Holy smokes did he put a lot of love and effort into that.

I think my going in the mikveh applies again (and our moonlit mikveh shortly thereafter at the dunes at Lake Michigan). Also, right now I am procrastinating on writing a drash for Erev Yom Kippur, which has had me reflecting more deeply on death, impermanence, vulnerability, accountability, forgiveness, etc. I would also say that my visit to Sliabh Liag as well as other ancient sites in Britain and Ireland felt somewhat spiritual. And the other night at our Rosh Hashanah bonfire with friends, I felt a really deep sense of belonging.

Sometimes when I feel particularly alone, and particularly sucked into the humdrum and the day-in-day-out, I look up and try to see if there are any clouds, and I always feel a little better.

I am finding that I don't have crises as often as before because I trust that all will work out as it should.

Singing with Jamie Gracer on Rosh Hashanah. It was very meaningful.

I have discovered painting with acrylics. I got a voucher for a course from Hrom for Christmas and painted Rominka and then a portrait of myself. I plan to paint a couples portrait of me and Namik for his birthday in December. I feel like thats nice and creative - actually producing something that is quality enough to display at my own home or someone elses.

I feel like most of my "spiritual experiences" are related to watching and/or listening to performative art. Not sure that it isn't more emotional rather than spiritual?

I have started blowing the shofar each morning as a way to get into contact with God. It's been lovely. Also, I've been studying the Big Book with Randi and learning important things that I did not know. The purpose of the 12 Steps is to develop a relationship with God. God is my shield.

Yes, I had an incredible experience at the bodhi tree in Bodh Gaya. I went there not feeling anything particularly amazing but I sat under the tree for about 20 minutes and I had a profound physical and mental experience. I could feel a heaviness and panic which has been in my body for a few years now, and I waas able to just move that energy around in a kind of infinity symbol shape. it felt like heavy liquid stone - I felt that I was drawing up some energy from the marble stone I was sitting on. But that energy, instead of suffocating me as it has been, was movable. I felt a golden warmth and peace in the center of my body. I was grounded and full of love.

God has answered so many of my prayers, I sometimes joke with myself that it's kind of idiotic that I'm still questioning my faith. In seriousness: last year at this time I know I felt, for one of the few times in my life, that God had absolutely abandoned me, or worse, that God had actually set me up, had led me somewhere under false pretenses. What I failed to see -- even though I knew better, and counseled myself as such -- was that the story was not over. That was a sharp, punishing moment in the story, but it continued, it wasn't a total ending, and that has brought me here, further along in the same story, on the precipice of achieving one of the very things I thought had been taken away forever. The hard part was sharp and sudden, like being whipped in the face, or like breaking a bone. The achievement has been incremental and required epic amounts of patience -- a full year of waiting, thinking, attempting, talking, negotiating, and waiting some more. It feels like a lesson in what it means for a prayer to be answered, or for how God works with us. I also feel like I've conversed with God and learned about what it means to listen for the answer on several smaller things. How much vitamin D to take and how I use my supplements, how I use my time, how I manage my diet. I feel like God is encouraging me both to follow rules and to break them, in accordance with something I hear from inside, with something that reacts inside of me, changes, speaks. I have always felt a close and easy love for God and the great love that swells and pours from that source. What's been hard is understanding God's language, understanding the places where God *isn't me* or rather, where I am, profoundly, not God. To say it is humbling is an understatement. I gladly accept that I need to learn how to listen to God, but it requires so much more than acceptance, so much more than listening, so much more than wanting to do it. Listening to God and learning from God requires the ultimate vulnerability, a nakedness of the soul at the place so deep inside that one feels it isn't natural for it to be exposed ever, even for a second. That's the door through which we can let God in, the one that feels it must stay locked in order to stay safe and sane and whole. God requires us to break through ourselves, by asserting ourselves. God requires us to choose the piece of us that is God over all the other pieces that aren't. God is challenging, scary, and confusing, and when I bypass all of those impediments, it's all there, all the things I intuited from my earliest ages, the reassurance, the guidance, the love.

Big Trees State Park. Walking by myself through the snow covered redwoods in the winter. Peace and awe.

Every year this question is hard for me. I always try to remember a moment when I felt one with nature, or I was just struck by nature’s beauty, or a piece of art rocked my soul. And again, I have no memory of any such moment. With that said, I have had some spiritual moments. I have had moments of peace after some meditation sessions. I have spent more time exploring my own sense of mortality and the fragility of life. I have enjoyed some moments where I was more in the present. A few moments of less thinking and more being. My sense of connection to all other living beings is stronger than it has been. My sense of myself as a wave in the ocean, part of the whole who is a temporary unique creation that will return to the whole is stronger. I have had more moments of peace when I get worked up over what is going on in the world. Not in the sense that I don’t care, because I do care. But a better recognition that I have no control over most of what occurs in my life. I am rafting down the river of life, and although I may be able to make some minor course corrections, most of what happens to me is outside of my control and my mission is to enjoy the ride the best I can.

Fearing about my and my families health has led me into prayer many times. I am thankful that I am healthy and in such a good position and I thank god for it often.

Well, the first thing that comes to mind is my session with a witch. Which was amazing much to my surprise. She really was insightful and so clear that it was a reassuring hour, in which I felt heard, and understood and supported. Perhaps it’s really just a form of connection or therapy but it was novel and hopeful for me.

I have felt MOST spiritual when I'm hiking by the ocean, alone and unfettered. I have time to sit and think about my relationship with creation and with the divine. I say blessings for Rosh Chodesh on a hike by the ocean (or sometimes in the woods) and feel so very connected to something that is so much older than any of us. I'm a seeker, and likely always will be, so one of the things that's happening now is that a friend and I have decided to do a chevruta (by distance, because we are geographically disparate) based on text studies that relate to women. We've committed to making a Rosh Chodesh chevruta, so we're each committing to pulling something together once a month so that it's not too onerous for either of us and will hopefully keep us interested and engaged, because one person doesn't do all the work.

A hunger for more spirituality. Which I realised at the start of the high holidays, I wanted to feel that community and coming together to celebrate. Also, Tarot. When we visited my family, a darling friend of mine read our tarot cards, and I was inspired to bring mine out of storage. More rituals to mark the passing of time and the human experience. I really want to build an altar so I, and M, can have a place to focus this energy, cleanse and take care of it, and also hold a sense of spirituality and wonder/faith, hoping it would serve as a touchstone/earthing wire in our home.

Reaching my 50th college reunion has been a profoundly spiritual experience causing much joy and reflection. It has given me feelings of both the length and shortness of my life , what has been accomplished, what has been enjoyed and dreaded, the ups and downs and what might still lie ahead.

This year has honestly not felt very spiritual to me. There were perhaps spiritual experiences I had in nature, but I can't recall anything specific. I've had my head down in my graduate program and I've made myself overly busy. Although I know I'll be in a new job next year, I do want to make sure I'm finding time to connect with myself again, in yoga specifically.

God continues to put people in my life at just the right time I’ve been on my knees more than a-couple times this year begging for help and God continues to show up for me Gods got this 2022

I tried shrooms for my first time. It was an interesting experience and actually somewhat spiritual. The highs were high and the lows were low. It helped me look at life in new ways and I found that helpful. I actually made a list of the « takeaways » as it was happening: You don’t have to finish the Turkey leg Music is in everybody Teachers can be just in their one world Moments of connecting with students like role play with BJ today Learning about Impressionism With my main point there being about my job is actually pretty cool and it played a big role in my decision to try and go for the TRS retirement pension and to stay in teaching longer. The experience helped me appreciate what I had

Um, well, I’ll tell you. There’s this breakfast place I used to go once a week when I had babies. I’ve started going back. It’s not the food, but it’s a ritual of getting out of the house, seeing the people.

Surely, I should be able to recall something spiritual, something that moved me, filled my soul, melted my anxiety. Maybe it’s this gray day or the malaise from reflecting on the previous questions. It’s been a hard year, moving on to a hard decade. Even with my proclivity to be drawn to the spiritual, I can’t recall any experience that I see as spiritual, though sometimes I read a poem that sparks a shiver of wonder.

I had to read my answer from last year to get an idea of what to write about. Still an atheist, so nothing religious happened, of course. But I JUST SAW "Come From Away" on Broadway a couple of days ago! Even after seeing it via the streaming event that I mentioned last year, it was even more powerful and moving (and fun) on the stage. It may have made a difference that most of the original cast was in it, but I don't know. It was wonderful. This was the third Broadway play I've taken myself to since last year. The first was the new sex-role reversed "Company" and I really felt like I never had to see another show ever again, it was absolute heaven to have experienced that show. So, POTUS and COME FROM AWAY were simply icing on the cake.

The biggest spiritual experience I have had this year is the feeling of what it truly means to be an untethered soul (as Michael Singer calls it). I have been seeking personal freedom and connection with my true self on my spiritual path for years. Along the way, I have had to shed and update old patterns and agreements, and this year I let go of my job, my marriage, my house, and the ego identity I had developed around those things, so that I could create a different life for myself that feels more authentic to what my soul is telling me, now that I am listening to it. The feeling of actually not being tethered to those old ways and people has been both terrifying and exhilarating. On one hand, I am loving being guided by my inner self and not by outer pressures, when I am truly able to allow myself to do that. On the other hand, I haven't yet learned how to fully be present for experiences without also experiencing them through someone else. I have had incredible moments of true freedom this year and moments where that freedom has made me want to go running back to my comfortable but inauthentic former life. It will be interesting to reflect on this a year from now when being untethered will feel less new and my old life that I'm trying to evolve from will feel less familiar.

I don't know that there's been anything particularly or profoundly spiritual in a new way, but certainly I am frequently awed by nature, by the beauty of where I live and the luxury it affords me to be surrounded by the natural world. I can walk out my door into the oldest and most beautiful mountains on earth; there are nearby hiking paths and waterfalls and my neighborhood lake to inspire me. I've loved my daily lake walks and the changing flora and fauna with each season. I've been captivated by the waterbirds (heron, egret and cormorant) that have visited this summer and stayed longer than ever before. I watched goslings hatch and grow into teenagers before my eyes, and worried over the dearth of ducklings, relieved to finally see a few here and there with their parents. The spiritual nature moment that sticks most in my mind was on Easter Sunday; it was a simple morning on the sunny corner of my porch, followed by one of those lake walks. I felt it so profoundly that I wrote a poem about it (see below). I don't know that any of these experiences affected me particularly profoundly, other than the reminder they give me to be grateful, every day, for life and nature and beauty that is all around me. Perhaps that is itself profound. Easter Morning (4/17/22) Gluttonous gray squirrels - warlords of this tiny patch of dirt - cavort through coffers bursting with hoarded shells and leavings scavenged from a suspended feeder, rapturous. Above, in branches newly-leafed in iridescent green, calls ring out at daybreak, summoning the flock. The chickadee and titmouse take a number at the seed buffet, extravagant feast appearing - as it will - at the whim of some capricious, backstage deity. Hummingbirds, lured by lilac breeze, drink deep of morning dew. Lakeside, ducklings cast aside prenatal shells, Stretching still-damp feathers to bask in birth-day sun. Church bells peal the song of resurrection, redundant news in this small paradise.

Last August (2021 - so over a year ago) I had my 2nd guided psilocybin trip. It was harder to integrate and I remember coming away feeling disappointed. Clearly I had specific hopes for the experience that were not fulfilled. Which they say can lead to problems, even bad trips. And it wasn't that I had a bad trip. But as time has gone on, I have found that one of the reference points of that trip comes back to me, sometimes daily, sometimes a few times per week. It's not a flashback, but it feels as if the source of the Universe is gently reminding me of my source and it places my fears of death and collapse into perspective and I do not fear the end of my existence in this form. I fear cruelty, I feel the aversion to suffering, but I feel that my death will usher me into the Vastness. And I think this has led me to be more grounded, more confident, to have more equanimity.

This is a hard question for me. Spiritually, the shul I have joined, while full of fabulous people, is not one with which I am connecting. I have joined because my daughter likes it, & she is pregnant. So....I will stay with the shul, but probably not be active.

Our trip to Newfoundland spoke to my deep reverence for nature and I was awed and grateful to be up close with the diverse animal world from puffins to whales.

I came to the realization that I don't believe in the god that religion talks about - I strive to be part of a universal goodness that can make the world better for all - I believe this universal striving is what some people call god.

Yes, I had a medicine retreat with Bufo medicine from the Sonoran desert frog. It was one of the most life-changing experiences. I feel a weight lifted. It helped put me in touch with my ancestors.

My dog Stewie died. I love this guy like he was a person. I asked him not to die until I retired. I put him down two weeks before retirement. He loved me dearly. But he let me know it was his time. He came to me in a dream we were on ocean beach he was running free. Then he disappeared into the fog. I looked and looked and looked for him I could not find him. I asked everybody I saw. I started walking up into the avenues it was nightfall. I was on 46th Ave. and saw a woman and asked her what the cross street is that I never been here before . Then she told me and I argued with her saying there’s no such street like that in San Francisco and I’ve been working for MUNI for 21 years and there was no street named that. Finally I called my son to ask him to help me look for Stewie. He told me mom… Stewie is dead. I turned to the woman and said I’m sorry I forgot… My dog died. She hugged me. I woke up in tears. I’m so glad my sweet Stewart came to see me.

Even profound moments of connection in nature this year have been kind of few and far between. I'm lonely.

The closest I have to something spiritual I think is watching The Sound of Her Wings (Sandman TV) and incorporating Hob Gadling into my life. I find all to often I am Dream of the Endless feeding the pigeons and waiting for Death of the Endless to show up and guide me to the sunless lands. Hob is passionate and excited for life no matter what life throws his way. I want to be amazed at little things like chimneys like Hob is. I want to keep living life like Hob does. I think it comes down to focusing on my interpersonal relationships. I need to challenge myself/dare my self to acknowledge that I need friends in the same way that Hob challenges/dares Dream.

I had a couple, the first one was when I went to the Mikvah on Shavuot. Then I spent a week in the woods at the regional Burning Man event and it was just such an all experiences included time, it was magical to spend it with my favorite man. And everyone was loving, accepting, and supporting. Then I went to Yiddish Vokh and everyone welcomed me with open arms, I had my first Aliyah, participated for a first time in egalitarian MO prayers and it was wonderful. 5782 was a very special year

As a childhood agnostic I was always searching for "the right path". After discovering my Jewish DNA I took it upon myself to learn as much as I can about it. It was an awakening to what I had been searching for. I felt at home.

I immersed in a mikveh for the first time and had my Jewish admission ceremony, both of which felt spiritually powerful.

Going to Avebury recently felt like it reconnected me with the Earth’s energy and renewed by interest in the spiritual realm and I’ve started learning more about crystals and their properties. I also bought a new set of tarot cards, which I haven’t used for a long time as I felt I no longer connected with my present set, probably due to fact I’ve changed since the menopause started playing havoc with my mind and body.

Yes, I joined the Vibe Tribe of Sonia Choquette, a teacher who teaches about using our intuition and how spirit guides can help us. We just spent a month learning how to open our heart. Good things happen when you have an open heart! It has also helped me overcome every day sort of anxiety.

Adult Jewish summer camp is a rite of passage for a wannabe Jew.

No, I can't say that I have. I've tried to more regularly write some gratitudes and read a daily inspiration, am doing a bit better with that. But I developed sciatica, which makes me feel old, and now I have to start using a CPAP, which is very depressing. I know many people use them, but to me there is nothing normal about having to be hooked up to a machine so you can breath and sleep. I am trying to accept. If I can accept it, that will be a real accomplishment, if only one of surrender.

Have tried to connect spiritually to God through music- found 24 365

Yes. Confronted with facing past times of shame (even though intentions were good), and the potential consequences, I have returned tonSt. Francis and Thich Nhat Hanh to ground and guide me. Plus, taking the VIA character inventory and getting the affirmation that spirituality is important to me, I embraced it even more as an important practice.

Most mornings I sit on my front verandah with my morning coffee and look for birds. It is never the same. There are perches that are occupied for days on end and then abandoned for months. Magpies and doves are probably the most frequent visitors. I try to not go inside again until I see at least one bird. Often just as I am about to give up a bird appears. Sometimes that a flash in the corner of my eye. It feels like magic: that a thought or saying out loud a desire to see a bird makes a bird or birds materialise. I don't suppose it is but these moments fill my with a quiet joy.

I continue to experience small moments of God's presence. It helps to have a regular practice -- my daily reading and meditation, singing in songs taught me by a Navajo man and our Nepalese sherpa. I am grateful to them both.

My reading life/poetry book club/ friend connections continue to give me the opportunity to pause/reflect/do a deep dive, and renew.

Going to BCI (Brandeis Collegiate Institute) for their month long program. Beinb able to write creatively again, after not doing so for four years. It made me feel more connected to myself and the world.

I think there were a lot of pregnancy-related things that can fall in this category. Every time she appeared on the ultrasound screen was a small spiritual experience, since it always came as a relief that everything was ok.

I’ve spent a good amount of time processing death and contemplating death. I’ve come to accept death on a more personal level, no longer really fearing it. Between death of family and friends and close scares with my husband’s health, I’ve just come to terms with it.

The most spiritual experience I've had in the past year is that I've stopped trying to make myself have spiritual experiences in the conventional sense. I don't have guides that I can channel or inner plane contacts or whatever (not for lack of trying to find them!). But letting go of those ideas has opened my mind a bit more to the magic of paying attention in the moment.

On Rosh Hashana I was remembering the one awakened experience I have had in this life. I was a college senior at an outdoor recreation conference. Sitting on a porch and meditating beneath the redwoods, the sound of water dripping on the roof in a steady plop, plop, plop propelled me into a transcendent moment. My sense of self shot up to the top of the redwoods where all was a brilliant white light. For a euphoric moment I was part of this ALL light. In the next moment, when I became aware of my excitement and thoughts I instantly was back on the porch. For these next 50 years I have wondered if I could capture that moment or have one similar. This year in prayer, as I held that light image in my awareness the truth came to me. That experience has always been available and is right now as I write. I just have to tune into that light that is in, and around us, at every moment, no matter how dark we may feel. As soon as I remember, my heart softens and opens a bit. That transcendent moment was a gift that it's possible to access this beatific light daily - less ecstatic but no less significant.

I'm thankful that I've been seeking God's face more in recent years. If I hadn't been, I can't imagine how much worse my grieving process would be. When my mom died, the dean of women at my university told me that one day, at an unexpected moment, my mom would be with me for a few moments. That I would know it was her, without doubt. Since then, I've felt my both my parents, years after their deaths. Just a few months after my husband passed, he came to me. I was having such a hard time, that I truly though I was losing my mind. He communicated to me that he knew how much I love and miss him, and that he loves me. It meant everything, and I've been doing much better. It has just been the once, but I hope for many more visits from the love of my life.

Listening to a panel on religion's role against hate in the Eradicate Hate Global Summit made me once again question my stance on whether or not there is a god. I came out feeling so elevated.

Melanie died today. She was the most spiritual person I knew and really felt that the energy healing she did helped her a lot. I feel the loss of her spirit in the world already. Between Papa and Grandpa dying, and now Melanie, I feel like the fabric of the universe has a big rip in it. I've been going to Friday night services more because it's felt nice for me, but I don't think I would classify it as spiritual. or if it is, I'm still working out how I feel about it.

My husband and I went to the Canadian Rockies this past summer. I saw vistas that made me believe in a higher power. They were breathtaking and perfect.

I think that I have become spiritually more free, mostly as a result of the death of my student, Haley. I am seeing what is in front of me more. I am trying to feel myself better.

I had the opportunity to do late night interviews with my mother about her life as she succumbed to breast cancer. I learned so much about her motivations, her fears, and her unconditional love for children who were not them most empathetic.

and once again I have that "less than" feeling when I must say I have not had particularly spiritual experiences. Which is very difficult for someone who defines themselves by a person leading a spiritual life.

dancing is the way in which i am most in touch with spirituality, i think! or at last something close to spirituality. partner dancing, especially, which i've just gotten back into in the past few weeks, makes me feel alive/in touch with my soul in a way that nothing else does. and that there is more to live for than fighting injustice, tbh.

This summer, I went on a trip to the Adirondacks with Carina and Rachel. Throughout the trip, I felt a spiritual connection to the nature around us, to my friends, to the mountains, to the water, to the earth, and to the air. Directly after the trip, I went to Wexner Institute, where I felt profoundly spiritual connecting with others in a deep way through intense conversation and learning about Jewish leadership. Having the two trips happen right next to each other helped me to see the different forms of spirituality within each of them and start to pull for myself what I conceptualize as a Divine presence.

I have been in the process of converting with my rabbi. This has been an interesting push toward becoming comfortable with not knowing, in general. But, it has also allowed me develop my spiritual practices and to continuously reconsider my notion, and other notions, of g-d. I believe that having the Mussar movement will continue to give me an ethical path to walk in order to become a better, just person to my neighbors. I want to completely get rid of selfishness, judgement, be free of shame.

We went to Avebury stone circle which was cool, but the bit that I found really moving was the trees where people had been making offerings. So many hopes and dreams in one beautiful place

A spiritual experience I had this year was getting to come back together in person with people. This is where my spirituality lies..in the connection between people. It's been so wonderful to be able to be in the same room and share stories with people. It's really amazing.

I went to NYC for the first time since Covid. Period.

My therapeutic progress has helped see me through multiple life changes this year: relationship (ending), job shift/new contract, moving house, and investing in my sport/racing. The difficult learnings have been mostly focused on the theme of "doing things with integrity", which I constantly have to remind myself of and redefine, since sometimes, I delude myself into thinking that "investing in myself with integrity" means something topical, like paying the monthly fee for my coach to train for my 70.3. Doing things purposefully with integrity means recognizing that my coach can't be the sole person supporting me through that process. I needed to recognize all the components that would help me get to the finish line: physiotherapy, massage therapy, nutrition, core/mobility/strength work AND coaching. I learned that when I skimp on myself; when I try to cut corners by cheaping out on myself, I ultimately pay for it in other ways: getting injured, needing to pay for reactionary services, etc. It's been a hard lesson to learn but a good one!

I guess when I was ill in ITU a few weeks ago and I was expected to die. I wasn't, and still am not, ready to die, and I prayed so hard that I would live. Through my fear and illness I felt God's presence, and the sudden realisation that just because the doctors expected me to die, that didn't mean it *had* to happen. It was God's decision, but also up to me to accept the fight that God's decision had afforded me.

Our trip to Spain and Portugal and Morocco included beautiful moments at beaches and in foreign cities. Learning about what the Catholic Church did to the Jews and Muslims in Spain and Portugal was kind of a reversed spiritual experience. As our learning was going on there, the Supreme Court here was clearly being taken over by Catholics who even now behave with such arrogance and taking power over everyone else. Infuriating and this interrupts my desire to be open to and value all faith traditions.

Studying Mussar has been a process of opening myself up to another way of approaching the world. The key concept has been that we show our gratitude to God for giving us life by treating each encounter with another human as if they themselves represent God. This is a hugely different way to see things.

I was, of all things, ATV-ing through a valley in the Colorado Rockies. We came to an opening in a vast valley, and the view was so spectacular that I stopped and opened my arms wide in awe to take it all in. I suppose part of it was the unfamiliar place (of great beauty), doing an unfamiliar activity, with people, some of which I barely knew. Being out of my element, away from the typical daily stressors and habits, opened me up to this moment. There are practical roadblocks (i.e., everyday life and work duties) to experiencing moments like this—and too many of them would lessen their power. But the occasional out-of-my-element sublime moment at least ensures my ability to continue to feel such things—and maybe start to incorporate them (at a smaller scale) into everyday life.

I belong to an art challenge group, and the challenge last month was "prayer flags." I took it literally, and made colorful flags with the Hebrew letters cut out for שְׁמַע יִשְׂרָאֵל . Then I went on and made one for שהחיינו. This is the first time I used a challenge for something Jewish, and it felt ... spiritual. The first flags now hang permanently in our synagogue.

I am so fortunate. Every day is a spiritual experience, as I've said before, because I am just constantly aware of g-d's presence in everything.

As I've gotten better about incorporating breaks and meditation into my daily life, I've released a lot of stress and allowed my mind and heart to have more free time. As they have fewer constraints on what I "should" be concentrating on at any one time, I feel myself more connected to being a living being on the planet. I'm tuning in more to silence, rest, my intuition, and being open to voices and opinions outside my own head. Also, my intuition has been leading me to pick out books from my massive to-read list, and almost every time I pick one up, it relates directly to something I'm experiencing at that very moment! Crazy, but enriching. And fun.

For about two years now, I've been convinced that I'm psychic, and I'm a bit tired of it at this point, but it's not as though it matters.

Just as I opened our front door, a beautiful, very large moth landed on the doormat at my feet. I came back an hour later and it was still there; 30 minutes later - the same. 30 minutes after that it appeared to be struggling in the same spot. I took a couple of pictures and went back inside. Zooming in, it appeared that the moth had become stuck in the fibers of the rough mat. It was shaking sadly. I grabbed a piece of paper and went back outside. Carefully lifting up the entire mat, I slowly slid the paper under the moth, in the direction that I thought might loosen the snag. I then placed the mat back on the step. The moth walked in a circle and flapped its wings. It flew up and around, rose to my eye level and fluttered face-to-face with me, circled my head a couple of times, as if it thanks. It then flew up at full speed and headed out to the rest of its life.

A small anecdote: When we were on a family vacation in Alaska we took a tour of the Matanuska Glacier. After the tour, as we were preparing to drive away I noticed that a group of Chabadniks was finishing up their tour. Since it was a Friday, I exclaimed, “Baruch HaShem! Shabbat Shalom!” They turned and smiled, asking if I was Jewish. I said, yes. Then they asked if I had put on tefillin today? I shyly replied that I had not. Sadly,I hadn’t even brought them on vacation. They asked me if I wanted to, and I said, oh you know - we are getting ready to leave so it’s OK, thank you. They encouraged me by saying, it will only take about thirty seconds. My family didn’t seem to mind, so I stepped out, wrapped up, said a Shema, got a photo with them and went about my day. I was inspired! It was a joyous mitzvah to do and I was glad to meet with them in such a majestic location. During that entire interaction, they only asked if I was Jewish once, and made the most gracious assumptions about me. They were mentches, one and all and have inspired me to make a daily habit of laying tefillin.

I lost my auntie in the spring, her funeral was a spiritual experience with surprising amounts of happiness but there was another moment. I spent 10 days alone by the beach in June. I spent the whole trip looking for stones with holes, lucky stones, didn't find a single one. On midsummer eve I sat by the shore and cried. Normally, I would have called auntie on midsummer eve. Always on the solstice and the equinox. I called her by mid-winter in February. That was our last conversation and maybe the best one we ever had. By the spring equinox she was asleep and the day after the equinox she passed. So I did not get to call her then. I did not get to call her on the summer solstice. Instead, I got to sit by the shore and cry and imagine a conversation. It brought me some comfort and it hurt. When I got up, I immediately found a stone with a hole in it. It felt as if the universe (or auntie maybe) knew I needed a pick-me-up. I walked along that shore for the next hour and I found a dozen lucky stones. The sea comforted me when I needed it.

I attended my first OA meeting in order to get a handle on my eating and my weight. I had a short conversation afterwards with a member. I began to feel very very heavy and strongly spaced out, in a zone. I knew then that this program would help me a lot. My dissociation told me I was in denial about many of my eating habits and talking about it had triggered a profound response in me. I am still attending OA and it is still powerful stuff. I have attempted to purchase chocolate ice cream but the coupon I was going to use didn't work--It was like God doing for me what I couldn't do for myself.

I’ve pushed against the idea of spirituality during seminary hoping to understand it rationally. But I know that obscures the mystery that is spirituality. It’s time to get back to an appreciation of the need to set aside time to practice and appreciate the place of a spiritual dimension in life.

This one is both theater related. The first was going to see the show come from away at the Broward Center for the performing arts and November I believe. When I saw the show it was the first time the theater had really been open since COVID and the crowd was electric. Everyone from the people checking our vaccination cards in the parking garage to the kids as we walked in to the usher seating us or excited for the show. And when the voice came over the speakers to announce the show was beginning the applause and the standing ovation it was amazing. People couldn't stop clapping long enough for them to start the show. And even as I've talked about it now, I can't think about seeing come from away without wanting to cry. The show itself is a wonderful show moving in deep and meaningful and I cried for more than half of the show at the end of the show though the audience burst into applause with a full stealing ovation my hands hurt from clapping after watching for so long. We were so excited to be in a theater again. The energy and the joy of watching live theater was palpable that night and the feeling of connection and community. The other one which is similar was seeing the festival The Lion King with the full cast with Pam. For the first show. Getting in line with the other people and being there early and waiting for the first show and knowing how exciting it was and then we were all here to be excited. And then when the monkeys came out there was a full standing ovation for The Monkeys even before they started their tracks and when the birds came out every single thing they did for the flies and when they got to touch during lifts or worth cheering about seeing the full show come back and the connectivity between people and feeling our excitement affecting the performers and the performers joy being able to perform connecting to the audience and even the performers gave each other pride it was a special moment.

No, and I've missed it! Injury, illness and dry interpersonal relations may have kept me out of the activity and conversations that enrich me. For the past several months I have felt something missing. Felt lonely and flat. Some weeks I zoom into Open Heart Meditation and feel a niggle of returning to self. Not even really connecting with nature - I've been more of a spectator than a participant. Thank you for this question - I can and will return to my spiritual life. And it is Teshuva after all.

Joining my local shul has been fantastic. There's a warm and welcoming crowd of longtime neighborhood residents. I've also found a small crew of young and fun queer Jews to hang out with. So glad I took the risk and decided to go to services!

Not A moment that shines brightly, but many moments have been spiritual. Sometimes, I realized that I was sad, and what I missed was prayer. I would make a conscious effort to pray, and I would feel better. God is good. Remember to keep talking to Him.

I attended the recital for this new thing called the Emerging Composers Intensive. I had the chance to meet and chat with ten young composers to get more insight into why they make music while hearing their work performed by professionals. The music they wrote had to be inspired by or related to 2 specific songs by Beethoven and Dvorak, and of course, those famous songs were played first. But the young composers' new music sounded much better to me. It all felt very alive. One of them could become the Beethoven of our lifetime, and that is so exciting.

After having been diagnosed with two types of cancers I felt really frightened. The only thing that seemed to help was to pray which I'm not particularly good at. During one of these times I sensed a presence inside of me that said "you'll be ok". Maybe that was just me comforting myself or maybe it was the presence of spirit. Either way, it helped me and now I stop each day at noon and thank God for specific things in my life, e.g., all of the medical personnel who have helped me, my spouse, my family and friends, the gifts and opportunities I've been given, the natural world I'm able to enjoy. At the end I ask that I'm able to share and use these gifts to make the world a better place, to help others and to help improve some small piece of nature. Whether that's planting a tree, helping a student, teaching someone to play the violin. Whatever it is, I'm giving something of myself which helps me as well. I'm so grateful to be ok.

I'm going to go with Christmas 2021. We hosted, and family flew in. This felt downright scandalous as omicron ominously appeared. But somehow - miraculously? - everyone was healthy, flights were only marginally disrupted, it snowed and transformed my city into a largely shut down winter wonderland(!), and we had a perfectly joyful time together. We saw both my aunts in person for the first time in two years. The crew who stayed a few blocks away gingerly walked between our house and their rental on icy sidewalks most days, and nobody slipped or fell. There was a mostly-reasonable overabundance of food and gifts. We didn't get to go to church in person, host a big gathering of friends, or do any Christmastime live music, but it was pretty darn great. We also had a lovely moment before family arrived when our good friends visited, played our piano, and we decorated the tree. Simple stuff that the pandemic tore away from our daily rhythms. Having bits of that restored in the last year, and re-membering why it matters, has been everything.

Well, holding my dad as he died was a bit of an otherworldly experience. But I didn't have a spiritual feeling. I think the fact that I talk to my dad all the time and keep a candle lit almost all the time, feels like he is with me in a way I've not experienced before. I think I've been trying to make space for "non-rational experiences," for lack of a better phrase. I'm going into work that is full of religious beliefs--about what happens to a soul when they die, whether heaven exists (I'm sure hell will come up at least once) if they are going to "be with loved ones," about where the energy goes. I don't really know how to connect with people on that level, although all of the Jewish rituals around death, taharah, shiva, and the prayers we recite are extremely satisfying for me. So, my very long answer to the question is I am more open to the possibility of having spiritual experiences.

I’ve spent a lot of time reading and talking with Emmy about faith, mostly Christianity. I’ve learned more open interpretations of the Bible than I ever heard growing up. I haven’t had any moments that felt divinely touched, but I have heard ideas expressed that felt like a puzzle piece slipping into place, a click, a chime.

The realization that the visions of violence that have erupted in the past and have re-erupted in the recent present have been imprinted in my ether body during the violence that I experienced as a child, has been liberating. I see it this way. The karma of my former lifetimes must have led to the dysfunctional and violent family I grew up in. But that violence is not part of my nature in this lifetime. But the vision of becoming murderously violent is not something that has come out of my feelings toward others. It has simply been imprinted in my ether body and has erupted during certain times, perhaps triggered by some thought or situation. This has been a liberating soul transformation, allowing me to have confidence in my own higher being and perhaps a gateway into transforming my Karma.

I can't say i've really had any spiritual experiences this year beyond constant amazement at watching a small human develop. But i think that having Salix has made me want to have more Judaism, particularly the cultural historical traditional aspects, in my life again, not only for her but also for me.

I'm not sure what a "spiritual" experience is. My background and upbringing have made me exceedingly skeptical of spiritualism and the charlatans who make their living from hawking such ideas. On the other hand, I've been moved by many things around me -- the wonder of my grandchildren, the love shown to me by my wife, the beauty of nature, the wonder of art and science, the goodness that both people I know and don't know have exhibited towards others.

I came to St. Pete with Drea and the kids for my sister’s wedding. We stayed at the Vinoy where the wedding was taking place. We thought that would make things easier and make for a nice weekend, but it ended up being quite challenging and I really felt like I missed a lot of my sister’s special day (and Drea and I were fighting each other and pissed off all weekend). However, there was one experience during the weekend that felt a bit spiritual. After walking with the kids to drop off Drea at the hairdresser, I took a circuitous path back and stumbled upon blocks of graffiti art. The kids both fell asleep and I got to quietly and peacefully experience this outdoor gallery. It was something I never knew was there (and don’t know how long it has been there), but it was fun being a tourist in my home town. I think that experience has helped me come to terms with the fact that I no longer have an anchor to St. Petersburg, given the family home is gone and only my mother lives there. But it is also a reminder that I grew up in a pretty cool place, and that I am still emotionally invested in it even if I feel like New York is my real home.

I became acquainted with the teachings of Abraham Hicks. I found some spiritual clarity that I value greatly.

I found my spiritual home in egalitarian Judaism. It has changed my life.

I always struggle with this question because I'm not particularly spiritual or artistic, however, I have finally dusted off the sewing machine and started modifying my old clothes. I am so chuffed with the results! It's a great feeling to revive clothes that I thought were beyond wear, and to have a brand new item that I love. The creative outlet is also wonderful for the soul and such a departure from my working life.

We visited Europe and saw a lot of cathedrals and religious art. I am still grappling with my faith. Not my faith so much as the way I want to express my faith through communal religion. Surrounded by catholic art and influence has me considering a return to the Catholic Church. But I still struggle with the sins of most religious institutions, as I have for the past few years.

Trying to reconnect with nature and community. Every time I do I understand why people say those are spiritual experiences. I know I would feel better doing this more often, spending time with nature or building community. Yet I still don't have either as a daily practice.

At the beginning of December last year, Fran and I went to see the Manic Street Preachers at Wembley Arena. I realized that most of the gigs we go to are for bands I like. We rarely went to gigs at Fran's behest. I quite liked the Manics when I was younger. I inherited a CD of "Everything Must Go", was given one of their earlier albums ("Generation Terrorists") as a Christmas present by my brother, Richard, and bought "This Is My Truth Tell Me Yours" with my paper round money. But they haven't been a regular part of my music life since then. I saw them warm up for Paul McCartney at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff in 2010 but I was a full rugby pitch away from the stage and don't remember being blown away by the experience. So this was really Fran's treat. The Manics were one of her favourite bands as a teenager. She knows most of the lyrics. And so, it turns out, did most of the people at this gig. I think they started with "Motorcycle Emptiness". We were standing directly in front of the stage in the centre of the auditorium. To our front and right was a man in a white shirt. He had shoulder-length dirty blond hair, tattoos, rings, jewellery; slightly balding. BUT HE WAS HAVING THE TIME OF HIS LIFE! Pointing his fingers in the air, singing along at the top of his lungs. The whole crowd was immediately into it. We call him White Shirt Guy and I'm tearing up as I think of him now, remembering how that sound of thousands of people all singing together, celebrating a lost youth, revisiting past selves, yearning for something lost and then, surprisingly, refound, all of us together, in the dark, some (like me), in face coverings, in the weirdly soulless place that Wembley and environs have become, still withered by successive lockdowns from the pandemic, not fully comfortable being in crowds again, amongst germs and warm breath, spilled beer, sweat, and heavy winter jackets. Oh what an experience! I felt alive, truly alive, for the duration of that song. I didn't know the lyrics myself; I knew the song. It was the reason Richard had bought me that album. But it was never on heavy rotation for me. But in that moment, I loved being a part of something so huge, seeing people delight and cry and lose themselves in that crowd, loving the band and the band loving us back. You. You love us! What a wonderful, natural, spellbinding high. To peak with the very first song, to be taken by surprise at the sheer joy and emotion of it, to feel connected to people, total strangers, for the first time in nearly two years. It was a release, a coming-together, the sort of thing you go to gigs for but maybe only feel one time in ten, twenty, thirty gigs. It makes all the ho-hummery worthwhile. I'd been to see Public Service Broadcasting twice recently, including the warm-up act on that night, hoping to achieve that same high that I felt watching them at the New Theatre in Oxford; or at most (let's be honest) Stornoway gigs. But I didn't get it from PSB in Aylesbury or that night in Wembley. I'd fantasized about it when listening to their brilliant album "Bright Magic", hoping to feel that rush of emotion and inner heat and tears welling up. But I got it instead from the Manics for that one, blissful 6-minute song. The love in the room was palpable. The humanity, the mass, the strangers, the voices in unison, shouting out the lyrics, feeling them in their bones, the band radiating back all that love. That, to me, is a spiritual experience, something I can only hope to feel every year but don't always achieve. These moments are what we live for: moments of connection and joy and love and togetherness. I'm grateful for it every time I can get it.

Seeing Dad in his coffin. Singing 'Adon Olam' in the chapel alone with him. Decorating his coffin. Carrying him to the grave, and lowering him in. Singing Kaddish at his graveside. Time stops when I think about it all. I talk to him. I think of him always. I wonder if part of him is still here, still with me.

I used to think of myself as a very spiritual person. More recently I experience that sense of spiritual connection in shul, of course, when the service offers something different. Almost always when singing liturgical music. And always when I see an extraordinary sunset. Last night seeing the tiny crescent moon on the 3rd of Tishri made me feel very much an element in the universe and so aware of the rhythm of the Jewish year. When I learn or see something amazing in the natural world or in science, again I marvel. Even learning something new in mathematics makes me realise that everything is connected.

Along with my psilocibin trip, the two weeks I spent wandering in the woods between jobs in September was the most spiritual I've had in a long while. I've been exploring non-dualism—the concept that I do not exist apart from everything else in the world—and being alone in nature made that clearer than ever before. "I" and "the world" are mere thoughts, their separateness only conceptual. All that actually exists is awareness, of which I and the objects of experience are but two sides of the same coin.

I’ve had a lot of spiritual experiences regarding my dog. I’ve realised that by not standing up for myself, I don’t stand up for people and creatures under my protection. Realizing I have power to not only set boundaries but also to enforce them. Gaining the confidence to do that. It seems so silly that this was triggered by my super social, super friendly puppy being attacked twice and turning into an anxious little baby. But learning how to advocate for myself and those I love has been a beautiful lesson.

My immediate answer was NO. But the more I thought about it I would have to say it was an art or nature-related experience. Probably watching the jellies at the Monterey Bay Aquarium. When our daughter was a child we joined the aquarium when it first opened and went there often. Now we rarely go there, bur when we do i spend the most time watching the different Jellies. They are so amazing the way they effortlessly move around and adjust their shapes and colors. I love watching them. The one that comes to ind are the Moon Jellies, but there are so many others whose names escape me. Some look like they are electric with little colored lights moving around. Some are iridescent. Some pretty much stay in one place and others are moving all the time. They are an absolute wonder and to watch for a while.

I think I'm getting to better understand the spiritual order of things now, why I'm here, how to view this world I am seeing in a different way. Its not easy, but I can step out of being an actor and be an observer. I have a lot more work to do, but I do see things differently now and it makes me more at peace than I used to be. The sad thing is that I dont have a lot of people to talk to about this.

Two owls on a branch outside my bedroom window hooting all night long the evening after My mom passed away. They flew away together when I went to see them in the morning.

I am not Jewish, but my significant other is. They are also trying to reconnect more with this after spending some time not being as observant. Thus I have been learning more about Jewish customs and rituals and I have appreciated being asked to get involved more, and I feel that it has made me reflect on my own spirituality in a way that I haven't done in a really long time as a person who was raised Christian but never really connected with that faith. I've appreciated how people I've encountered have been so willing to teach me new things, even though they are of course never obligated to do so.

Feeling like I was going to die. I started to take an inventory of my life and get my affairs in order starting with a handwritten will. It’s still an ongoing process as there are a few more things I’d like to take care of especially with what to do with all my writing and artwork. Everything else seems pretty manageable as I have downsized substantially to fit all my ‘stuff’ into the 4Runner. It would make it pretty easy for whoever is left. Most all of the spiritual experiences I’ve had this year have been around death and loss. At the moment, I have become quite stoic as to abandon all hope while still being able to appreciate the value of life.

I find the journeys of my classmates from 37 years ago towards social justice and ending inequality to be inspiring.

One of the spiritual experiences I've had took place when the mask mandate was lifted at my school. I felt a feeling of love for my students upon seeing their faces when I had been unable to do so for so many months. It felt like the way a new mother feels gazing into the face of her newborn. I've been teaching for awhile, but that level of love I had not experienced for awhile. It showed me how much human connection we were missing with masks on and how powerful my bond to my students is.

My garden has felt like the most honest relationship with my spirituality I've ever encountered. Maybe the first real one. I'll share a journal entry I wrote this summer that expresses my feelings about that connection. "my garden is a spiritual place for me. it is incredibly spiritual for me, actually. I visit it daily just to observe. to look for and seek out the beauty in it. to pause, just a few moments more, because I know there is even more beauty left to be shown. I only think about the garden when I am in the garden. I sit with a flower for a long, drawn-out moment and I try to ask it, meditatively, whether it is ready for me to cut. whether it can hold out just a few days longer so that I may give it as a gift to my friends. I stare and wonder what a bud will become, and how the color of the petals will look throughout the day. I wonder where more blooms will start to present themselves. I pluck a cherry tomato from the vine, polish it a shiny red in my fingers before putting it in my mouth and crunching down on it. I’ve been so present in these moments that I’ve noticed in the high heat of the day, direct sunlight beating down the tomato tastes more vibrant, sun-kissed and warm. in the afternoon or on a cloudy morning, the tomatoes are cool, and their flavor simplified. I do all these things almost every single day. it’s my equivalent of lighting a candle before an altar and kneeling down to pray. it is the altar for me. and each flower is an altarpiece. I come to long for more kindness when I’m in the garden. I want to share more when I am there. I decide on ways I could be a better, gentler, more sound, and caring human when I am there. I think about reciprocity with the earth there and I believe in the power we have to incite change there. it is a holy place. and the best part of my garden is that it is wherever I am. it is not just this one physical garden bed here at this one apartment. it will grow, change, and evolve with me, wherever I am. that’s kind of like a relationship with god, right?"

The closest I get to spiritual experiences happen when I "attend" services at Central. Some times I am distracted and just watch. Sometimes I am moved to tears and even talk to myself in response to what a sermon and speaker has shared.

The last month has been especially spiritual for me. I have been working both in therapy and in spiritual direction on allowing God in and accepting God’s unconditional love. For the first time, I was able to remain present while leading HH services.

I go to museums, have lots of cultural experiences, spend time walking, but in all honesty, I cannot say I have had any particularly spiritual experiences. I hope the next time I look at Day 5 I will have something different to report. I will be reexamining my activities trying to pay more attention to what I am actually getting from them.

Basic as it is, the western wall was quite spiritual. It was incredible to be in that space that Jews had prayed in for thousands of years. But I think more spiritual than that for me was standing at the top of that hill staring out at the lake of Galilee as the sun set by myself for like 20 minutes. Being in nature like that was glorious after so much time around other people and I was just thinking about how it wouldn’t be too bad to be forced to stay in Israel because of COVID if that’s what it came to. Israel felt a little like home and I guess that’s pretty spiritual.

Nothing that was like a bolt of lightening that hit me on the head; more like a slow and silent realization that something deep within me is yearning to be heard. It feels out of my control and profound and undemanding but certain.

I have had far fewer this year than I would have liked, but somewhere in the waning months of this year, I found that connection again. The hardest part of spirituality has been, at times, the knowledge that I have to step out in faith alone, not necessarily with any familial companions nor friends. Sometimes that growth means stepping away from people that are loved, and they do not want to catch up or come along, and that's the hardest part.

I have a new appreciation for life after surviving heart surgery. They only gave a 50/50 chance of making through the surgery. So grateful everyday for surviving & getting back to good health.

I think my experiences this past year have actually been more the opposite of spiritual, as I have shifted from a strict observant religious practice to a more secular approach. I felt in keeping all the halachot, I was alienating myself from friends and family (I had a non-religious upbringing, and became more religious in my early 20’s), and working a full-time job where my only days off were Shabbat/Chag, I felt I had no work/life balance and didn’t have time to pursue hobbies such as travel. That said, even though my practice is far more lenient, I still believe in God. I see his hand in my every day life in things both big and small, and I am grateful for my awareness of him, and for his guidance in my life.

I played Night Forest with some friends and my mom on S'lichot. It was so.... good. it does exactly the thing it wants to do as a game and i cant wait to do it again. every interaction was impactful and taught me something new about the person i was sharing with and the energy at the end of the game was so.... good. connected.

At 75 I am learning to come to grips with my own mortality. Acceptance being the first step and then moving on to legacy. What do I want to be remembered for or as or by? Do I really care if my art and words remain? I would most like to be remembered for the smiles I gave and the self confidence I help instill.

My primary sources of spiritual experiences are artistic. It has been great to be back onstage, and my dramatic turn as the lead in "Heaven" was most satisfying. Theater reaches me as an audience member, too, and returning to enjoy live theater here in LA and in our trip to NYC is a source of continuing inspiration. I don't know what it's like to be sexually assaulted, but Mary Louise Parker allowed me to betted understand the experience with her performance in "How I Learned to Drive." I support the struggle of communities of color and sexual orientation, but the main character in "A Strange Loop" allows the audience to really appreciate some of the nuances of the struggle.

I went to sea for the first time this year; I spent 38 days on a boat, of which 28 were out of sight of land in the Pacific. It made me realize how much I take for granted on land. I missed plants, rocks, bugs, a stable footing, flat and unmoving surfaces, the ability to walk a meaningful distance or run and jump at all. That said, I learned that I can survive in a 40-meter-long space, that I can work at all hours of the day and night, that I really do love land. I also realized how vast the ocean is. I'd spent plenty of time on the coast, but I'd never tried to cross the ocean, and certainly not on a ship. The portion of the Earth that is water is immense and terrifying and awesome. I am an atheist, but the ocean comes closest to reawakening my faith. (I also participated in Shabbat and Chanukah at sea, which were both fun and interesting experiences.)

I’ve been feeling more spiritual than religious this year. I’ve tried to walk in the park and feel at peace. I’ve also watched the waves in the ocean and put my feet in the sand to feel closer to the earth and get the energy. Getting in the water helps me remember my grandma Roza. I remember how we jumped waves. It makes me feel like I’m there with her.

No

Borrowing part of my answer from Q1: Our neighbor's 100 year-old oak tree fell into our yard just barely missing our house during a freak storm the day after our dog died. It felt symbolic of our marriage and truly inspired me to look inside and think about ways that I can be "reborn". This tree represented a thing of beauty and strength, as well as a thing of rigidness and permanence. I used to gaze at it from our back patio and admire its majesty. When it fell I was reminded of how life is change. When something falls, something new may rise up and take its place. The fallen tree took up a large part of our yard and laid there for a couple of weeks until it could be removed. During that time I walked around the fallen trunk, climbed on it, put my hands on it - admired it from a different vantage point. I felt connected. I knew that something in me was going through a similar process.

Same answer as last year: not a particularly spiritual person. Thus, no experiences that qualify. This seems like a waste of a question. Not everyone is spiritual!

I think the closest thing I could describe as a spiritual experience would being in nature while in Colorado. The surreal beauty of the Colorado Rockies, Pikes Peak, Red Rock Amphitheater are the closest thing to heaven on earth that you can probably get. The vibrant reds, oranges, yellows of the mountains and rocks. The crisp air at the highest elevation we’ve ever been. The peace with just the sound of wind on your face. It was beautiful.

As we've begun to plan our intercultural, interracial wedding, my fiancé and I have been thinking about the cultural traditions from both sides that are most meaningful to us to incorporate into our ceremony. I ended up diving into the meaning behind a chuppah and fell in love with all of the different interpretations - it representing our home, being open on all four sides to welcome others into said home - and I'm so glad we'll get to have one at our wedding next year.

Actually had one.. IF you could call it a "spiritual" experience... was "attending" Michelle's Temple Rosh Chodesh service via YouTube and thinking about all the years our family attended services together - and all the other Jewish celebrations we shared because of a "blue Cadillac" and thought "It would be nice if someone ... not a relative, would say to me "Ya did good, kid" Then at the end of service, the rabbi spent a few minutes complimenting Michelle who is the Executive Director - on what a great job she did and other praise..which, in a way was a response to my "thought"! Yes, I DID GOOD!!! Cause I have GREAT kids... don't know if it was a g-d thing, a spiritual thing, or just a nice coincidence, but whatever, it was just what I needed to hear at the moment I sent the thought out into the universe, even though I'm sure the rabbi had NO IDEA I was even watching! Strange that growing up, I had NO connection at all to anything religious and for whatever reason, somehow it matters that I'm Jewish and that at least one of my offspring is carrying on the traditions herself and her children. Maybe that's enough to say "I did GOOD!" Yeah me!

Not really. My spiritual side is fairly dormant. As for the humanism I adhere to, I’m inspired and let down on a regular basis by my fellow humans. Artistically, there’s too many here and there that all work.

Spiritual experiences can include being present in the moment and experiencing a feeling of awe. Yes, I often felt that way on the road trip. There were many hours where I just drove along with no podcast and no music. Just being presented taking it all in

Not that I can remember, but I continue to try and find what is special all around me, in the beauty of flowers and the sounds of birds, for example. Finding beauty in small things and feeling gratitude for everyday things is definitely good for my soul.

I think the past couple of years have been spiritual in that i've spent more time on my own (or at home) that I have previously and taken many walks on my own which has given me lots of time to spend in my head, working to just appreciate the world around me when it doesn't always feel really great. Beyond that, this year, for the first time in my life, I started lighting Shabbat candles on many Friday nights and I have loved the process of taking the time to say a blessing, light the candles and watch them burn. I felt moved to do it after realizing just how much I love the light put out by Hanukkah candles and that I wanted to experience that during year and not just during the Hanukkah season.

Institute for Jewish Spirituality's course Awareness in Action II for Counting the Omer was deeply gratifying. It was a great way to maintain connection and discover new meaningful paths to my self and my beliefs. AiA I + II have helped ground me, given me an anchor and focus.

Wyoming was the closest thing I had to a spiritual experience. I originally went there in Sept because "sure why not, I'll take an assignment in Wyoming, I've never been." I left in December with a completely new outlook on how to live life. I started taking pride in my work again, and stopped hanging on to being right and doing everything correctly. The folks up there were incredibly generous, and fostered a sense of getting the job done vs liability tango. It made me really appreciate the human aspects of doing challenging work in an extreme environment. It also gave me the sense of adventure I've strived for my entire life and confidence I can live in a colder climate. And I met a guy. So there's that too.

I went to the Wild Rice Retreat for s painting retreat and definitely connected with myself, which was long overdue. I had a coaching session with my friend Nea Clare. If I find myself in a financial position to meet with her regularly, I know I could benefit from her ability to inspire my spirituality as well as motivating me to grow. She gave a 20 class which has made me look at the world differently and always try to find the gift each day provides. Sometimes it’s a beautiful sunrise or sunset, maybe talking with a friend, or other unexpected surprises that happen in life. The key is to not take things for granted, but to realize they truly are gifts and to enjoy the moment.

I have found the deepest spirituality in nature, especially since we moved close to the beach. To watch the sunrise as a dolphin swam by as if pulling up the sun, and pelicans flying through the glorious light: it's awe-inspiring. At the same time, leading/teaching/speaking for my new congregation often feels very uplifting to me, and being able to help people in times of need does, too.

Last year after going to Rosh Hashanah services for the first time in a bit. Also, my son and I were able to go hiking in the Poconos. We went to a place called Boulder Pit. It was beautiful and very spiritual.

Only in so far as gratitude for having recovered from the significant health issue with my feet. It renewed my spirit of positivism and I try to remember that every day now.

Many. The last couple years feel like one coming of age story for my spiritual self. A great surrendering to the universe, an accepting of the pain I had been causing myself, and a letting go of destructive paths and behavior I'd been clinging onto for god knows what reason. Maybe I haven't changed as much as I think I have, but I'm inclined to believe that the hands that weave my fate now are much gentler to me.

Yes. All the panic attacks before my heart surgery made me realize when we are dead, we are dead. There is no after life. We have just our few years, and then we are done, gone forever. I want to live my life with more purpose, but the recovery has been slower than I'd like. Want to get the house set up so I can help lbg kids with living space. But it's a hard uphill battle right now.

Watching my third child son be born. Moved me to my core....

Manifesting, connecting with Patri, María… Realising I can elevate my frequency, the present is the only place to be happy, feeling Abundance.

Last year through social media I was contacted by a guy and when we started Writing to each other and later talking on the phone I found out that we had spent several past lives together. We connected again this lifetime to clear some blocks from the past. Also he opened me up mentally and emotionally for soul mate connection and devotional, unconditional love without sexual intercourse just through energy and words. We deeply bonded and clicked and now I know mentally and emotionally what it is like to fully connect with another person and the opposite sex on an emotional and spiritual level. It was a life changing and a deeply emotional experience. I am so greatful for having opened up to him for the short period of time we shared together, even though both of us are married. Maybe it even deepend our connection to our own partner.

I've started praying in an atheist way to a god I don't believe in. I guess I'm appealing to the higher consciousness. I've also started mediating.

I'm not sure that finishing the Falmouth Road Race was a spiritual experience, but that's as close as it came.

I feel a reckoning now. It's as if the air around me is saying, "Own the gravity of the commitments you've made." There is so much uncertainty caked into being a person -- my own indecision is an exhausting and unnecessary addition. What choices do I want to make, given the way things lay before me?

My spirituality pretty much died when I became a mother. I even stopped reading fiction for years, because it was so emotionally involving and I didn't want to be pulled away by the baby, child, kid, household duties, everything. Now my young adult is in college, and I'm not just a single mom, I'm by myself. I guess I'm longing or looking for something, because I'm attending services on Friday nights more regularly. Will I find what I'm looking for at Temple? I don't know.

The past few years I have been severely depressed and completely overwhelmed by life. I've had more traumatic experiences in the last 11 years ( that would include the events of 9/11 and its aftermath, even though it was 21 years ago. It takes a long time to recover from PTSD.) I used to have many spiritual moments, days, hours. I havent had any to speak of in a very long time. I feel as though I've lost my ability to have spiritual moments. I feel as though I've lost ME, and I don't know how to get Me back.

The most transformational spiritual experience I had in the past year is a recent and ongoing development--the reading of "The Nature of Consciousness" by Rupert Spira and "Living Untethered" by Michael Singer--which I am now actually reading a second time with my wife. These books have shifted my perspective in encouraging, inspiring, uncertain, and aspirational ways. I am invited to return to the seat of consciousness--to consider my thoughts, emotions, and experience of the outside world as just that--things which I experience--the objects of my consciousness...not consciousness itself. By no means have I mastered these concepts nor even developed a rudimentary understanding but I am learning and leaning into them--clinging to the mantra of "It's not personal" and the idea that every other person is just another contracted piece of the divine experiencing this reality along with me. We are not separate--we are one--with each other and with the divine. I pray for this growth--and even the uncertainty that occasions it--to continue.

I went to an event at the Tower of London where 20 million wildflower seeds had been planted to make an amazing display. Due to the ridiculously hot summer, some of the flowers had gone to seed but there were still so many blooms. I found the whole thing profoundly moving as it reminded me of my late mother who adored wildflowers (to the annoyance of the neighbours who wanted her to have a perfectly manicured lawn like they had).

Blech

Sure, I took acid twice and did mushrooms. They weren't spiritual per say, but I did try to look for some meaningful revelation while tripping. On my second trip, I tried to forcefully make it about smoking weed is bad for me, but turns out that was just a phase, and I continue to be a major stoner. If we're talking about a secular experience like something cultural, well clearly, I'd be remiss if I didn't mention our travels to Colombia. What an incredible trip that was.

I have found moments of spiritual connection this year when I heard a moving story, saw a rainbow, noticed fireflies, or spent time in Acadia National Park with my family. I also felt a spiritual connection when watching Rosh Hashanah services with Central Synagogue. I feel moved in these moments. A sense of joy and wonder.

One spiritual experience I had this year was going to a psychic medium with Niki to connect with my dad. It was unreal. I really felt like I talked to my dad that day and doing this made me feel like he was okay-- no longer suffering-- and was also watching over me. ANother one was when my siblings and mom and I prayed over my dad hours before he died. We held hands and prayed the Our Father together. It was so powerful.

A goddamn lot of thoughts around death, for multiple reasons. I became a Death Doula so am always tuned into it; my parents and I have been having convos ad nauseum around my sole responsibility for their everything eventually; and my mom's disability-dictated everything if my dad passes first; I've been talking with my new therapist about ego death; In my EP discord we have a channel #life-and-death where we discuss lots of concepts of mortality, infinity, etc.; we have been addicted to true crime and serial killer documentaries... It is a topic that has always fascinated me, but I have to be mindful that my depressed mind doesn't run with it too far to get further down the rabbit hole of existentialist angst. I'd say this is all spiritual. Also I have been lucid dreaming. Oh and art-wise I learned how to paint watercolor using red wine, which was cool, and to glass blow, which was hot, randomly.

Clearly understand that there is an essential part of my being that is not my body or my ego mind. that which is consciousness that is permanent Buddha nature.

I have had many secular spiritual experiences since I am daily reading some sort of Shoah-related research or survivor memoir. Never have I finished emersion but what I am deeply moved in two ways: Relieved I am not a direct victim, but reminded to my depths I am a Spiritual Survivor with many "wounds."

I have been enjoying art more - but I don't view it as 'spiritual' which I feel is 'not my thing'

If anything my spirituality has flagged this year. It seems that the Covid doldrums that so many suffered in the first year and which I miraculously avoided, have found me this past year. In most cases I feel as if I'm forcing myself to participate, to be social on any level (even video calls), to be engaged with the world. The only real bright light has been teaching mahj. And in that respect, it has been an enlightening and wondrous experience that has done much to refill waning stores of confidence and self worth.

No, I wouldn’t say spiritual but some really great experiences visiting new places.

In July of this year a friend of ours died very unexpectedly. He was 48. The day and evening before, i had been talking to him online. We were still in conversation actually. The next morning he did not answer my texts or calls. I went for a walk and, oddly, “felt” his presence . I kept telling myself I was imagining it. Only, later I found out he had passed in his sleep in the night. My husband witnessed all of this as it played out, including my unexplainable prediction that our friend had died long before we could have known. This isn’t the first time this has happened to me, but each time it has I am shocked and confused as to why. This is a weird ability that has to purpose, no reason and serves only to make me look like an illogical fool. But spiritual? Sure, I think that’s what some people would call it.

I've been reading books about, and practicing, deeper meditation. I've been trying many different styles of meditation but my favorite is just sitting in a chair in my backyard first thing in the morning, putting my feet in the grass, listening to the birds chirping with a timer where I keep my eyes closed until the chime goes off. I love it. It brings me so much peace. Sometimes after a meditation I'll write in a journal about some ideas that come into my mind, as if my higher self or spirit guide is giving me advice. Mostly, it's about how loved I am and how I shouldn't be afraid to try things.

I can't think of an answer...not really spiritual as a whole. Haha

Watching my husband ‘crash’ after his stent was implanted and hearing someone ask ‘are we losing him?’ was sobering. Another reminder that our lives are in God’s hands. We are not promised tomorrow. Two more surgeries and he is doing well. God obviously still has work for us to do. And we choose to be faithful servants.

Rosh Hashanah & Yom Kippur with Mishkan are always very moving and beautiful experiences.

No, not really. Nothing particularly spiritual or religious. I had some psychedelic experiences that were mentally informative and probably gave me peace in my head. A few big psilocybin experiences that made me feel closer to my partner, nature, and gave me a reset in my mind.

Admittedly I haven't felt very spiritual lately. How am I going to feel that way again?

Tough question as not sure what a secular spiritual experience is? I certainly have not had a religious one. My gut answer is my spiritual connection to Tatala, my adopted rescue dog. Unlike other relationships, it is quite different and in a sense spiritual. It has made me so aware of the incredible life connection and energy we all share.

The closest thing to a spiritual experience that happened to me this year would be when I felt my "season" ending at the end of high school. Sometimes life presents itself like a TV show, and my season (senior year) was finally over. This was after the last day of school, when I looked up and just got a feeling of completion.

No, not really. I've mostly been continuing with my daily life and being very grateful that I have my husband with me, and that I had the help of Micki Marcus years back, who helped me change my life, and to whom I will be forever grateful. I am also grateful for my friends and some family members, as well as interesting experiences, such as our daily events and travels.

I was with my dad at the end at the end of his life. It seemed like he wasn’t really there, he was smiling. I asked him that are you on your way to heaven? He just smiled. He seemed in peace. I felt the angels take him and hold him in love.

Saying goodbye to my dog, Wally was a spiritual experience for me. In fact, the Monday after she died, I woke up to shining morning sun and felt her spirit calling me up and out into the world. “Get up! Go outside! Smell everything and pee on it!” It felt joyful, like she had been freed from a body that was holding her back and now she was calling me to be free from grief that holds me back.

Every time im in the mountains. I didnt realize how much mountains would affect me, but they're glorious and gorgeous. I just lose my breath every time im near one. Also just the great family moments I've had with max and the birds since we've arrived here. I love my family and they bring me closer to gd.

Dreams have become clearer, both while sleeping and dreams I dreamt 20 years ago. They have been helping me understand my fears and desires. Guided meditations with my business coach have helped transform my surrender and trust in God. Goddess cards are helping me feel my place in the universe, across time, and in my daily life as a business woman and creative artist. I manifested fabulous performance opportunities in Maine and Poland, loving them so much, as well as airfare over to Greece, another long-time dream. My relationships are becoming richer and based more on individuals' (friends, Leo, parents, Katrina) soul truths, rather than what I want them to be FOR me. Kundalini has begun prepping me, physically, it feels, for my next deeper spiritual spirals in all aspects of life.

Life is hard, when physical reminders of my age intrude, or when I feel lonely, or berate myself for being so lazy. But when I sit on the patio in the morning and watch the bees at work in our flowering bushes, or observe a partridge family parading past, or a small lizard going along, I am reminded that life is good. And it's okay to sit a while and appreciate that.

While I am a spiritual person I can't recall a noteworthy spiritual experience in the past year.

Mom's funeral was not spiritual. It was cold and snowing and we were graveside bcause my sister called the wrong funeral home. I was also angry because Rabbi Adler didn't even try to speak with any of her other children for eulogy information. Kriyah in front of the bathrooms didn't help either. It was an all around sucky day. The weekend prior to her funeral was spiritual. I knew there was a plan for Mom and I was able to truly be present, for the first time since Mom came to stay with us, to celebrate with Marcia and Carl. Of course, I didn't know that the "plan" would fall apart on Monday. I had a weekend of joy in the midst of horribleness.

Just discovering the magic I still own.

My wife and I constructed a labyrinth at our vacation home two years ago. We have been doing ceremonies there marking new/full moons, changes of seasons and passing of friends. I am finding that as I age I am seeking greater spirituality not necessarily religiosity.

I've really been struggling with my Judaism/spirituality, as it was such an important part of my life for so long and now feels pretty distant. The spiritual elements that used to give me joy no longer have any kind of effect on me, particularly music. I realized that somehow I've developed a hardened heart that has created a barrier that keeps out my spirituality. I'm not sure how to reconnect.

I keep seeing feathers and it hasn’t stopped. I first saw one early this summer and now when I go out I usually see at least one every time. They are placed in my path where I’m walking, sometimes I’ll see them from a short distance falling and sometimes there are multiple in a day, sometimes multiple in the same place. It reminds me that there are influences beyond what is my conscious reality that are guiding me along the way. It feels supportive and magical and helpful and wonderful. Nothing like this has ever happened before so I feel comfortable and it helps me to release control.

Yes, I have experienced spirituality in a different way this past year. I feel a need for connectivity to others , a greater compassion for those suffering , and a need to be heard.

When I think about for this question, I think about the magical moments when all the stars align, and I know that the universe is conspiring to make my life easy and joyous.

When I think of the word spiritual, I most often think of communing with the natural world. My strongest memory of that from this past year would be our trip to Hawaii (for the wedding of the son of good friends). We spent 2 weeks on Maui and Kauai, walking, hiking, relaxing, and seeing the sights. Lovely, and certainly spirit refreshing!

I wish this question would go away! I never seem to have a good answer for it. Again, as in years past, the closest I get to spiritual is when I'm in nature. In June, while on a four day river rafting trip with my family, I slept under the stars on a beach along the Colorado River. That was special. And when I was camping with my kids last month, in a gorgeous spot in the Adirondacks, that was special. And stargazing with my son on that same trip. Awesome stuff.

Yes. My dream life has increased in richness. I am now wrestling with purely accepting myself vrs trying to improve myself and help others.

The most spiritual experience last year was Abby's bat mitzvah. Standing with my immediate family and watching the first of the next generation be called to the bimah and chant from the Torah was spine-tingling. My 101-year old grandmother was on Zoom video on the wall behind Abby and it almost looked like she was looking over Abby's shoulder. We were all together in celebration of our family and Abby, and our heritage. It was a moment when it felt like time was standing still but also the entire history of our family and our ancestors unfurled before me. The mystery of life was almost clear, just for a moment.

This is going to sound crazy especially this early but Daniela. It's nuts but she is exactly the person I wanted to meet. She is that ideal I put out there and I am super excited about it. Yes, it's not easy right now. Yes, it sucks that she is still not divorced but her honesty is amazing. Her thoughtfulness is such a difference from my past feelings about people. Her thought process and how she approaches her love of learning is incredible. The last question will be how does she love when she is free to love? How do we work together as a team? She is pretty amazing though. I can only hope for the best and see if my "luck" as she calls it holds out. :)

Having my Sundays chock-full of Church is wonderful - 8am BCP Traditional Holy Communion from Lichfield Cathedral, then Colin in The Borders, then St James's Piccadilly, London. Also keeping up with the sermons at Central Synagogue, New York. (The world clock does not suit Real Time worship for Israel.) You can never have too much worship! I feel very grateful that Amos prays for me locally. Rav Pitzi's shofar blowing would be The Highlight. This guy noone will ever hear of walking 2km in the end-of-summer heat up to our kibbutz with his shofar and blowing twice through all four T'kiyyot ... God bless rural clergy... Doing God's Work so well out of the spotlight of big cities and famous places

I was introduced to St. Julian of Norwich. Even finding her was a spiritual experience. I came across a quote in a work of fiction, I think, and wrote it down because it spoke so powerfully to me in a time of anxiety. All shall be well and All shall be well and All manner of things shall be well I soothed me so much! I had a set of booklets of "highlights" or excerpts from great devotional classics. There was one for her, which I read and marked up so much I decided to buy the full work. I continue to be comforted and strengthened as I continue to read sections at a time. It's not a race. When I went back to find out where I first encountered the quote, I checked the various books I had read around that period of time. I was unable to find where I first saw the quote, retracing my steps in the pages and using indices. That makes it all the more meaningful - I didn't initially seek it out. It was given to me, though I don't remember the source. As new crises arise, I am able to repeat this quote. I know it isn't in itself magical, but it shifts my focus from the problems to the One who is able to solve them. However he does it, All shall be well.

Every day I feel a spiritual connection to nature due to being fortunate enough to have property which backs to a small lake. The glistening water, the ever changing reflections, the mist, the wildlife, etc. are gifts from God. The water is calming and exciting at the sane time and reminds me of the beauty that surrounds us.

Chills and thrills while learners are taking High Holy Day module from NJOP with me as a leader. Sometimes, sharing the powerful liturgy's history and meaning brought goosebumps. I was often thrilled as learners shared their "aha!" moments. I BELIEVE THIS IS MY PURPOSE - RIGHT NOW - IN LIFE

An artist friend at the opening of her first solo show in the chapel of the church that chose her as artist-in-residence. The snapshot I took is of her with eyes closed, as if in prayer. What she was doing was reciting a poem that inspired her life in art from early childhood. "This witch", she said, referring to herself, was welcomed into the church community and given the space, time and support to do art, not scramble to make things for money.

I walked into cardio-pulmonary rehab and there was a friend from church who had been avoiding surgery for an aortic embolism. I saw her, and felt such a rush of love and total confidence. I called her name and told her she looked so good! I don’t know where that came from, but the feeling was, she was going to be fine. After surgery, she never woke up. Fine was that she was with our Lord.

Yes! In December 2021 I was reading Laura Tremaine's book and I don't remember how I made this connection, but I realized my postpartum experience with Cora was traumatic for me. From that I had a profound feeling that I needed to be kinder to myself and stop trying to do everything. I also read another book that I currently can't remember the name of that solidified that realization. In January I also started listening to the Bible Recap - it's a read through the Bible in a year program. It has helped me a lot with grappling with some of my questions about the OT. I believe just reading the Bible has strengthened my faith and made me feel like I have more fully returned to my identity as a Christian. That has been a wonderful gift, it has improved my marriage and my overall quality of life.

Understanding more that breath work and meditation can bring me to the present moment where I am more connection to all my relations.

At last finding the time and space to do some artwork. Joined a five week watercolour course in the summer and have continued to a 12 week one. Realizing that the image is something we create in our world, share and are fascinated by. Puzzles allowed me to look at how the picture is developed from the beginning, how colour can be added as well as shape and form to create the whole picture. Instead of just having an intellectual understanding of the illusory nature of reality, the process inspires me to see how it takes it shape.

Going back to theater fills my spiritual soul. I have seen a whole bunch of plays and musicals and even have one scheduled for when I go to London with Marshall in December. Come From Away was amazing, The song Prayer still fills my heart.

All of my spiritual experiences have been within the framework of my music. Several concerts held within a church facility, a few of which included performing during the Sunday service. Hearing the message from the pulpit delivered by a leader who embraces all religions and incorporates those elements in their message has been most rewarding.

Not really. I do use YouTube files to "read" see talmudic postings. I enjoy those, even if years old

I can't think of any this year - no art or food or anything that has made me feel different than I was before consuming it. I am still very sheltered and barely leaving the house other than to drop off and pick up Milo from school, so it isn't that surprising, but it is a little sad.

This year has affected me to get more artistic and creative with me making my jewelry and coming up with new and different patterns on the sets of jewelry that I have started creating including earrings and bracelets and necklaces

Over the course of several months I've learned about the aliveness and consciousness of plants, their role in the world and our natural relationship to them. I've come to appreciate all that plants do in the world and our essential dependency on them. They are aware and sentient and magical! And now I begin my regenerative agricultural journey in earnest - going to Lancaster VA to Edgehill farm to plant my first cover crops to begin to restore the health of the soil. I only know what I've learned from reading, podcasts, classes and speaking with those who have done it. There's so much I don't know. But I go knowing that I will learn from my mistakes and make forward progress in whatever form that takes. My goal is to "leave behind good fruits". I learned this phrase this morning when I was listening to a Duolingo podcast while walking Daisy Mae at Poway Lake before the start of my day. It was about a young fellow who wanted to do something to address climate change. After leaving a comfortable and well paying job, he developed a method to encapsulate pine seeds with a coating of everything the seed needed to germinate, grow quickly and resiliently as a way to help reforest the planet at scale. He uses drones to disperse the seeds to economically and significantly scale the process and the acreage able to be planted. At the beginning of his journey he was inspired by a monk he befriended who had spent most of his life in the monastery garden communing with the plants. The monk taught him what the seeds needed to grow and inspired him with the words: Deje buenas frutas - leave behind good fruit. That inspires me to start my journey with courage! and perhaps a good name for the farm :-)

I have been thinking about Burning Man Festival. I have never been, but am captured by the art, the costuming, the gift economy, and the community that thrives during the festival. This seems related to the Bread and Puppet Theater in Vermont, at least in terms of the underlying assumptions of how community works. I want to experience it firsthand, maybe write about it. But most importantly, I want to think about what parts of it can and should be poured over into "real life."

When I was in Jerusalem this summer, spiritual experiences were few and far between, but there was one instance where I truly felt connected to something higher. I was in the Old City with Mericka, and we stopped at this store in the Christian Quarter so her boyfriend could purchase a rosary for his Catholic grandmother. In the store, the shopkeeper stopped me and read my palm, predicting a long life and three children, without asking for payment. Then he presented me with a rosary. I tried to protest, since I'm Jewish, but he countered that he himself is Muslim, and though neither of us believe in Jesus, he wanted to give me a gift because he believed I was a good person and deserving of a blessing. That moment of connection--a Muslim and a Jew sharing a moment over a Christian ritual object--has stuck with me for months. It reminded me of how close we all really are, how important it is to see each other. My new spiritual advisor has pointed out that I always believed the relationship to G-d is quid pro quo. But what if I started to think of it as an exchange of gifts?

While my interaction with the outer world still remains very limited, I continue my internal dialogue with myself and with a higher power. I pray, I think and it's all on a daily basis without the spikes of a particular spiritual experience.

Mishkan continues to inspire, uplift and fill my cup. Also, walking into HPHS after the shooting - seeing the big Red Cross table, the vestibule lined with stuffed animals, the FBI agents milling about with comfort dogs here and there - the whole thing was like an out of body experience. Spiritual? I don't know. But strange, surreal. It has shaken me how DISconnected I felt with my community after the shooting. All the public memorial services, the events the orange tag writing. Nothing spoke to me. Like the song from "A Chorus Line", I felt nothing. That has shaken me more than anything.

Being a steward of the land. We own land, we own trees. This land used to be the territory of the Abenake/N'dakinna/ Pennacook. I know about the Land Back movement and acknowledge that I will not give this land back to them; I feel I cannot, and of course, my family is involved, too. But... I donate to them. I wish I could do more. And trying to take care of our tiny bit of land... I think of them. Tending to the land does feel like it gets to the core of me. Weeding, or, often, choosing what not to weed. Choosing native berry bushes to replace invasive species. Watching birds pluck seeds from our coneflowers. Seeing our bees forage on our flowers. Choosing to save the trees over a deck. Each bit feels like. Like telling the earth and the ground and this ecosystem that I love it. That I wish I could do so much more for it. I'm so sorry for what has happened to it, and... here's a tiny slice of making it better.

The closest spiritual experience this past year was probably the AJR concert in Las Vegas with my son. I really enjoyed our little trip (less than 24 hours long), successfully navigating it by ourselves and then falling in love with the music - I still love their music and the band!

I might have been inspired by the answer to this question that I read in the email for Day 5. But definitely the strongest spiritual experience I had this year was to be present at my father’s passing. To be able to accompany him through the last moments of his life. I am extremely grateful that he waited for me to be present before going. Thank you, Dad! <3

I started doing a daily Kaddish practice after my Dad died 10 months ago. It took some work to find the online spaces to do this, and support and advice from Reb Sami. It gave me a place to calendar and experience myself in grief. I am so very grateful for this. First at my own community on Tuesdays, and then at Kol Emeth also in the evenings. Eventually I found the national community of My Jewish Learning. Reb Sami said to do what feels right and I started with a daily practice, never missing, for the first four months. And then less frequently. Now for over a month I have been almost a daily practice person again. I am also doing a moment of meditation if a minyan isn't possible. And, I am aware that Kaddish will end as a daily practice on Oct. 30 and I will say it again on the yarzheit and on the holidays. I will be moving on and Dad will not go with me. I will be remembering him always.

An outdoor concert in a park; where the crickets started chirping in unison, in time with the music.

I’m not religious. I do love to travel and experience new things. I went to Spain and Portugal for my 40th birthday and would say two times in that trip I had something of a “spiritual” experience. One was in Barcelona. I had visited before in my twenties with one of my best friends and I was back, much older, with my same friend and my partner. Being back was such an interesting and lovely experience that I can’t quite explain, but I still had the feeling of awe and excitement wandering the city. The second was in Lisbon. I have never been before and it was decked out for Christmas. Just walking the streets at night with the beautiful buildings, an array of various Christmas lights, and the hustle of the crowd was magical. Moments like these are why travel is my own form of religion.

The closest I can claim to spiritual this year is my current relationship to something similar to "Let go and let god" -- I don't know if I believe in god or spiritual guides but definitely energy. With that, I think our energy vibrates and creates different spaces and opportunities in the world and there is a sublime beauty in doing all you can, and also stepping back and letting things unfold the way they best can without putting too much worry or stress at attempts on control (of myself or of a situation).

This year’s answer complements last year’s. I try to notice nature every day - not always a goal I achieve but a good thing to aim for. Walking out our front door for a task as mundane as getting the morning paper becomes an opportunity to greet the day and love the weather. Although it’s a a small moment, it is a good way for me to mark the beginning of my day, and I think the spiritual bump it gives me is valuable. Other opportunities present at expected times, such as the view of the mountains from the dog park almost every morning, and the vistas I see when I drive the road along the bench. Bursts of color from flowers, interesting birds I glimpse, and the unmitigated joy of the Pupdog that she effortlessly transmit to me - all of these things strike their own spiritual notes, and I am listening.

I have been working with a counsellor for the past few months, which has focused my efforts on reconciling the various issues of my past. It's really helped me to understand things and reframe how I feel about myself, which is as close to spirituality as I get. As part of this I have been learning about manifesting, which requires me to believe in the power of the universe.....which I'm still working on

Actually no, unless it can be taken to mean relationships with friends and family, excelling at something, or gratification at giving my time and resources.

Yes! Because of Divinity School, I have spent so much time thinking about God and the sacred and what I really believe and what I don't really believe. And I have sort of landed somewhere: like a Maimonidean, make-no-claims, ineffable divine that is me having a relationship to the Great Mystery and being in relation to that mystery through wonder and reflection and silence and song. I think that's where I am for now.

My spiritual experiences have been noticing the lack of spiritual experiences. I'm feeling quite detached from my Catholic faith experience. It's ranged from a disinterest, to a curiosity, to a grieving in some ways now.

My whole life has become an exercise in contemplation in the past couple of years. This was really reinforced and grounded in Fearghal’s death when I had to just take each moment on its own merits because the big picture had been shattered and the future (as I had planned it) was gone. The tools I use are nature, birdsong especially, the light in the sky as it comes through the trees. Listening to Eckhart Tolle and Anthony de Mello and just grounding myself in the ordinary tasks of the day . Even sitting in traffic has become more joyful. My meditation practice is good, not as good as it was when we were in the first lockdown and Tony was still alive. It’s different now, I don’t have so much time to sit so I am taking meditative practice into all my daily activities, I am experiencing more bone pain and I am trying to let that be my teacher. I’m also trying to allow all my experiences to teach me to pay attention to what the universe is trying to tell me.

Singing with the choir is always spiritual. If I take the time to read the translations and allow myself to get caught up in the meaning of the pieces then it can be a very meaningful spiritually. Something about four part harmony is in itself Godly.

Random answer - but there is something spiritual about prioritizing your own needs. When I say no, I feel like I'm really myself. Saying no for me instead of saying yes for you is spiritual.

I wish I had experienced such. Only twice, and those occasions decades ago, have I felt the 3-D presence of The Creator. I wish I could learn how to have another, especially in this the 4th quarter of my life. Astronomy brings me to thoughts of infinity and the never ending cosmos and continuing to ask how and more importantly why did it all begin. But then my friend Jay, who studied for the Priesthood, has never had one such moment, so perhaps I am overly blessed and unaware that I am.

The death of my cats. I had to say goodbye to 5 elderly cats this last year. The whole mystery of the "Life Force" that inhabits us and causes us to be animated, interacting creatures with levels of communication and understanding. My mom questioned the existence of a G_d, and I answered confidently, that I do believe. HOW, could all these INCREDIBLE systems work together without there being some sort of Divinity? There are too many "miracles" to NOT have a G-d! The absence of those vessels of Life Force ( my pets) in my home has made me more aware of how tenuous and precious all of this is, and how important is Faith.

No, maybe I should seek out more of them?

Going to Debbie's memorial service, getting out of my car, and walking down the hill toward the tent of people. It had been so long since I'd heard the sound of people gathering. Being in community with others to grieve and remember and mark a moment in time. Singing. Listening. Hugs. Crying. I found I was aching for so much more than just the loss of this one dear person.

I have experienced deep grief and repentance over mistakes I've made. This has been difficult and transformative. I have learned a lot about myself.

Covid times seem to have less of this for me. I can still reliably feel deeply connected to history when I move the Torah scroll around (putting it away after services). Touching the Torah scroll is touching history, almost 3,500 years of history. That is very meaningful to me, but other spiritual experiences have been hard to come by these days.

In recent years, I’ve tried to remember to look up and say thank you to the Great Architect of the Universe. This year, it seems I’ve become much more “aware” of those moments. Not just randomly but especially when I see 7:07 on a timepiece. My time of birth (AM but noticed in both AM and PM) - it reminds be to “look up”and say thank you for all the gifts I’ve been given.💕

My spiritual experiences: These are vast and can encompass seconds, minutes, hours. I live in transcendence most of the time. Now, I can get unstuck fairly quickly if I fall into a black hole of forgetfulness. It’s ok. It happens sometimes. I can love that. Every day I am aware and in awe of this - I am where everything comes from; time, space, joy, Love, care, kindness, flow, light, air, space, every quark & bit, the ALL of it ALL! How is this? I am 100% responsible for how I respond to everything and every result I create. That is my superpower. I am Source. My vulnerability and permeability are skills I practice diligently. When I align with Love, with Care, when I open completely to Nature, the Universal Law of Reciprocity (begins with my breath, I breathe in the Universe, the Universe breathes me), and all the other Laws of the Cosmos, I am in communion with All that is. Tis a grand murmuration! Come fly with me!

Learning that prayer can be like a meditation between yourself and the universe rather than a request to an old man in the sky who hears your thoughts. It has allowed me see prayer in a different light and practice using blessings and prayers more regularly.

Not that i can remember. Mostly a blur of year.

My spiritual 'awakening' happened early this year after an 18-month period of numbness to the trauma of losing my son in 2020. When I finally felt the pain of this loss, I fell into a deep depression and sought help. I emerged stronger, healthier and closer to God. I am an artist and during this period, my artwork reflected images of sanctuaries, altars and a return to the light.

I had a coaching session that was somewhat spiritual, in that it got me out of my routine for 3 days and into a place of meditation and focus. It wasn't earth-shattering, but it was really positive and helpful. I intend to bring forward many of the ideas and tactics for ongoing mental and emotional health.

More recently I have looked into and started using crystals for their inherit qualities.

Always. Seeing a new person come into the program and have success early on.

I am not spiritual by nature as an Agnostic Atheist. But, my Son's wedding did move me. Especially having my toasts come to me due to events and experiences during the wedding weekend.

My mother showed me certain family photographs that I had not even known existed in all my 51 years, much less had I ever seen. They were of her brother's (my uncle's) bar mitzvah party in 1954. The pictures - which are in 3D and must be viewed through a special device - depict family members of whom my mother has spoken my whole life, but whom I had never seen. I felt a whole new connection to a family I knew, but never knew, so to speak. Of course, seeing photos of them is not the same as meeting them in person (which will have to wait), but one of those people in most of the photos is my mother's father. He died before my parents even met, much less before I was born. I have always referred to him as "my mother's father" since I never knew him, but seeing those photos of him - in his heyday, and in 3D - certainly make him feel more like my grandfather than like my mother's father. I can't wait to meet him when the time comes.

There have been times in the past year when I have felt lifted up by the experience of being in my garden, either doing the work of weeding, trimming edges, taking out plants or planting, where the peacefulness of being there and having that small patch of yard and garden makes me feel humble and inspired by others to do good things for the garden and the creatures who live there or pass through. I've seen insects I've never seen before, and birds as well, and I make sure they all have fresh water every single day, as well as more things with which to nourish themselves. I want to go into fall believing that it will all be even better next year.

I’ve felt blessed with a greater peace than before. That is maybe partly age, partly gratitude for the good, partly a reordering of priorities with newfound perspective.

I have been able to come closer to the Jewish religions and traditions because of my boyfriend who is extremely knowledgeable in Jewish hx. Also had the lovely experience of my eldest daughter becoming a Bat Mitzvah which was one of the most incredibly beautiful, heartwarming ceremonies I have ever been a part of. It was outside at my Aunts house and you could feel the pulse of love and connection with the universe and the people around us

So many! This has been a better year spiritually because there is protesting and prayer and preaching and being appreciated and music and love and it all brings me closer to God.

No, not particularly. It's not that I haven't had any spiritual experiences, it's just that nothing in particular stands out right now.

I found Yom Kippur to be particularly spiritual. Most of the day was gruelling, not the fasting so much as the relentless services. But at the end, when I tasted my first bite of food on breaking the fast, I felt exhilarated. Everything about the day just came together for me in that moment.

Ha ha ha ha ha! *Every* experience is spiritual. I am spirit before I am personality—or any other descriptor. This past year has been exceedingly hard for me logistically. I’m very sick, and I spent a few winter months sleeping in my car until friends started giving me hotel room nights. I’d spend the days parked next to a beautiful lake near Boulder, looking at the mountains and the sky, thinking how amazing it is to be alive, to be here in this body. I’m old and sick and tired, and all my friends have deserted me, and I’m still happy every day to be living, even with those conditions.

My partner's unveiling (a sunny, quiet, hillside service with his family) was key to my reconnecting with daily Jewish practice.

Yes I keep getting veja du as in seeing things like I’ve never encountered them before. Like cars. Man they are stupid and the individuality and decisiveness they encourage are just incredible. People operating little machines that move them around like it makes them significant in some way or better than everyone else. Also trees. I went out and apologised to the trees in our blistering summer. So yes spiritual in the realisation that we are doing it all so very wrong.

I visited Israel and worshiped there. It reminded me that while an amazing experience, places aren’t what hold the mystery and sacredness of life.

The spiritual experiences are every-time I’m with the twins, who are now 5. They truly love their mom-mom and pop-pop and are getting used to uncle Jared. Watching children grow is amazing and everyday I’m with them is the best day of my life. I’m so sorry my grandparents died before I was born. Everyday I’m with Jared is a spiritual experience, last night I drove him around the neighborhood for hours because he wasn’t feeling good after a dental appointment. He was singing and mostly really loves life and we live spoiling him. We changing our sons diapers at in our 70’s, so grateful for our health to continue to care for him. Lastly, being members of our Temple for 40 + years and connecting to friends makes us grateful we’ve kept the faith.

Finding myself last year, I am still believing in myself and I just embrace it.

Nope, none. Boring spiritual year. In this next year, I intend to find 48 hour period that I can entirely go off-grid. Like completely away from civilization and offline. It doesn't have to be far and could be the local woods/park, but needs not to be connected to anything.

I stand at the back door and watch the birds fly. It gives me an idea of wholeness and grace.

My spirituality has deepened significantly because of meditation. I use Daily Calm and now also Insight Timer and also it’s extended into a sort-of all day state of mindfulness that I feel in such a deep and blessed way. It’s like living in constant gratitude and appreciation for this beautiful life … even the tough stuff. I feel deeply connected to the earth/universe and I think that my near-death experience with sepsis helped me to be even more aware of the beauty of life.

I felt deeply, deeply moved when we were together to say goodbye to Peach, the beautiful pug. When I let Red go, I was so overwhelmed I couldn’t feel the moment. With Peach, I was there to especially for Tom, too, and was able to experience a profound moment of connection with him, Peach, and the kind vet helping us. It was a different experience entirely, in a dimly lit room, calm and peaceful, together in the bond of caring for Tom and his beloved Peach. We all stood together, and shared a deeply connected time with her as she passed. We should all be so lucky to be as loved as Peach.

My journey through the 12 Steps has been very spiritual for me, as my practice of them has infused my daily prayers with an intensity and meaning that they had not previously had.

I have had a tortured relationship with my church. Initially I embraced the plain dress and simple lifestyle, and the nonresistant and hospitable values. However, then politics claimed the church's soul. Many members left because of the strife, and many left for more rigidly conservative congregations. The fragment that remains, a motley crew, looked at each other and decided that the whole was more important than the parts. In coming together to preserve what is left, we have learned to tolerate some differences and work together. I feel somehow that my church has survived, and I am grateful.

I've worked very hard to stop reacting to my trauma informed experience and instead notice the panic in body while reminding myself of the absence of threat, even though my body FEELS there's a threat. This process of removing myself from myself served me well in parenting and my marriage in many ways. Before, I was regularly triggered and irritated but my family. Their noise and their mess assaulting my sense of control and peace but over time realized none of this is a real threat. However, my singular focus to turn down that volume has also impacted my joy of life. My creativity, curiosity, and spiritual access became a casualty of my turning down the intensity within me. I am going to commit to trying to fine tune this to allow for the potential to have big, artistic, spiritual feelings without mistaking them for an emotional threat of overwhelm which I'm all too familiar with. It's difficult to get to know yourself this way for the first time but I hear it's worth it.

Nothing in particular strikes me as a spiritual experience this year. Does one have to cultivate this part of life into one's character and thinking? Hmm. But, we did celebrate Mom and Dad's 65th wedding anniversary with a luxurious dinner at Seattle's best restaurant, Canilis. All the kids had emotional and thoughtful things to say and toast to. Mom and Dad shared their deep love and life together. The end is nearer for them, and us and we certainly become more reflective on life's meaning and it's cycles. "We are the vessels which bear life and shoot the arrow forth, into the future. May our bow be steady at the hand of Him." Kahlil Gilbran

I am currently questioning my faith, specifically whether there is anything after death. This questioning is extremely devastating for me because I was raised in a Christian home and have considered myself a Christian for as long as I can remember. Now, at 52 years old, I have doubts. And I think that part of my doubts is more about the way I see Christianity often practiced, particularly as it has become intertwined with politics. I was brought up in a denomination of Christianity that focused on the love and grace of God, not the judgement and punishment of God. Yet, what I see is discrimination, judgement, violence, etc., perpetrated by people who call themselves Christians, all in the name of God. These images and experiences sicken me. I don't know who I would be without some sort of spiritual belief.

The most important learning experience is seeing how kind and loving Danna is and trying to be more open to seeing different ways of being in the world.

I have felt peace that was not attributable to my state of mind multiple times when things have gone wrong. I believe this was spiritual peace, not intellectual or psychological peace. Furthermore, things I worried about ended up working out. I am blessed!

I guess I am getting less and less spiritual; nothing even close is coming to mind. Could the horror and the shock of the ongoing war be considered a cultural experience?

Going through the mikveh part of my conversion was a significant spiritual experience for me.

This year I have started attending yoga and meditating and I’ve also experimented with some microdoses of mushrooms. I do find it gives me a clear sense and a calm mind when I can get into the zone. I also find Microdosing makes me easier going.I have also been reading a lot of Sadhguru Jordan Peterson and listening to similar podcast. I have started to really reflect on my life why I use cynicism as a shield for inadequacy and I am really striving to be much happier and less envious and happier for others. Seeing my parents getting older makes me realize I also have to enjoy every day and seize every opportunity for happiness and not delay on the things I want to do

Every day! The miracle of life. Grateful! Always expanding and evolving. Remembering how each cell, in this earth suit, has to do its job for me to get out of bed. Amazing!

I can't honestly say I've had any distinctive spiritual experiences in the past year. It's been more one-foot-in-front-of-the-other and I don't really feel like there was much about it that felt spiritual or moving. I did have a few moments of giving myself a chance to appreciate something beautiful - a moment snuggling on the couch with my son, or noticing a beautiful landscape or taking in a moment of quiet on the beach. But my brain has been very crowded this year, with not a lot of room for peaceful reflection. Just pondering this question is making me consider ways I could find more opportunities to experience spiritual moments in the year to come.

A good friend died in April 2022. Her favorite bird was red cardinal. I visited her in Hospice the last month or two before she died. For me being present with someone you love or care deeply for is a spiritual experience. I was present for my mother’s death in December 1992 as well as other loved ones. A few days after her my friend Janice died a red cardinal was sitting outside my window at home. This is rare, I cannot remember seeing a red cardinal outside my window on the fire escape before. I was comforted by this experience. I felt Janice was at peace..

I hope less and trust more. I keep my mind a blank and let God speak.

Just like last year, I haven't had any overtly spiritual experiences. I felt happy about taking this job I have now. I took the job based on intuition and prayer, and so far so good, although I get upset. This job is a very churchy bunch of people, which has created a sense of pressure to join something, but I don't feel like I want to do that just yet. The most spiritual moments I've had have tended to be with the dogs, out on the property, listening to the birds, and connecting with nature. I also have been using the Waking Up app, it helps me a lot.

We have been to more broadway shows this year than in recent years (because of COVID)... and each of them moved me in different ways. The most moving was An Infinite Loop, which was so powerful, so aggressive, I thought about and talked about it for weeks.

LCO 24 at the Barbican. Transcendental moments. Especially the piece for three tam tams. The whole experience was unique, extraordinary. Transporting so far outside the every day.

I've done shrooms several times this year and they've definitely helped me connect with my feelings and feel connected to others.

I'd say my 3-month RV trip with my husband included many spiritual moments and opportunities for reflection in nature, particularly in Arizona at Mittry Lake, an incredible desert oasis near Yuma.

many.. in breakdowns and breakthroughs. Being in different states, vanishing, decomposing, letting go of ego landing in the here and now face down again. Despair and delight .. so close together

Nope. I do love the view from my kitchen window every morning and evening. And hiking by myself every weekend.

Not as much as I’d like. So many logistics and medical things between me, spouse and kids that pop up. Feel like I’m playing wackamole all day every day. Wish I had time and the energy and the mood to be as spiritual as I used to be.

long live the deflated balloon. I just haven't found my spiritual grove as of late. I do have a group of women (we are the "Buddhas") who read and meditate together, share quotes and podcasts and readings with each other when they seem appropriate. They are my reminder of the power of those teachings and practices. My son also brings me there, as he practices his own style of mindfulness, and that is inspiring every day.

I walk a spiritual path every day, beginning each day with meditation and reading. Everything that happens after that is a result of my spiritual practice, embodied spirituality, and curiosity and openness with others. Sounds woo woo perhaps, but it leads me to the best outcomes in my life.

Honestly, no. Unbelievably intense life-changing experiences, but didn’t feel spiritual. My niece Mandy’s wedding ceremony was really moving, sharing how relationships and faith got them through tragedy and personal doubt. Hope I can add spiritual to next year’s answers

I don’t really think in terms of the spiritual. My answer is similar to last year. Nothing jumps to mind other than isolated moments. A few weeks ago I spent a morning with Harrison and while we were playing with trains we got into a space where we were completely attuned with each other. I created a “person” with two fingers who climbed the steps to the overpass and rode on the train and he was completely in tune with this. He would carefully position the train so my person could get on. On a separate note, I’ve lately been reading series of books that continue the stories of characters over a life time. I get very attached and connected to the characters in a very satisfying way. Is that spiritual?

I have gone another whole year meditating for at least 15 minutes every day, which does not often feel seismically "spiritual," but which is probably having an effect in incremental ways. My dance practice continues to be a source of physical-emotional-spiritual support. But I want more spiritual experiences - more Jewish ecstatic experiences, more singing, more shared community, more awe in nature. This is a goal for the year to come.

During the Mussar Institute's Chaverim elul study, I had an amazing spiritual aha moment! There was a discussion of how connected we all are, how we feel for each other. The energy of our connections is not just between lovers or family members, but between people - in community, in friendships, in the world. How wonderful!!!

Yes. It is a rather personal matter, so I'll keep it to myself. I will say this much, my life is forever changed because of it.

No I don't really believe in god or "Spirits" or anything like that I believe in the cold hard facts and science, however I find the story interesting and am more than happy to dive into the explanation of the storys

I wouldn't call it spiritual, but something that is certain to impact my life in a positive way and affect my mental state. I finally threw away and gave away many things I'd been gathering for years. The feeling was very liberating. I'd like to declutter some more, I realised I needed to do that because all the papers and unnecessary stuff had been suffocating me and destroying my mental well being. So yeah, decluttering.

I probably had my most spiritual experience in Rosh Hashana services on Monday, being in the sanctuary with so many people, feeling the presence and the shared concerns of the community. For me, spirituality is not about a sense of the supernatural but about the power of the combined presence of God in a community. I felt more hope and a greater sense of agency and clarity in that setting than I have in a while.

I marvel in my cat. Izzy is Gods perfect creation. I remember the blank canvas she was when she arrived in South Perth. She didn’t meow. She didn’t purr. She was a perfectly behaved long haired domestic cat with a large Jewish nose. Sometimes she took a lovely photo but more often than not she looked a little strange. All black and white fur, and striking green-yellow eyes. The cat she is now is unrecognisable to that kitten 6 years ago. She has her own mind and own opinions. She has a rigid schedule and communicates very clearly upwards about what she expects. We know her different meows, stares and tail quivers. She meets us on the top of the stairs when we come home at the end of the day. Giving feedback. She’s sharp as a tack. She can hear the click of the laser toy and the quiet crinkle of the treat bag from across the room. She know how to play us off against each other, and which heartstrings to pull on to get what she wants. I watch her sleep on my bed, both of us perfectly still, and I fix on her endless breath in and out. In and out. In that moment my mind is quiet and I love her deeply, so much so that it hurts. But every now and then I realise her life is going to be shorter than mine, and I will one day have to experience the agony of her passing and years void of her. I cry ugly quiet tears before I go to sleep. The only thing that saves that knowledge from drowning me in pain is the honest belief that she has been loved by me to her very bones every single day that she’s been mine.

Talking about death with my sister and parents. It has helped me release control and appreciate what I have

Swimming in the Adriatic Sea behind our hotel in Dubrovnik. Feeling my strength and my vulnerability, a sense of at-oneness with the salt water. Making the choice to swim, noticing excitement mixed with fear—asking a life-guard to watch over me, thinking that I won’t get this opportunity again. These days, I often remind myself to seize a moment, immerse myself in an experience, appreciating, that at age 70, I still have the vigor, desire, and curiosity for new immersive experiences. The mindfulness of aging—the awareness that this is the “last part of my life”.

I have asked the Universe a million times why my amazing brother died of Covid19, and now why my mom has cancer ... The answers seem to be very sutle, as if for me to interpret. When it felt like my spirit was broken, I realized I have become more tolerant, and maybe more compassionate.

Every sunset and every sunrise. The Pacific sky, the elastic expanse of the horizon on the days when the smog hides northward and the clouds bellow their absense in a smooth orange howl. The impossible peach-purple of the Mojave sun, refracted through buoyant ice cream cumuli and the brush-stroke wisps of cirrus, framed by the glacially carved tombs of giants smooth and sharp. Every long, "lonely" drive. Pipes Canyon. Borrego Springs. Every moment on two wheels, an explosive ballet on pavement and dust, a conversation with the earth and sky mediated only by textiles and plexiglass. When Everything is so so Quiet I don't think I can go back to my old life. So much has been burned away and rotted and grown back only to wither but this is not even that, this is the equivalent of a concrete geode, a soul cracked open and shattered, knolled and polished and reset, into a wire scaffolding in a meadow's undergrowth; studded with haphazardly glinting gemstones, welcoming the spontaneous calligraphy of the moss and the saplings. Next year, I'll probably be talking about art again; I'm back on that train after a dry spell. Heck, I can easily do both.

I feel as if I've lost my spirituality. I don't connect to prayer or services. I have no desire to go to my temple. I'm worried I won't have a community if I can't find a way to reconnect.

My boyfriend has done several Psilocybin journeys. I did not. And I was scared that It now seems possible to have a very obvious spiritual awakening. my boyfriend has started to do psilocybin journeys, and I was scared that the outcome would be bad (he would realize he didn’t wanna be with me, his cognitive function would be lessened, his personality would change). Instead, he became more grounded and loving me more and saying it and his friends were able to unlock physical and mental obstacles. That possibility is a spiritual awakening…

I recently ran a 10k, and for the first time in my life experienced "runner's high". I still don't love running, but I certainly plan to keep it up!

I would say maybe a spiritual experience for me this year was more of a practice than a singular moment. I started journaling consistently (for a couple months it was multiple times a week) and specifically I started my moment meditation by the beach. Even though it was winter and the weather was more iffy... It was after failing my first attempt at the written exam and I was jobless and directionless... Changed therapists around that time too. Because it was winter and days were shorter it meant I got out by like 5pm for sunset. The "experience" of doing these sunset sessions was really grounding and gave me space for holding my emotions Gave me space for music and play and loving my body and connecting with movement in ways I thought I forgot because of all the choreo I've been doing. It also created structured time for reflection. Routine where I had none. Helped me just be.

My mom became ill with an infection. I stayed with her for several weeks and helped her be well. I thought she was a goner! But she bounded back over the course of a few months. Then I noticed I was doing a lot of that as a retired person. I nursed poor old Jack before he died in May. I also took care of some old dogs and cats while visiting and caring for little Maxwell. I discovered that caring for other sentient beings is something I like to do. So how is this spiritual? There is some element of caring for the spirit, of bringing together two souls, of keeping a person’s hopes up as they recuperate. We give of ourselves for the benefit of another life. We approach death and in so doing appreciate life as a fragile condition. It reminds me that I’m going to die sometime. Caring for the sick and the old reminds me that my own life is not limitless. My body is sore a lot of the time. I stopped being a runner this year. This provokes the question-what is this all about, anyway? Well?!

I watched the moon rise over the ocean with my granddaughter. We sat in the sand together for a couple hours, quietly talking in the darkness, and laughing. But we were silent when the light first broke over the nearly-still ocean. The clouds were grouped in a way that mostly obscured the orb of the moon, so instead it seemed like a tongue of fire, vast in the distance and mysterious in form. Everything about that episode felt like healing.

I’ve been to more concerts, including Paul McCartney age 79 in Oakland on May 6. Music is the root of my spiritual journey. I also jammed with my old ETC rock band mates in August. My fantasy is retirement will give me more time for music spirituality.

Again, it is art that elicits whatever spirituality is within me. A great episode, film, novel, song.... This last year is no different.

Probably the most spiritual thing I did was to observe Sukkot with Randy in our new sukkah last year. He built a beautiful sukkah, and I cut the skhakh from my quine bush and the hedge, and decorated the sukkah with gourds and lights and things. We were able to eat meals in it most nights, and do blessings and study. And we had a few guests, even.

My spiritual experience happened this past May. My dog of 18 years was put down after his health continued to deteriorate. When we were at the vet and he was sedated just before being euthanized, he looked at me and told me through his eyes that it was time. I felt the connection that he thanked me, loved me & knew he was loved, and told me that it was okay to say goodbye. He was my baby and that was one of my hardest goodbyes.

Spirituality involves the recognition of a feeling or sense or belief that there is something greater than myself, something more to being human than sensory experience, and that the greater whole of which we are part is cosmic or divine in nature. If there is a greater whole that is cosmic or divine, I do not believe that. I do not believe anything cosmic to be personal; I do not believe in the divine. I like looking at art. I like walking in the woods. I like reading beautiful literature. I like making art. Is any of this spiritual? Not to me. I think being human is pretty good ... probably even good enough.

I don’t think so. I have felt pretty divorced from my spiritual life the past few years. Unless sitting in a lot of grief and anger count as spiritual experiences.

My mother was hospitalized with Covid-19 for 50+ days. She was absolutely surrounded by prayer warriors, all around the US. She was in an excellent hospital, with amazing caregivers. We nearly lost her, and doctors are still amazed by how well she came through her ordeal. It was an incredibly stressful and difficult time. I absolutely know that God was on her side, that He has more for her to do here on earth. Through all of the trauma and uncertainty, I felt that she would make it, that God was reassuring me. An acquaintance in Georgia also was hospitalized and went through much of what mom did. This woman had underlying health conditions that have made her recovery much more difficult. But with this woman, I also felt that God was not done with her yet. We live life, we do our thing, we go through our days. It's so easy to forget that God is there, and He is talking to us. When we take the time to pause and listen, He can provide a sense of peace and calm. From an entirely different viewpoint, we visited Cumberland MD this summer. There is a tiny little cabin that was used by George Washington when he was in the Cumberland area during the Revolutionary War. While we were not able to go into the cabin, I found it simply AMAZING that I was touching a wall, a door, a porch rail, a fence that George Washington actually touched also. That was such an incredibly moving experience for me. It felt surreal.

No, I would not describe myself as a particularly spiritual person or very spiritually aware. I have noticed a need to get out on the land more though, and to disconnect and hit reset. And this may be a reflection of my spiritual cup being empty.

I woke up in the middle of the night and had to cry and process a load of loss and grief. Went outdoors to my “shed”where I do my writing and meet with my spiritual mentees. Hours passed as first sobs moved thru me, then a lot of protest to G!d. Then quiet. Acceptance. Writing it all down. Insights. Drained at sunrise, I went back to bed.

I completely ceased to believe in any sort of god or hazy superconsciousness that humans might invest with desirable qualities. I became completely persuaded by the idea that the observable world is the only world.

Sexuality can be a spiritual experience; non-monogamy and exploring my attraction to women and non-binary people. It is giving me clarity in other areas of my life.

This past year I became a parent, and I think parenting is a spiritual experience, even when it's hard, especially when it's hard. There's nothing that forces you to let go of your own selfishness, to become humble, to serve something greater than yourself, to surrender, like a baby. I try to show up as my best self for my son in a way that I never would for just myself. And there are these moments of spiritually ecstatic joy. Every time our one year old smiles or breaks into giggles or falls asleep on my chest with his little head nuzzled into the crook of my neck, I just feel this profound heart melting joy. I understand now why every religion uses the metaphor of God as a parent, that "He" loves us because we are "His" children. Maybe God's love is even greater and more profound than that, but as humans, this may be the greatest and most profound love we can ever know, the love of a parent for a child.

I had a few moments meditating when I felt both here, there and nowhere. This has not happened before or since and was incredible. I guess that was a moment of transcendence.

I just don't do this anymore. I used to be really interested in the spiritual, but now I'm just here. Doing my thing. I still think the stars are pretty, but they don't make me feel connected to a higher power.

Traveling around Italy all summer had been pretty spiritual and cultural for me. Cinque Terre and Bergamo we're pretty awesome. Now I'm in Thailand, which is also beautiful and enriching, calming. Maybe I'll find out more about Buddhism while I'm here and take some of those home with me. Going to the elephant sanctuary has got to be one of the top spiritual experiences of the year as well.

NOPE

I have started to feel the affects of operating with lower frequencies around me consistently. I have started to see what my choices throughout my life have now led me toward. I have started to change what I allow into my space, mentally and physically, in order to keep my vibrations higher. I died, in terms of my ego, I died this year and came back to life a new man. A man in which I had little confidence in, but a man I know will be healthier and more efficient than the man before him.

I deepened my relationship with Thomas Hübl, author of “Healing Collective Trauma” and I started a relationship with Nicholas Janni, author of "Leader as Healer.” This led me to participate in a Global Healing Movement summit (9/28-10/6/21) with participants worldwide in dialogue about integrating intergenerational and cultural wounds. It also aligns with a shift in my writing that now focuses on internal healing work as much as work in the world.

I now have more time to play with my artistic side: I am enjoying tapping into that part of my personality that had gone waaaaaaay too long without release. Even if something doesn't work out out quite like I imagined, I'm still pleased with the try & result. I plan on doing much more of that this coming year!

I can’t say that I feel I’ve had spiritual experiences or awakenings. Politically and socially I’ve given in to my feeling that the USA is deeply scaring me.

Times when I've had to make a hard decision or been worried and have felt God closer to me 🙏🏻

Coleman, Barbara H., and I went to see "Harmony," an important musical in New York City in April. Written by Barry Manilow and Bruce Sussman. It was put on by the National Yiddish Folksbiene Theatre. It is about the Comedian Harmonists, the most famous group in pre-WWII Germany. Cantor Roman Cycowski, of blessed memory, was in the group before he was a cantor. He eventually came to Congregation Beth Israel in San Francisco, California and taught my husband, Paul, of blessed memory, his Bar Mitzvah. He was a wonderful man who had a beautiful voice. The show was important to me to honor my husband and our beloved synagogue which has just merged and is now Am Tikvah, People of Hope.

I've been trying to meditate but mostly with the effect of indulging my ever-present curiosity without gaining much equanimity. Rejoining the Harmonie Municipale (my wind orchestra) helped me realize how much I missed the "communion" aspect of organized religion in the sense of converging on a higher and common creation mediated by human thought, how important it is also to other people. How making music with others has often served that purpose for me. Their welcome back was warming to a chilled soul.