Friendship: How it has opened my eyes to a wider spirituality

Hello readers,

    At the bottom of the page is a link to a video that corresponds to this topic and may better explain my thoughts. So check it out! One thing I feel gets lost in the focus to become more attuned with spirituality is the friendships outside of the path you follow. We all understand how a coven or spiritual group and even family can have an influence on your spiritual growth. But how often do you consider your non-spiritual friends or those not of the same path? Or those who are still searching for their path?

So for me, other then the occasional theology discussion with my non-pagan friends, there hasn't been a large or noticeable impact on my life. Also, at my age, most of my friends have determined what path they have chosen to follow.  Other then expanding their knowledge, they are all fairly well rounded on the spiritual front.

I have a friend who I have known a few years and who is younger then me who has not determined what their path is but is very intrigued with the metaphysical and asks me many questions about my own path and things about metaphysics and my opinions on it. I really don't get these types of questions because, though I have been a witch for years, I am certainly no expert and I am eclectic so my path is my own, not one following a religion.

This friend asked me questions big and small about my path, what my beliefs are, and some of the questions I had not really been asked before. We didn't just talk about the superficial of the question with a quick answer but had long conversations about each topic. This allowed me to understand my beliefs on a deeper level that I hadn't considered before.

    For example, one of the things that are a hot topic is our discussion about dreams, astral travel, and lucid dreaming. My friend can almost never remember his dreams, while I dream almost every night and can remember most of them, including lucid dreaming. As for astral travel, I am still not very good at it. So I was able to discuss the basics with them and how to take small steps to get to their goal. First step, trying to remember your dreams. Use a journal and write them down immediately as you wake up. Do this for weeks and months until you notice a change. When you realize you are dreaming, attempt to change things small rather then big. Such as picking up a glass you see rather then ignoring it as just background imagery. Stuff like that. Things I had already been doing for some time.

   My friends excitement at these new ideas, since they are new to metaphysical things and outside the box ideas, is so refreshing and has given me a better connection to the things I believe. There have been times I have asked, why do I believe t his anyways? And having these conversations not only help them, they help me. Another example is that I have been in a lull with my tarot readings or connecting with tarot in general. One day they asked for me to pull a few cards, which turned into HOURS of tarot readings from me. This got me reconnected to why I love them so much. My friend is now my tester to see how quickly I connect with a deck if I do at all.

     I have wonderful friends in the craft I wouldn't change at all, but those friends outside the craft I have grown to appreciate even more at time because they just don't accept a simple answer, but require a full explanation that is in depth. This friend has also got me excited about getting back into nature. Not to mention they also are one of the few who understand my way of thinking which can be hard to understand for many, even my own family and husband ha. This helps relieves stress which allows my mind to focus on more important things.

   To round it up, don't forget those friends who are outside the practise of your spirituality and don't allow yourself to become stagnate in what you have always enjoyed before because sometimes you just need the right person in your life to, well, jump start your spiritual batteries.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OU_ArTz1iq0