I've done a bit of both - i.e., spiritual fast food, and adherence to a specific religious or relational framework. I find that - without claiming to be an authority in these matters - i feel a kind of "clutter" when i hop around too much. However, in these aquarian times it is also a time in which certain great leaders will be found lacking, if only to nudge each of us into greater levels of personal discernment, taking responsibility for our own choices. There are people who are equally spiritual who are simply serving in an organization like the UN, or being a stalwart neighbor, or even begging on the sidewalks. Many people are called and do take on these practices to set a new tone for their life, not being so enmeshed in the dramas of typical ambitions. These practices you mention help us refine our desires and experience a new kind of fulfillment. There are shadows on all our paths, and contemporary folk are within their rights to be skeptical of the group pressures or cultish standards. Some people shun intensity, which is part and parcel of a path. Some people need intensity to feel alive and thus push the drama, the discipline, or the battle, depending. I think fast-food spirituality is a symptom of openness to different perspectives, which can be a healthy indication of growth beyond certain doctrines or conformity to accepting what is dished up.
On May 6, 2025 Kathryn wrote :