I know we’re hitting some heavy topics right now, but really freedom is so important in spirituality. And when you’re coming from a strict religious background, re-learning how to be free can be difficult, messy, painful… less than pleasant basically.
And honestly, if you know anything about the Irish pantheon, and Brigid in particular – you know they value people making free choices. I mean, they don’t always agree with the choices, but free will is important.
As I said in the caption – Braveheart is a film about Scottish attempts at independence from England. It’s not historically accurate, at all from what I can see, other than William Wallace existed. But it was at least partly filmed in Trim Castle, so feck it.
Freedom
But freedom is an important concept to consider in spirituality. And fundamentally, if your spiritual choices aren’t free, then are they real choices? So let’s have a chat about freedom. And how we can learn to be free.
Because freedom isn’t always a choice. When we talk about spiritual freedom, if you have never had spiritual freedom, you need to learn how to be free. Let’s explore.
There’s a basic one in that a state of freedom means you are not imprisone. Or have your movements restricted in any way. Or indeed, that you are not enslaved. Now, while you might think that this is pretty straightforward, have a think about it.
Do you have to power to change your life? To make fundamental decisions about the food you eat, the way you spend any money you have, where you live, who you socialise with, your education? Do you have the freedom to explore new experiences?
Many people will be reading this and objecting. What about the cost of these things? What about family? Friends? Social pressure?
All fair. And all affect freedom. But if it’s cost causing you not to explore alternative spiritual routes, then it’s not spiritual freedom that you lack. It’s money. And yes, there are people, even in developed nations, that don’t have internet access. Other than air, there’s very little in this world that doesn’t cost.
Types of freedom
So let’s look at the types of freedom. And how you can learn to be free.
You know the way they say “money doesn’t buy happiness”? I mean, it’s true. But only to a point! Money can buy freedom. Money can buy a lot in this world. This is why I talk about abundance sometimes. And not having money restricts more than you’d think. It affects the way you talk, plan, engage and live your life.
If you’re worrying about where your next meal is coming from, you’re not worrying about freedom of expression. Or indeed your spiritual life.
So, be wary of people who say money doesn’t buy happiness. It’s sort of true, but only after a certain point.
But spiritual freedom is something different. I mean, just cos you’re poor, doesn’t mean someone’s controlling your thoughts, right? Well…
Here’s where a type of freedom inherent in critical thinking comes in. Propaganda is all around us. Hell, there are people who will claim that this post is propaganda of a sort. I haven’t been hiding that I’m a Brigid follower and my politics and my spirituality are inextricably interlinked. So, consider this propaganda if you wish. And explore critical thinking skills to learn to be free from propaganda and how to deal with it!
Critical thinking is the intellectually disciplined process of actively and skillfuly conceptualizing, applying, analysing, synthesizing, and/or evaluating information gathered from, or generated by, observation, experience, reflection, reasoning, or communication, as a guide to belief and action.
What is Critical Thinking? — University of Louisville Ideas To Action
I’m not describing anyone as sheeple though. Anyone who has sat down with me over a pint or a cuppa will tell you I love a good debate. If someone is preaching, or claiming to be a spiritual leader yet doesn’t allow questioning… well, that’s not promoting spiritual freedom. In fact, that’s one of the hallmarks of a cult.
Spiritual freedom
For me, spiritual freedom is the ability to explore and express your spirituality in safety. That means you are not in danger of losing your job, your income, your social life, your family, your children, your life as a result of exploring said spiritual freedom.
I read fairly often of pagans in the US that are extremely private about their spirituality because they don’t feel safe to express it. Now, of course, it’s not just the US. There are plenty of places where all sorts of religions are not safe to express. Judaism, Christianity, Islam… all the majors have been, and still are, oppressed in certain areas of the world. I will say in most of Western Europe and North America, Christianity is most certainly not oppressed. So don’t start, ok?
If you have access to a library for the first time in your life but are afraid to look at alternative spiritualities – that’s not freedom.
Maybe you’ve just escaped from a rigid spiritual upbringing but find yourself still adhering to certain elements of the framework out of habit.
Or, like me, you might find that things you thought were perfectly normal ways of living, are actually restrictions imposed by religion and you don’t want to do that any more.
These are all examples of lack of freedom. These are all examples of ways we can learn to be free again.
What does spiritual freedom look like?
For me, spiritual freedom means a number of things:
- I am free to explore spiritualities that I was not brought up in.
- I have the means to explore these spiritualities.
- I am responsible for my own actions.
- My conscience is my guide to right relationship, ethical behaviour and general living.
- I can take in knowledge, information and guidance from other sources, but the final decision on anything rests with me.
- There is no one else who can force or instruct me on how to behave. The choice is mine.
Now, I get it, this sounds wonderful. But it took a lot of work to get here. For example, one of the steps in AA is “Let go and let God”. If I’m responsible for all of my decisions and behaviours, how could I incorporate divine actions into this? This was all part of my 2learn to be free” plan.
That bits easy for me: there are things that I can control (my responses, actions, behaviours etc). there are things I can’t control:
- The weather.
- Other people. (I mean, I could, but it’s not ethical to do so…)
- Major corporations.
- The sea.
- Religious rules.
Do you get the idea?
How to differentiate and what can you do?
One of the first steps I took was to figure out what was important to me and what I could control. There are those that would say I don’t always control my behaviour very well… well that’s their opinion. But, figuring out that there are things in this world that I can’t be held responsible for, was BIG for me.
I couldn’t be held responsible for other people’s behaviour.
I am not responsible for how major corporations, news outlets, newpapers, etc, etc, etc handle information.
In reality, I am a very small fish in this world and my arena of control is – relatively speaking – very small.
Learn to be free
This is all hugely liberating, but also hugely terrifying.
How do you be a good person, if there is no list of rules to adhere to? (Think 10 Commandments or something like that)
Well, you have to figure out a) what standards you’ll hold yourself to and b) how you will hold yourself to them.
Like I said, not easy. But worthwhile work. Now, if you want some support and guidance on this path, then, possible my new course, First Steps on Brigid’s Path is for you. And I do want people to engage with that, obviously.
But you can do this alone. There is nothing stopping you.
There are all sorts of resources on the internet to help with defining what’s important to you. How to develop critical thinking skills. Ways to divine for yourself the standards you will hold yourself to.
For me, there is a fundamental requirement in “freedom” that we take responsibility for ourselves. And it might be, that in the end, you find the standards you hold yourself to are in close alignment to one of the major religions. Maybe even the religious structure you grew up in and wanted to break free from.
Excellent.
Because religious structure and spiritual practices that you have come to after self exploration and study and contemplation will always be more valuable that just slavishly following someone else’s standards, rules and limitations.
