On Spirituality and Addiction
Yesterday I came across an article on "Spirituality of Addiction". The reaction was one of..."what?", disbelief, surprise. Do you mean to tell me there is spirituality on - of - addiction - one of the major causes of suffering in this world, a hell of hells?
The author, a young woman by the name of Maria Mooney, link here, talks about addiction as... "Addiction is a disease of isolation, and as the individual sinks deeper and deeper into the disease, he/she becomes more isolated from others and oneself as deeply rooted feelings of inner insufficiency and not being “enough” create the overwhelming need to use."...So a 'dis-ease' of isolation: that is deep.
She continues: "A lack of connection to authentic self, important others, a higher power, and the larger community can each contribute to feelings of isolation and emptiness, low self-worth, and a pervasive sense of unhappiness that can contribute to and/or perpetuate addictive behaviors." Ooomph!
So, may I ask: if isolation, to isolate, is a disease, is the opposite, wellness? The term "iso" in "isolation" comes from "equal", "up to par", "similar". And if "late" would be used in the sense of "side", as in Spanish "lado", then, similar or equal sides are taken apart, peeled away from each other, in the term. Is that then the source of the pain of isolation?: the division, separation, antithesis, contra-position, juxtaposition of equals, and/or, the separation of the 'self' from "within",the dis-integration of the totality of oneself?
Brings to mind images of jail, that of being isolated in a very small space, separated from others, or what about where freedom of movement is unavailable, as in death row isolation - solitary confinement, that is. Those inmates suffer so deeply that many "lose their minds", or attempt suicide in many ways, and become mentally ill , beyond that if already so. A quote from William Fisher, Prism, on incarceration: "Solitary confinement does one thing, it breaks a man’s will to live and he ends up deteriorating."
So, two contexts: becoming isolated from others, and becoming isolated from oneself ("one's-self"), leads to all these horrible consequences.
As regards one's isolation, maybe that consists of not seeing what one does, what one is, what one feels, or dreams about. Or, maybe it is about not taking one's feelings and intuitions in regard. Or, maybe it is about living in shame, in hate of self, self-"discount", etc., etc., so painful is the nature of this rejection that an anesthetic is needed, and that's the "visible" aspect of the addiction itself, whatever that might be. And like the iceberg image, the tip of the iceberg is the hurt and/or nuisance to others, but the real pain is just slightly below the surface of the "add-icted".
Wow.
What's the other side, then? What is there to look out for as salvation?
The author brings the following: "If we can connect to who we really are and face the dark parts of ourselves that we invest so much energy into repressing, we would have the opportunity to shine a light onto our shadow selves, those dark corners of our minds where we store trauma and mad ideas, and experience them for what they are in the moment without judgment or denial."...and..."Being of service is a profound way that recovering individuals often give back and regain a sense of self-worth and purpose as they work toward maintaining long-term sobriety. This suggests that aspects of spirituality, including healthy interpersonal relationships AND feeling deeply connected to others in profound ways, contribute to overall feelings of health, well-being, and meaning in one’s life."
That is a lot to munch on. Take for example, healthy relationships are a spiritual practice...ahhh? Or, feeling deeply connected to others? That is neat! (Pssst, does that mean that I don't have to be praying the rosary all the time...? Yippee!!)
Confirming these points, Krista Tippett and Brené Brown's conversation on Nov 21 address the issue/s: check out "http://www.onbeing.org/program/brene-brown-on-vulnerability/4928"
"...we are hard wired for connection: physically, neurobiologically, spiritually...the fear and the pain of disconnection will always be real...that fear or pain that we've done or failed to do something that makes us not 'connectable'...unworthy of love and belonging".
Yep. Deep. But clear. Addiction IS-a-HUGE soul hurt; a crack in the soul. And the key to healing is in the spirit, beginning with...loving our reflection on each other...as it comes back to me from you, plain and simple, without adornments or alibis, and...my, our, connecting to the mirror that sends...in an embrace.
The author, a young woman by the name of Maria Mooney, link here, talks about addiction as... "Addiction is a disease of isolation, and as the individual sinks deeper and deeper into the disease, he/she becomes more isolated from others and oneself as deeply rooted feelings of inner insufficiency and not being “enough” create the overwhelming need to use."...So a 'dis-ease' of isolation: that is deep.
She continues: "A lack of connection to authentic self, important others, a higher power, and the larger community can each contribute to feelings of isolation and emptiness, low self-worth, and a pervasive sense of unhappiness that can contribute to and/or perpetuate addictive behaviors." Ooomph!
So, may I ask: if isolation, to isolate, is a disease, is the opposite, wellness? The term "iso" in "isolation" comes from "equal", "up to par", "similar". And if "late" would be used in the sense of "side", as in Spanish "lado", then, similar or equal sides are taken apart, peeled away from each other, in the term. Is that then the source of the pain of isolation?: the division, separation, antithesis, contra-position, juxtaposition of equals, and/or, the separation of the 'self' from "within",the dis-integration of the totality of oneself?
Brings to mind images of jail, that of being isolated in a very small space, separated from others, or what about where freedom of movement is unavailable, as in death row isolation - solitary confinement, that is. Those inmates suffer so deeply that many "lose their minds", or attempt suicide in many ways, and become mentally ill , beyond that if already so. A quote from William Fisher, Prism, on incarceration: "Solitary confinement does one thing, it breaks a man’s will to live and he ends up deteriorating."
So, two contexts: becoming isolated from others, and becoming isolated from oneself ("one's-self"), leads to all these horrible consequences.
As regards one's isolation, maybe that consists of not seeing what one does, what one is, what one feels, or dreams about. Or, maybe it is about not taking one's feelings and intuitions in regard. Or, maybe it is about living in shame, in hate of self, self-"discount", etc., etc., so painful is the nature of this rejection that an anesthetic is needed, and that's the "visible" aspect of the addiction itself, whatever that might be. And like the iceberg image, the tip of the iceberg is the hurt and/or nuisance to others, but the real pain is just slightly below the surface of the "add-icted".
Wow.
What's the other side, then? What is there to look out for as salvation?
The author brings the following: "If we can connect to who we really are and face the dark parts of ourselves that we invest so much energy into repressing, we would have the opportunity to shine a light onto our shadow selves, those dark corners of our minds where we store trauma and mad ideas, and experience them for what they are in the moment without judgment or denial."...and..."Being of service is a profound way that recovering individuals often give back and regain a sense of self-worth and purpose as they work toward maintaining long-term sobriety. This suggests that aspects of spirituality, including healthy interpersonal relationships AND feeling deeply connected to others in profound ways, contribute to overall feelings of health, well-being, and meaning in one’s life."
That is a lot to munch on. Take for example, healthy relationships are a spiritual practice...ahhh? Or, feeling deeply connected to others? That is neat! (Pssst, does that mean that I don't have to be praying the rosary all the time...? Yippee!!)
Confirming these points, Krista Tippett and Brené Brown's conversation on Nov 21 address the issue/s: check out "http://www.onbeing.org/program/brene-brown-on-vulnerability/4928"
"...we are hard wired for connection: physically, neurobiologically, spiritually...the fear and the pain of disconnection will always be real...that fear or pain that we've done or failed to do something that makes us not 'connectable'...unworthy of love and belonging".
Yep. Deep. But clear. Addiction IS-a-HUGE soul hurt; a crack in the soul. And the key to healing is in the spirit, beginning with...loving our reflection on each other...as it comes back to me from you, plain and simple, without adornments or alibis, and...my, our, connecting to the mirror that sends...in an embrace.
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