I asked Suzan to do a reading for me one day when I was in Vancouver. I didn’t “believe” in her readings but found the insights she offered other people for whom she did readings to be remarkably insightful. If nothing else, Suzan Guest was a genius in her use of metaphor.  I found many insights in the reading she did for me – more insights than I have gained over the years from psychotherapy, self-help books or my teaching of graduate-level courses in the field of psychology.

Spirituality as a Frozen or Active State

One segment of the reading concerned my chakras. Coming out of the Sanskrit tradition, chakras represent energy systems in my body. Each chakra is also associated with a specific color. While observing my chakras, Suzanne reported being shocked by my seventh (“Crown”) chakra which was a vivid purple. Suzanne reported that this chakra (which concerns spiritual energy) was not moving. It was frozen in place—suggesting that I am deeply spiritual but am doing nothing with nor am animated by this spiritual energy. Perhaps this is why I keep being attracted to spiritual events and locations—but am not moved to acknowledge or do anything with this spirituality.

This reflection regarding my own frozen chakra has led me to wonder if there is a spiritual life that might exist in a blocked or frozen state, while there might also be a spirituality that is active and energized by our beliefs and values. Perhaps the frozen state is somehow aligned with James’ “once born” status, whereas an energized and active spirituality is somehow aligned with James’ “twice born” status. Xxxxx

Hard and Soft Spiritual Commitment

For many people, spirituality (or at least “being religious”) means attending church service on Sundays or even attending church only on holidays. It might also mean saying prayers at the start of dinner or with children at bedtime. Perhaps an occasional reviewing of biblical passages or saying a prayer in hopes of resolving some ongoing problem. While these actions primarily describe what occurs for those holding a Christian belief, the same applies to many people aligned with other religious faiths. These “believers” are making what might be described as a Soft Commitment to their religion.

What about those who are making a more active commitment to their faith? Those who make sacrifices on behalf of their beliefs. Those who act on behalf of the values and purposes embedded in their religion. These are people who make a Hard Commitment. I am reminded of one of the students enrolled in my graduate school. She is an orthodox Jew who can’t drive a car on the Sabbath (Saturdays. As leaders of a graduate school that is designed for working adults, we scheduled many classes on Saturday and Sunday. This hard commitment student would walk three miles to attend class each Saturday. This student literally exemplifies “walking the talk”—one version of Hard Commitment.

Another of our students attended and provided leadership in a church that owned a coffee shop. All members of the church volunteered to work in the coffee shop for no payment. All of the profit from this coffee shop were directed toward funding of programs to counter sex trafficking in America. These two students exemplify religion in action. I call it “rolling-up-our-sleaves” religion—a second version of Hard Commitment.