Donald L. Hicks's Blog
July 17, 2015
The Seven Signs of Spiritual Development
“Am I spiritually advancing?”
“Am I taking the right steps to raise my spiritual vibrations and make the shift?”
“Am I reading the right books? Is this meditation or yoga course really helping me?”
From time to time, many of us find ourselves asking these questions. With all the books, workshops, and the plethora of spiritual growth courses that are now available, it’s sometimes hard to determine if we’re making progress along our spiritual path, or are just walking in place.
To help, here are seven simple guideposts that can help you gauge your spiritual growth and determine whether you’ve moved ahead, or are standing still.
1. Inner peace and contentment:
The first sign should resonate with anyone who’s experiencing spiritual growth.
Throughout our lives, many of us can identify with feeling a "void" or "emptiness" inside. In the past, and especially before turning to spirituality, most of us temporarily filled this emptiness through activities like purchasing a new car, a new home, buying some new gizmo, or indulging in food, or watching TV.
As a person spiritually develops, however, we find that buying a new flat screen or the latest-greatest new espresso machine doesn’t have the same sense of fulfillment it once held. Instead, when we feel that emptiness beginning to return, we turn to activities that connect us to our Higher Self and the Divine. Spiritual pursuits ground us and provide a sense of completeness that fill the void.
It’s worth mentioning here, that these activities will vary for each of us. For some people, inner peace and fulfillment is found through peaceful meditation or yoga. Others will turn to Nature, engaging in gardening or walks through the woods or the local park. And others will find fulfillment by volunteering at local shelters or food banks, or tapping into their creativity through writing, cooking, or setting up an easel on the beach.
There is no wrong path to spiritual fulfillment; simply different paths. But there is a common denominator: “material” things have become “immaterial”, and the “the things of Earth will grow strangely dim…”.
2. Empathy for others:
The second sign of spiritual advancement is feeling a greater empathy for animals. Where we once viewed animals as “family pets”, we begin to view them more as simply “family”. We feel a greater empathy and love toward wildlife, and are quick to not only “stop and smell the roses”, but also to water them. We also feel more sympathy and empathy toward people facing hardship, and may have difficulty viewing disasters or wars on the news. This is tightly connected with all the other seven signs because, as we recognize and embrace Oneness and Nature, we begin feeling a deeper sense of sympathy and empathy toward all other souls.
3. Changing diet:
Because of this same connection and the spiritual change occurring within our complete being -- spiritually, emotionally, and physically -- we often find ourselves changing our diet and decreasing the amount of meat we eat, or abstaining from it completely. Where we once craved sweets or processed foods, we begin to seek natural foods and fresh fruits or vegetables (which may lead to activities such as gardening). Our body may also become less tolerant to man-made medications, and encourage us to seek out homeopathic remedies or healing through natural sources.
4. Becoming less judgmental:
The fourth sign is marked by becoming less judgmental. We recognize that all people walk their own path, and even others may be spiritually asleep, and there is no benefit in judging them. Instead of condemning, we strive to spread Light and Love and live as an example.
5. New friends:
We also may end old friendships, and merge new ones with people who lift each other up, rather than cutting others down. As our awareness increases, we find it difficult to be around people who submerge themselves in fear and drama. Instead, we seek others who carry the Light.
6. Violent aversions:
As our spiritual growth progresses, we find ourselves avoiding violence and loud or chaotic environments that decrease our growth. We may find that TV shows that we once enjoyed (such as the news) or violent movies or video games are no longer palatable to us. We begin to avoid social settings that focus on division, and instead seek environments that encourage unity.
7. Spiritual gifts:
Last (but far from least), we likely develop and commonly use intuition, and may develop other psychic abilities such as clairvoyance, clairaudience, telepathy or others. We also develop the ability to observe ourselves from outside of ourselves… and observe how we are interacting with Creation. And through this, we become aware that we aware.
How did you do?
If you identified with just 1 of these 7 steps, you’ve started your journey. If you identified with 2 to 4, you’ve found your path but your journey is still young. If you identified with 5-6, you’re well on your way to enlightenment. If you identified with all 7, you already bear the Light, and might just change the world.
Namaste, and with much love,
Donald L Hicks
“Am I taking the right steps to raise my spiritual vibrations and make the shift?”
“Am I reading the right books? Is this meditation or yoga course really helping me?”
From time to time, many of us find ourselves asking these questions. With all the books, workshops, and the plethora of spiritual growth courses that are now available, it’s sometimes hard to determine if we’re making progress along our spiritual path, or are just walking in place.
To help, here are seven simple guideposts that can help you gauge your spiritual growth and determine whether you’ve moved ahead, or are standing still.
1. Inner peace and contentment:
The first sign should resonate with anyone who’s experiencing spiritual growth.
Throughout our lives, many of us can identify with feeling a "void" or "emptiness" inside. In the past, and especially before turning to spirituality, most of us temporarily filled this emptiness through activities like purchasing a new car, a new home, buying some new gizmo, or indulging in food, or watching TV.
As a person spiritually develops, however, we find that buying a new flat screen or the latest-greatest new espresso machine doesn’t have the same sense of fulfillment it once held. Instead, when we feel that emptiness beginning to return, we turn to activities that connect us to our Higher Self and the Divine. Spiritual pursuits ground us and provide a sense of completeness that fill the void.
It’s worth mentioning here, that these activities will vary for each of us. For some people, inner peace and fulfillment is found through peaceful meditation or yoga. Others will turn to Nature, engaging in gardening or walks through the woods or the local park. And others will find fulfillment by volunteering at local shelters or food banks, or tapping into their creativity through writing, cooking, or setting up an easel on the beach.
There is no wrong path to spiritual fulfillment; simply different paths. But there is a common denominator: “material” things have become “immaterial”, and the “the things of Earth will grow strangely dim…”.
2. Empathy for others:
The second sign of spiritual advancement is feeling a greater empathy for animals. Where we once viewed animals as “family pets”, we begin to view them more as simply “family”. We feel a greater empathy and love toward wildlife, and are quick to not only “stop and smell the roses”, but also to water them. We also feel more sympathy and empathy toward people facing hardship, and may have difficulty viewing disasters or wars on the news. This is tightly connected with all the other seven signs because, as we recognize and embrace Oneness and Nature, we begin feeling a deeper sense of sympathy and empathy toward all other souls.
3. Changing diet:
Because of this same connection and the spiritual change occurring within our complete being -- spiritually, emotionally, and physically -- we often find ourselves changing our diet and decreasing the amount of meat we eat, or abstaining from it completely. Where we once craved sweets or processed foods, we begin to seek natural foods and fresh fruits or vegetables (which may lead to activities such as gardening). Our body may also become less tolerant to man-made medications, and encourage us to seek out homeopathic remedies or healing through natural sources.
4. Becoming less judgmental:
The fourth sign is marked by becoming less judgmental. We recognize that all people walk their own path, and even others may be spiritually asleep, and there is no benefit in judging them. Instead of condemning, we strive to spread Light and Love and live as an example.
5. New friends:
We also may end old friendships, and merge new ones with people who lift each other up, rather than cutting others down. As our awareness increases, we find it difficult to be around people who submerge themselves in fear and drama. Instead, we seek others who carry the Light.
6. Violent aversions:
As our spiritual growth progresses, we find ourselves avoiding violence and loud or chaotic environments that decrease our growth. We may find that TV shows that we once enjoyed (such as the news) or violent movies or video games are no longer palatable to us. We begin to avoid social settings that focus on division, and instead seek environments that encourage unity.
7. Spiritual gifts:
Last (but far from least), we likely develop and commonly use intuition, and may develop other psychic abilities such as clairvoyance, clairaudience, telepathy or others. We also develop the ability to observe ourselves from outside of ourselves… and observe how we are interacting with Creation. And through this, we become aware that we aware.
How did you do?
If you identified with just 1 of these 7 steps, you’ve started your journey. If you identified with 2 to 4, you’ve found your path but your journey is still young. If you identified with 5-6, you’re well on your way to enlightenment. If you identified with all 7, you already bear the Light, and might just change the world.
Namaste, and with much love,
Donald L Hicks
