The Inner Work

Look within

Often, the first thing we ask a person we haven't seen in a long time is, "How are you?" We don't really think about it deeply and, at times, we're not really expecting a deep response. It is an important question, however.

How are you? When you put emphasis on the how, this question is asking something deeper than how you feel.

Do you know how you are? Do you know your behavioral patterns from another perspective besides your own? Do you know how those patterns affect others? Do you know how these came to be your behavioral patterns?

How are you? When you put emphasis on the are, this question becomes about your state of being, not the word "are" as a modifier.

How are you being right now? How are you existing at the current moment? What does it mean to be?

How are you? When you put emphasis on the you, this question is assuming that there is an entity that can be described as you, but what is you?

All of these questions seem nonsensical because we are not used to going over language with a fine-toothed comb all the time. We use language to communicate things, often simple things, to other people. We are not always having deep philosophical conversations.

This makes me think, though.

So many people nowadays join spiritual traditions for different reasons. Some do it because it's trendy, others do it because they are curious, and others do it because they've seen a lot of movies and they want to be powerful spellcasters.

What are spiritual traditions supposed to be? What are they for?

Spirituality is meant to help the practitioner heal and progress. There are parts of us that need to become whole again, and we need to move beyond our current state to achieve that healing.

Now we can revisit the question, "How are you?" In real spirituality, we have to ponder this question in all its aforementioned nuances.

The inner work is more important than altars, statues, magic, or clout. The inner work is spirituality. Everything else is just toys. If that's all you have, what are you going to do when God takes all your toys?

Magic, brujeria, manifestation - whatever you want to call it can't fix who you are inside. It also can't help you see more clearly, and it sure as hell can't cure you of your demons. To quote Shakespeare, "Hell is empty, and the devils are here." Think of here as within you, not somewhere in the air. Everybody's looking for Satan in music, cartoons, video games, Ouija boards, etc. They're 100% wrong. The demons are in you, and you need to face them, heal them, transmute them.

How are you going to do that? This goes beyond pastors screaming, sweating, doing prayer circles, or throwing their coat over people. This goes beyond holy water, crucifixes, rosary beads, etc. No, this is heartbreaking, gut-wrenching work, and you are not immune from it.

If you want to play with toys, go to a mall or buy some on Amazon. If you want spiritual medicine, you must go within. You must meditate. You must observe yourself first and then everything and everyone around you.

Notice your harmful and destructive patterns. Engage in the hard conversations. Look for help from trusted professionals, if necessary. Do the inner work.

This is something that takes a really long time. As an espiritista, I believe it takes many lifetimes, but in this current incarnation, you must fulfill the mission of your existence.

Is your spirituality helping you do this, or are you always hearing about how to do brujeria, and who is envious of you, or who is a scammer?

Spirituality is about the inner work. It is not about how powerful your spirits are, and how effective your magic is, or how awesome it is when you mount your lwa or orisha.

How are you? That is the question.