Five thousand years ago it was easy to be a religious person. You could take any old rock, start worshipping it. No one would think you where crazy and soon you’d have a bunch of other people worshipping it as well. Job done! Ok well maybe it wasn’t quite that easy. One thing people didn’t have to put up with in more ancient times was a society turned very banal towards any real form of spiritual awakening by the people. Even most main stream religions do not encourage their laymen to do more than pay some small lip-service to the religious institutions themselves, rather than truly help people undergo any form of spiritual growth on a mass yet still personal level.
To confound the problem we live in an extremely fast paced world. Where once people wanting to spend time exploring the spiritual nature of the universe could devout many hours to such pursuit, in environments free of distraction. This is often something very hard to achieve for a modern seeker of spiritual awakening, especially one who lives in an urban environment or communal property.
That is not to say that everyone is meant to follow some lofty spiritual goal. Most people are not, and it is not an evil thing for those who spent theiar lives contemplating the divine, to be supported by those who wish to express their devotion. Especially to people who may help others in times of spiritual or even any other kind of real need (on behalf of the divine). However, as you are reading this, it is likely that you are not one of those people. Perhaps you have an inner thirst that you cannot satisfy? A desire to have your own spiritual awakening no matter what form it may take…
If you have recognized this longing then you are already on the path. It is long, treacherous and even when the journey is done and you have had your spiritual awakening. You can fall asleep again just as easily should you stray from the new path that will open before you.
If you wish to have a spiritual awakening my best advice for you is to ask for it. In anyway you wish. It can be said out loud or perhaps written on a hidden blog. Through a thought projected in your mind or maybe used as a mantra for meditation or prayer. The important thing is that you spend fifteen to thirty minutes a day really concentrating on this idea, that you want to get to know your spiritual self, that you want to remember the creator or the divine essence that makes up the cosmos. Then listen for that small inner voice to guide you towards that which you need, and you will understand that you aren’t alone.
I can’t show you the way, that is a path only you can travel. All I can do is give you some advice. The first piece of which is that you will learn you have two inner voices, make sure you choose wisely in which one to follow. Learning to identify the divine voice that will lead to your spiritual awakening is the first step on a very long road. Take a look at the practises of the world around you, and do that which is right for you.