spirit

i believe that, for me, spirit is a part of and/or result of one's awareness. or what kind of person/human you become as a result of the awareness that you have gained.

if you look in a dictionary, there are many meanings for the word spirit — from alcohol to ghosts/? to the animation of life forms, plus the definitions by religions of 'souls'.

but in my context of things i see it more as an extension of our awareness and mixed with possible will. but like the religious concept of soul, the spirit, to me is the connection and jumping-off point in one's relationship with 'god' or the divine, however you envision it to be. and what i have found is that you can take it where you choose to take it, if you will. will is what you can do with 'it', whatever 'it' is.

one way to put it — i don't see it as something that you just 'have' (and many people don't think about, really), a shiny/pure core that all you have to do is access. i think of it more as: if you can access your core, your spirit, it's not the finish line but only the beginning — you may find that your spirit is covered with dust, if not dirt, and has to be exhumed, then polished to realize and become whom you choose to be…if you can get past the obstacles/barriers that have been constructed in our minds and lives. if you can get there, it is the real/main part of you that has to be observed, weighed and measured, and understood. and coupled with awareness one can take it from there…

but once you find and understand more of these realms of attainment…oh, how even to put it? — simply, i guess, you can take it to heights of personal awareness, your own personal awareness. where things can be sublime and magical if you are open to it — in all things and with other people/creatures, beings. and with your self and your actions and interactions…

i might ask: do you think you have a good or strong spirit? why? whether yes or no, do you feel it can be changed or improved or strengthened?

how? there are many: music, various arts, nature, expressing love on several levels and one's connections with other humans, beings/creatures as well as the earth/environment. one's religion can be helpful, if applied rightly.

balance

just as on the physical, one needs to develop this on the mental and spiritual levels. and the balance between the three.

it has been a major metaphysical focus — balancing the 'extremes' — black/white, good/evil, night/day, past/present, above/below, give/take, seek/avoid, more/less, pleasure and pain, and on and on… personally, from what i have learned, i believe it is valuable to experience the extremes, but…you may not want to dwell there, and instead keep to the middle ground, the middle pillar, as it has been called. and again, keeping the extremes in perspective regarding their values.

and as for the balance between the three, this is significant — what is the balance to be attained? for me, it is to focus on the three — body/mind/spirit, during the course of a day. and on a given day one may be more or less focused in one or more areas. i believe that is alright, as long as it all evens out in the long run. for example, one day you may feel more physically inclined, but less like reading, etc. or vice-versa. but, simply, you continue to be mindful of the three, and also of how they relate/interact together. as well as where you want to take them…