The Unexamined Life is Not Worth Living

Spirituality books for pondering the meaning of existence

According to Socrates the unexamined life is not worth living. In the whirl and rush of modern society, how often do we take the time to ponder the meaning of our existence? Each of the world's great religions try to tackle this question, but there are many paths to finding peace with our place in the universe. From Astrology to yoga, transcendental meditation or alien intervention, the avenues of exploration are as legion and varied as the stars. How do you express your spirituality, and your place as a mariner of the cosmos?

Man's Search for Meaning takes many forms. For some it is a communing with our terrestrial ball. They find harmony and balance by being out among the natural environment or mingling with wildlife. The Grand Canyon is awe inspiring, just as the Sequoia trees of California humble and remind us of how small we are when compared to the majesty of Earth. Hearing the wood-song of wild places helps us to feel a part of the natural existence. Our lives are not arbitrary, though fleeting when compared to the span of a tree or river. From Daniel Boone to modern day hikers, spelunkers, deep sea divers, and those who find themselves cold, naked, and afraid in nature, the best place to understand your place is among the natural creation.

Others choose to look up. For them the answers are not solely Earthbound but are written in the patterns of the sky. Astrology can be traced back to the third millennium, BC. But who knows? How early in our existence as a species did we look to the sky to find the answers to our worldly problems? The topic has now evolved to include writings on every conceivable subject. Looking for love? The stars have the answers. Pondering a career change, or perhaps even the end of the world? The solution could be in the timing of your birthday. Many who profess to be able to divine the future rely upon Astrology. President Ronald Reagan (perhaps influenced by his wife Nancy) turned to Joan Quigley for celestial insight when organizing his schedule. Sylvia Browne has a global following, though perhaps less presidential. She is best known for leveraging Astrology to assist in solving crimes.

From the remote past of India comes the mysterious art of yoga. The Rig Veda first mentioned yoga almost five thousand years ago. A blending of both physical movements and spiritual contemplations, the practice of yoga combines elements of fire, water, air, and ether in its path to wellness and harmony. It is the most widely practiced form of a belief system of physical and mental healing through human energy. The use of crystals, believed by many to hold silent powers, are often a part of the Energy Healing movement. Some believe that holding different types of stones or crystals while reciting associated mantras can heal the body parts associated with that chakra or energy point. Meditation, contemplation, moving the body in patterns of harmony, and the holding of sacred objects are tenets of many practices of spiritual belief.

Seeking answers through the aid of spiritual guides is an old custom. In Native American cultures it often took the form of an animal, or the ghost of a loved one. Connecting with your spirit guide is a ripe field for the written word. For those who are not 'do it yourself-ers' an entire profession exists of those who claim to be in touch with other planes of existence and can communicate with the wise of other spiritual realms. Spiritual mediums blossomed in the 19^th century, unfortunately most were viewed as charlatans. In college I was introduced to Seth Speaks and was fascinated by the possibility of an entity who held answers to questions I had not even thought of asking. The Bell Witch incident in early Tennessee history is an (alleged) example of a spirit who manifested itself with sage advice, though tinged with violence. There is significant documentation to support the existence of this spirit, though no answers to its origin. The actress Shirley MacLaine claims that her brother from a past life experience over thirty five thousand years ago (not Warren Beatty) returns regularly to share with her the wisdom of long lost Atlantis.

I must confess that the book Chariots of the Gods? Is a personal favorite. From it a wellspring of Ancient Alien theorists have come. Expounding on the hypothesis that the development of man was aided by the intervention of alien beings, the author Erich von Daniken traveled the globe painstakingly pointing out examples in early civilizations of rapid growth in technology that could not be explained in a linear development of mankind or its tools. Fascinating to ponder, many have wondered "is this the answer?" For in all of our spiritual pursuits, it is answers we seek. Will we find them in nature, or perhaps the stars, or in quiet moments of meditation, or given to us by wise beings either in spirit form or flesh? The true blessing, even if it comes not with sure answers, is that questing for understanding.

Read more by William Shelton