The power of our spiritual essence is not always visible to ourselves. But when we tap into our spirituality, it provides a foundation for our own inner development. It contributes to our ability to stay stable and loving in a constantly changing and sometimes chaotic, unsettling world. It enables us to face and move through difficult times with courage, focus, determination, and dignity. It creates a springboard for positivity and compassionate interaction and relationship. It changes our perceptions and therefore the atmosphere in which we live.

This awakening of spirit has become apparent in a group of women who have been meeting in Halifax, Canada for the past two years. It began as an experiment with a group of women leaders in the community interested in their own inner development. When invited to come to the Brahma Kumaris meditation center for a spiritual conversation, they were intrigued. It was evident that the first conversation sparked an inner chord because the women wanted to come back and extend the conversation. These conversations have now become a significant support in their lives, a way to sustain themselves and each other.

Each conversation begins with a simple but provocative question. At the first meeting, the question was, how does your spiritual journey influence the way you show up in the world? After ten minutes of reflection and silent writing time, each woman shared her reflections by reading what she had written, or speaking about her insights.

Each woman took a turn to speak, nervous and hesitant at first, then building in strength as she felt the others listening with interest. The room was silent, vibrating with honesty as the authenticity of personal truth was shared. Hearing her own voice speak… vulnerability became strength. Nervousness became confidence. Lived experience became wisdom.

We wondered why such a simple conversation like this could be so satisfying. Why does it bring women back month after month to sit in a circle to reflect and share?

• There are few places in our lives now where we can spend time in silence to reflect on our experience. Tapping into the inner power of silence opens a door to inner wisdom, otherwise inaccessible through the walls of daily noise.
• The experiences of a lifetime lie dormant in the soul, soft without shape, blended and hidden from the self until they are revealed in conversation. Patterns connect, giving shape to previously unseen truth. Clarity creates a foundation of understanding and strength.
• Women are inspired by each other’s vulnerable authenticity, creating a mirror to see themselves more clearly and honor the value of their personal voice and experience.
• The collective energy amplifies each one’s wisdom, creating a sacred space where it is safe to reveal what is in the heart.
• The deep listening and focused attention create fertile soil for brilliance to emerge. What is spoken by one pollinates the thoughts of another, weaving each individual thread of insight into a tapestry of collective wisdom, owned by all, not by one.

Spirituality is about facing the world and all its practical challenges with the inner resources innate to the soul. When personal experience is examined through the lens of spiritual understanding, it reveals the wisdom of living truth. There is great power in spiritual reflection, revealed in the women’s conversations as authenticity, sincerity, and collective wisdom.

Teri Crawford is a student of Rajyoga with the Brahma Kumaris in Halifax, Canada.

Spirituality is about facing the world and all its practical challenges with the inner resources innate to the soul.