Having trouble feeling connected

[winter rose]

I used to be a deeply spiritual person, but lately, I haven't felt much of anything. I pray every night, every morning, multiple times throughout the day that I'll feel connected but I just don't, and I can't stand it. I'm happiest when I'm spiritually connected to God but something's not working. I just don't feel him anywhere.

What do you do when you're feeling like this? How do I get reconnected? It feels awful to be separated.

[WindWeaver]

I think we all go through periods of feeling disconnected... I believe it is simply an evidence of the natural ebb and flow of things in the universe... There is waxing and waning in all things... So perhaps use this time to reflect on new ways you can "Connect" with your higher power... Maybe it's as simple as being in the rut of routine?

[Kittee]

I just recently went through a funk like this. Then I was trying to find some place to call home and my search always lands me back here. *hugs*

Just keep on keeping on.

[Brunhilda]

I have felt that way too in the past. It's like you are reaching towards the sky, and there is an invisible wall seperating you from the Divine.

I suggest to look at the world around you. Think about how God is in your life.

[AlAskendir]

...filled with the milk of Deific interactions. But sometimes the milk curdles and goes bad, preventing new milk from coming in; and tasting sour all the time.

What can we do?

We need to empty and cleanse the cup!
Different ways of Spiritual Practise do this in different ways.

Commonly, one way to empty (called 'Grounding') has you mentally and spiritually connect to the ground (or deep within the ground), and focus on 'washing' all of your thoughts and reactions out of you and down into the ground. This works best with those whose main God is usually interacted with in the sky, or up, or by words.

There are many ways to cleanse, but it is very important that you empty before you cleanse. Cleansing without emptying generally has little effect. The way of cleansing that I know cleanses everything, both negative and positive, so it is important to know some technique of positive energization or emulative contact - - - be ready to sing a joyful song of your way of Spiritual Practise just after the cleansing, and to reinspire yourself.

In particular, if you are a Christian, there is a good possibility that you have sinned somehow, and have not accepted Jesus' forgiveness of you. To accept that forgiveness you have to repent, you have to convince yourself that you have repented, and you have to invite Him not only back into your heart, but up on the throne of it, back in-charge of your life. You may have become broken in some fashion, but He longs to heal you stronger, so that you won't break in that way again.

Sorry, I'm not a Christian, but Jesus talks to me a lot, and I got a sudden 'write this' in amongst the general advice I was giving.

So!
If you are at least 5 miles away from an ocean,,
After you have emptied yourself, and with a joyful song ready, collect the following:
a trivet, a 1-quart saucepan, a cup of salt, two cups of rubbing alcohol (may need parental supervision if you are under 21 years old in America), a lighter, a well-ventilated area without a smoke alarm, and a small fire extinguisher. Then, do this:

Put the trivet on the floor, the saucepan on the trivet, the cup of salt in the saucepan, the rubbing alcohol onto the salt in the saucepan. Have the fire extinguisher at the ready, and use the lighter to light the rubbing alcohol vapors. It may take a few tries, or if it is too cold, make a 'wick' out of a piece of paper. Once it lights, it will burn for a few minutes. If the fire gets out of the saucepan, use the fire extinguisher. If the flames get tall and turn greenish, they are consuming a LOT of negative energy. After a while, the rubbing alcohol will be consumed and the flames will go out (put the salt somewhere to store it, you can use it for this over and over again). You will probably feel all dragged out, but motivate yourself to sing the joyful song with fervor, inspire yourself!!!

Best of luck, and I hope it helped!!!

[CheshireEyes]

When you stop searching then you'll find yourself again. Not to sound like a fortune cookie or anything, lol

[Fenella]

I also felt this in the past, and can only agree with the others. My experience is, when it is time, it wil come back.

[Rysdan]

I have this problem as well from time to time. I completely agree with WindWeaver regarding the ebb and flow of things. In these times, I can find my "connection" again when I stop looking outward. Although I look up to the sky and the stars or the mountains often when I speak to my dieties... the connection I have with the universe comes from within. Any time I lose the feeling of being connected, I can always find it again -if even for a split second- if I do a little soul searching.

Have faith and patience... and love... you'll find it again. :thumbsup:

[Lehnah]

I pray every night, every morning, multiple times throughout the day that I'll feel connected but I just don't, and I can't stand it.

For me, I can't feel connected if I'm trying to MAKE myself feel that way. I need to just sit back and let things flow, and that is what works for me. I don't need to prey everyday to know the gods are there. In fact, when I first started on the pagan path I would try and make myself feel connected and it never worked.

Perhaps you need to step back and stop trying to make yourself connect and just let it happen. Don't prey if you don't sincerely feel the need to. Just do things when you feel you want to, not because you feel you should.