Spiritual Power

By Amy Bortner -Gialuco

"Greetings, this is Amy Bortner-Gialuco speaking. This article was written as the result of a request from an acquaintance to give a description of what I understood "spiritual power" to mean. I thought that I would write something rather quick and to the point. It seems, however, that the more I began to write, the more I started to define for myself some basic understandings of my own spiritual philosophy. This article is not yet complete, I think it is the prelude to a larger piece or book! So read on and see what you can understand from it. I will be returning to this article to expand and to redefine the concepts presented from time to time."

I have been involved with 'all things spiritual for seventeen years, having been on a highly personal path of self-exploration and spiritual discovery since 1980. Such explorations have led me into many areas of understanding consciousness, personality and existence. I have formally studied philosophy, biology and psychology and I have been involved in the study of metaphysics, including channeling, healing and spiritual counseling, for many years.

The study and understanding of metaphysics allows one to understand the meta-view or "over-view' of reality. It also explains the nature of spirit and the soul, the spiritual hierarchy and the structure of the universe in general and/or spiritual terms. The study of metaphysics may include a study of philosophy and physics as supplementary or ancillary disciplines. Within the context of my metaphysical studies, I have come to understand that we are all "spiritual" beings - intrinsically, naturally, infinitely and eternally. For being spiritual is the "name of the game" of existence. We cannot be anything else but 'spiritual' for we are all spirits "in the flesh", so to speak. Thus, we are spiritual beings, first, having a human experience rather than human beings having spiritual experiences.

We, as spirit, can choose to exist within many realities and dimensions. If we so desire, we can choose to incarnate into physical bodies and have human or human like experiences on this planet or we can have experiences on other earth-like environments. And we can choose to repeat this type of experience time and time again so as to explore qualities of consciousness, the virtues of mind i.e. compassion, mercy, love, honesty; feelings or emotions, idea-patterns, energy states, world views, etc. We can re-incarnate into human (or alien) existences to achieve these purposes as well.

So, within this understanding, it can be said that, as spiritual beings, we are multi-dimensional for we take on many existence, in many dimensions or realities, over many life times in a variety of guises and disguises. And we choose to take on these different roles over many life times to achieve our soul's purposes. The concept of reincarnation is just that explanation as to the fact that we take on multi-dimensional existence over many life times to achieve our soul's purposes.

We can see that the soul changes shape or form within the context of each existence but the soul essence remains the same. The "soul essence" is that quality or aspect of the self that has been called the "Higher Self", the "Christ Self", or the "I AM" presence. It is also that part of our personality that remains the same throughout each reincarnation al experience. Spiritual power may mean, within this context, the ability to claim this essence; to identify it, to feel it and to acknowledge it within one's self and within all aspects of one's life. Spiritual power may mean the ability to identify with one's soul essence, and to recognize its qualities and powers. To recognize the power of one's personality, the power of one's Higher Self and its intuitions and wisdom and the power of one's I Am presence or Christed self with its unconditional love and compassion. All of these powers are evident and know-able.

We, as spiritual beings, have the God-given ability to manifest into physical form our soul essence and understanding. At the personality level, our soul essence includes our intuitions (our inner wisdom), our creativity, our joyfulness ,our beliefs and values, our intentions and ideals and our world view or philosophy. We also have the ability to create our lives according to these beliefs and values or worldview/philosophy. That we have the ability to create and co-create our reality according to our beliefs, according to what we believe is real and true. This ability to create our reality according to our beliefs is a God-given ability. It is also a gift that we need to take care of and to take responsibility for. Thus, if we can claim our soul essence and purpose and if we can co-create our universe in a caring and responsible fashion, then we are also identifying with and operating within our spiritual power.

To identify with spiritual values is also a means to recognizing and claiming one's spiritual power. For spiritual values are those quality essences that allow one to perceive or apprehend one's reality in a balanced, clear and immediate fashion so as to allow one to make choices and decisions that enhance one's sense of self esteem, self discovery, self integration and self expression. They are what has been termed the virtues of mind and heart, the qualities that we understand make up "the good life". They are those qualities which make the 'good man or woman' and which create a life of beauty, joy, harmony and peace.

Spiritual power may also mean having the ability to draw upon one's inner resources of knowledge, power, love and creativity in the service of self expression, self understanding, or self fulfillment. Those individuals who truly have spiritual power are those totally "in tune" or "in touch" with these qualities and are "at-one" with their spiritual essence, their God-self, divinity or sacred self. They operate within the context of a knowing and faith that transcends the limitations of their personal circumstances, perspective and knowledge.

I hope that what I've written here is understood and appreciated and I would love to hear from others about their definition of and experience with their 'spiritual power'. Thanks for giving me the opportunity to share my thoughts on this subject with all of you!