The hottest Spirituality Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
Category
Top Philosophy Topics

Homing tendencies

The Art of Enchantment, with Dr Sharon Blackie • 1837 implied HN points • 04 Mar 23
⛪ Faith & Spirituality Spirituality
  1. Moving homes can trigger deep-rooted anxieties, stemming from disrupting the safe sanctuary one has spent years creating.
  2. The concept of 'home' is a complex mix of physical shelter, emotional security, and a place where one can always return to, and the fear of losing it can be deeply ingrained from childhood.
  3. Transitioning between homes can bring about self-reflection, exploration of uncertainties, and a mix of emotions, but it also offers opportunities for growth and new beginnings.

Longer Meme

Do Not Research • 559 implied HN points • 18 Mar 24
🎭️ Culture Spirituality
  1. Critiques societal norms and references Joker and Margaret Thatcher's views on society.
  2. Explores hypothetical scenarios about society's development with imaginative and detailed scenarios.
  3. Societyiftextwall is a project that delves into utopian ideals and historical questioning, aiming to counter negative memesphere trends.

Can we make death better?

Random Minds by Katherine Brodsky • 131 implied HN points • 19 Dec 25
🎭️ Culture Spirituality
  1. People who have near-death experiences often report calm, acceptance, or vivid spiritual sensations, which suggests the brain may have ways to ease the transition even if the exact causes aren’t proven.
  2. Much of the fear around death comes from the unknown, worries about meaning, pain, and being alone, so talking openly and making end-of-life plans can reduce suffering for both the dying and their loved ones.
  3. Dying can be improved by expanding palliative and hospice care, creating kinder, more beautiful environments, and offering emotional support like end-of-life doulas, volunteer companions, Death Cafés, and carefully studied therapies (including psychedelics) to ease pain and anxiety.
Get a weekly roundup of the best Substack posts, by hacker news affinity:

Cosmic impostor syndrome

Sasha's 'Newsletter' • 2627 implied HN points • 23 Oct 24
🏥 Health & Wellness Spirituality
  1. Meditation can make you happier and more relaxed, but the journey has ups and downs. You might go through weird phases where your self-esteem feels all mixed up.
  2. Cosmic impostor syndrome is when you realize you're not in full control of your life and self-esteem doesn't make sense anymore. It can feel awkward when you stop taking all the credit for your accomplishments.
  3. Praise can start to feel less personal and more like a comment on something outside of you, like the weather. Relationships that matter to you become the main source of self-affirmation.

Non-Ordinary Sensemaking: How to Navigate a New Reality

rebelwisdom • 1552 implied HN points • 06 Jun 23
📖 Philosophy Spirituality
  1. The more time we spend online, the more we risk being influenced by different states of consciousness.
  2. To effectively navigate different states of consciousness, we need 'state competence' and should learn to translate between them.
  3. Understanding cognition as embodied, embedded, enacted, and extended can help us adapt to different environments and perspectives.

In Case You Know Someone Who Is Dying, Has Died, or May Die in the Future

Think Future • 738 implied HN points • 25 Jan 24
⛪ Faith & Spirituality Spirituality
  1. Different religions have exoteric and esoteric approaches to death and the afterlife, which influences their views on heaven and the divine.
  2. Mystic beliefs often emphasize the presence of the divine in everyday life and the idea that we are part of The Beyond, both while alive and after death.
  3. According to mystics, individuals reunite with the divine and loved ones after death, and their presence continues to impact the world through memories and teachings.

Teach us to Care and not to Care

The Joyous Struggle • 632 implied HN points • 15 Feb 24
⛪ Faith & Spirituality Spirituality
  1. On Ash Wednesday, the reminder of mortality through rituals like smudging ash can help us embrace the impermanence of life
  2. It's important to reflect on what truly matters in life, learning to care deeply about important things while also letting go of what is not worth our attention
  3. Exploring different spiritual paths and beliefs can be a lifelong journey of self-discovery and understanding

Cultivating the Heroic Spirit

Becoming Noble • 1315 implied HN points • 14 Oct 23
⛪ Faith & Spirituality Spirituality
  1. Merely playing sports may not convey the full spectrum of virtue and spiritual experience sought; modern sports lack metaphysical significance and encounters with the transcendent.
  2. Sport is a vehicle for developing essential virtue, such as discipline and hardiness, which underpin the pursuit of higher goals.
  3. True sport is a fundamentally spiritual quest, calling for a connection between physicality and spirit, ultimately leading to transcending oneself through play, beauty, action, prayer, and devotion.

The Inner Life of the Future

The Joyous Struggle • 1106 implied HN points • 14 Nov 23
📖 Philosophy Spirituality
  1. The future for humanity is often viewed through the concept of 'the third attractor,' which aims to divert the default trajectories of collapse and dystopia.
  2. The third attractor represents a disposition not to give up on the future, encompassing diverse visionary ideas for societal transformation and renewal.
  3. Attention to the 'third reality,' encompassing the inner subjective experience, and the cultivation of spiritual sensibility, is crucial for envisioning and shaping a more sustainable and meaningful future.

Impossible to Possible

thestoa • 786 implied HN points • 06 Jan 24
📖 Philosophy Spirituality
  1. Three popular strategies to respond to the sense of impossibility: self-help, psychotherapeutic, and spiritual.
  2. Beware of bypassing - engaging in good behavior in an escapist way to avoid facing real challenges.
  3. Consider the Stoic Response: do the right thing even if it feels impossible, lacks recognition, or is painful.

Coach Industrial Complex

thestoa • 727 implied HN points • 13 Jan 24
📖 Philosophy Spirituality
  1. Approach the 'coach industrial complex' with cynicism and criticism due to toxic positivity and overpromising.
  2. There is a market demand for 'space holders' like coaches, therapists, and philosophical counselors.
  3. The coach industrial complex has the potential to improve interpersonal skills and lead to widespread positive regard without the need for paid services.

New Beginnings

Splattern • 79 implied HN points • 23 Jul 24
🎭️ Culture Spirituality
  1. It's important to keep trying even when things get tough. Just like running after a break, persistence makes the journey worthwhile.
  2. Community support can really help us through hard times. Finding caring people can encourage us to explore our feelings about faith and identity.
  3. Reflecting on past experiences, like family and culture, can be healing. It reminds us of our roots and the things we cherish, even when faced with conflicts.

Liminal Religion

Contemplations on the Tree of Woe • 1832 implied HN points • 14 Dec 24
⛪ Faith & Spirituality Spirituality
  1. The Aenean spirit represents a balance between ambition and awareness of humanity's fragility. It's about seeking progress while understanding the risks involved.
  2. Civilizations have different worldviews shaped by their beliefs and religions, each affecting how they interact with the world and understand their existence.
  3. The idea of an Aenean religion would embrace uncertainty and possibility, encouraging action and engagement rather than complacency or blind ambition.

A Liturgy of Death

Becoming Noble • 1156 implied HN points • 23 Jun 23
⛪ Faith & Spirituality Spirituality
  1. Belief systems need action to thrive; faith dies if not lived out.
  2. The importance of integrating actions with beliefs to transcend post-modern culture.
  3. Establishing rituals and liturgy is crucial for sustaining faith and belief.

The Holy Moments

Letters from Fiddler's Greene • 864 implied HN points • 28 Nov 23
🎭️ Culture Spirituality
  1. Cinema and media quality has declined, lacking depth and purpose
  2. Old 'bad' movies can offer more genuine and impactful experiences than modern 'good' movies
  3. Art needs to embody ritual and effort, with a focus on truthful expression and shared spiritual experience

Silence is ecological

lifeboat • 746 implied HN points • 29 Nov 23
⛪ Faith & Spirituality Spirituality
  1. Silence is our birthright and our natural home.
  2. Our culture often views silence and solitude as negative, but they are crucial for a healthy society.
  3. Creating space for silence in our lives is simple, powerful, and necessary for our well-being.

The Meek Warrior

Polymathic Being • 92 implied HN points • 14 Dec 25
⛪ Faith & Spirituality Spirituality
  1. Meekness isn’t weakness but strength under control, marked by humility and self-discipline.
  2. Being capable—physically and mentally—makes you dangerous in the right way and lets you protect others instead of creating risks.
  3. Aim to be a meek warrior: hone your skills, use power for moral ends, and help others become capable too.

A Confession and an Announcement

rebelwisdom • 1277 implied HN points • 13 Apr 23
🏥 Health & Wellness Spirituality
  1. The book discusses a personal experience with a powerful psychedelic drug and its impact on the individual and collective wisdom.
  2. The book reflects on the integration of psychedelic science and spirituality in understanding and navigating the challenges of the present time.
  3. The author aims to prompt inquiry and critical thinking around the potential of psychedelics in transforming society and addressing current crises.

Places to intervene in a system

Subconscious • 1423 implied HN points • 18 Nov 24
📖 Philosophy Spirituality
  1. Intervening in a system can be done through different levels of influence, starting from simple changes like adjusting parameters to deeper shifts like altering mindsets.
  2. All systems are creations of our thoughts and perspectives, meaning we can change how we view these systems, which can influence outcomes.
  3. True change often requires patience and may not show immediate results, so focusing on inner transformation is essential for meaningful progress.

Holy Snax: Losing Our Religion

Snaxshot • 339 implied HN points • 30 Mar 24
🍲 Food & Drink Spirituality
  1. Food and beverage trends are evolving to offer a sense of spirituality and divine experience through products like beverages infused with spiritual uplift claims and chocolate infused with healing frequencies.
  2. Millennials are leading a shift away from traditional organized religions, but there is still a strong inclination towards seeking spiritual connections and experiences, whether through food, substances, or rituals.
  3. The intersection of food, beverages, and spirituality is becoming more prominent, with unique experiences like sensorial cafes and the commodification of wellness and spiritual benefits in consumer products.

Desert Bloom & Howling Moon

Seven Senses • 239 implied HN points • 14 Apr 24
🎭️ Culture Spirituality
  1. La Limpia is a cleansing ceremony using traditional methods like eggs to diagnose and release negative energies. It involves participants moving rhythmically and engaging their senses.
  2. The gathering in the Mojave desert allowed friends to support each other through grief while enjoying the beauty of nature and the simplicity of shared meals and conversations.
  3. Experiencing the vast night sky in the Mojave desert adds a magical element to the healing process, helping participants connect with the universe and find joy in renewal after loss.

🤫 Just because I love ya

Sarah Bessey's Field Notes • 845 implied HN points • 21 Mar 23
⛪ Faith & Spirituality Spirituality
  1. Early access to Evolving Faith tickets is available for Field Notes subscribers as a thank you for their support.
  2. Evolving Faith offers a space for healing, connection, and collective exploration of beliefs.
  3. The Evolving Faith 2023 event features a diverse lineup of speakers and offers both online and in-person ticket options.

Art in an Emergency

Seven Senses • 739 implied HN points • 04 Nov 23
🎭️ Culture Spirituality
  1. Art, like dance and music, helps heal our spirit and emotions. Many cultures have known this for a long time.
  2. Holding on to emotions can cause physical discomfort or pain in our bodies. It's important to process these feelings through creative activities.
  3. Making time to dance, sing, or be still can greatly improve our well-being. Connecting with these activities can revive our energy and joy.

Kissing Ram Dass

Seven Senses • 579 implied HN points • 16 Dec 23
⛪ Faith & Spirituality Spirituality
  1. Ram Dass was a major spiritual teacher who introduced many people to Eastern philosophies and meditation. His journey started in Harvard and took him to India, where he met his guru.
  2. A personal encounter with Ram Dass felt like meeting an old friend. It showed that connection and love can have a strong impact, even in brief moments.
  3. His legacy continues through his teachings, reminding us that sometimes the way we make people feel is more important than what we say or do.

This Broken World Is Holy

Reactionary Feminist • 56 implied HN points • 24 Dec 25
⛪ Faith & Spirituality Spirituality
  1. Belief in inevitable, secular progress has eroded as repeated crises show that things don’t automatically get better.
  2. The Christian story offers a different hope: it says the world is broken but despair is wrong because ultimate redemption isn’t promised to this life alone.
  3. Christmas reminds us that the broken world is made holy by the incarnation, so we should hold onto hope and care for this world even amid scarcity and decline.

How to Build and Gain Momentum

Day One • 479 implied HN points • 13 Jan 24
⛪ Faith & Spirituality Spirituality
  1. Building momentum requires work and intentionality, not just being busy.
  2. Understanding how past events affect your daily routine can help in setting and achieving goals.
  3. Regularly reviewing your progress and identifying obstacles can help you stay on track to achieve your goals.

From Depravity to Redemption

Charles Eisenstein • 9 implied HN points • 24 Feb 26
⛪ Faith & Spirituality Spirituality
  1. Positions of power and systems that treat people and nature as commodities tend to produce and attract dehumanizing behavior, making extreme abuse a systemic risk.
  2. Punishing individual perpetrators is not enough; we must address the deeper social narratives, structures, and generational traumas that create and perpetuate depravity.
  3. A different kind of power—healing, moral and spiritual transformation—can break cycles, alter human nature over time, and ripple positive change through families and societies.

On the Two Forms of Primitivism

Grey Goose Chronicles • 471 implied HN points • 09 Jan 24
📖 Philosophy Spirituality
  1. The text discusses two forms of primitivism: egalitarian primitivism and hierarchical primitivism.
  2. Egalitarian primitivism seeks a return to primitive as a form of levelling, while hierarchical primitivism glorifies life and engages in a struggle.
  3. Nature is portrayed as a refuge for those seeking escape from modernity, with some using it for personal solace and others turning it into a morality play.

When God says "no"

SOAR with Sara Hagerty • 746 implied HN points • 12 Sep 23
⛪ Faith & Spirituality Spirituality
  1. Experiencing a 'no' from God can feel different depending on the stage of life you're in.
  2. When faced with God's 'no', continue with daily life but feel the emotions beneath the surface.
  3. Finding peace and joy after God's 'no' is possible by being held by Him.