The hottest Spirituality Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
Category
Top Philosophy Topics

Beware The Plastic Shaman

Tripsitter • 119 implied HN points • 17 Feb 24
⛪ Faith & Spirituality Spirituality Psychedelics
  1. Plastic shamans exploit spiritual practices for personal gain and may lack genuine connections to the traditions they claim to represent.
  2. Consumers of psychedelic retreats should be cautious and research potential facilitators or centers to ensure legitimacy and safety.
  3. Indigenous traditions are at risk of exploitation by individuals who prioritize profit and self-interest over upholding ethical and cultural values.

Night Season

Neckar’s Notes • 252 implied HN points • 25 Feb 24
🏥 Health & Wellness Self-care Mental health Personal Growth Spirituality Life Transitions
  1. Life moves in cycles, and it's beneficial to try to align yourself with these cycles rather than strain against them.
  2. Dark nights of the soul, challenging periods that force deep reflection, are opportunities for transformation and spiritual growth if approached with acceptance and openness.
  3. During times of darkness, it's important to embrace the discomfort, sit with the darkness, and allow the unfolding process to reveal hidden truths and lead to personal growth.
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Why It's Important to Be Happy: an Instruction for Empaths

Tessa Fights Robots • 35 implied HN points • 21 Oct 24
🏥 Health & Wellness Mental health Self-care Happiness Spirituality Emotional Wellbeing
  1. It's important to prioritize your own happiness; you are not a sacrifice for others. Taking care of yourself allows you to genuinely help others too.
  2. Feeling the pain of others can lead to self-destructive behavior. It's better to find a balance where you can support others without losing yourself.
  3. Real love and healing come from within. Being happy and nurturing yourself empowers you to contribute positively to the world.

⬜ The artists' philosopher, Byung-Chul Han

One Thing • 178 implied HN points • 07 Dec 23
📖 Philosophy Cultural critique Spirituality Eastern philosophy Identity
  1. Byung-Chul Han is a Korean-German philosopher known for his critical engagement with contemporary culture, including the concept of burnout culture.
  2. Han's work focuses on critiquing inauthentic forms of selfhood and the loss of negation and conflict dynamics in culture.
  3. Han advocates for seeking authenticity through a genuine re-engagement with the multitudinous shape of existence, emphasizing the power of saying no and achieving pure negativity.

Born to Be Wild: Introducing John Muir

Meaning || Matter • 19 implied HN points • 11 Jul 24
🎭️ Culture Nature Philosophy Spirituality History Literature
  1. John Muir is a key figure in American environmentalism known for his love of nature and work in preserving national parks, especially Yosemite. He believed that people should connect with nature to truly appreciate and protect it.
  2. Muir saw wilderness as a source of spirituality, teaching that we can learn and find God through nature. He practiced a form of transcendentalism that emphasized loving and understanding the wild rather than conquering it.
  3. Muir's writing served as a way to bring people closer to nature, acting like an evangelist for the wilderness. His vivid descriptions aimed to inspire others to experience and care for the natural world.

The Paradox Of Spirituality

Weekly Wisdom • 238 implied HN points • 09 Feb 23
⛪ Faith & Spirituality Spirituality History Philosophy Meditation Ethics
  1. Spirituality is a complex, elusive concept that defies easy definition, with a focus on ethics and virtue.
  2. Spirituality often involves a path of introspection and transcendence, which can include practices like meditation and prayer.
  3. Spirituality provides a framework for exploring meaning, prosocial behavior, and interconnectedness in both personal and societal contexts.

Commentary on - Orage - "HOW NOT TO GIVE ONESELF AWAY"

Journal of Gurdjieff Studies • 59 implied HN points • 05 Apr 24
⛪ Faith & Spirituality Spirituality Self-awareness Inner growth
  1. Orage emphasizes the importance of becoming transparent to oneself, suggesting that by observing our external behaviors, we can gain insight into our internal states.
  2. Orage highlights the idea of learning to control one's expressions for personal and others' happiness, recommending training to become a 'trained observer' of oneself.
  3. Orage's indirect aim in 'HOW NOT TO GIVE ONESELF AWAY' seems to be transforming one's inner negative states into something beneficial for personal growth.

The Monthly Salon: February

The Abbey of Misrule • 177 implied HN points • 26 Feb 24
🎭️ Culture Philosophy Personal Growth Literature Spirituality Politics
  1. The author reflects on the changing beliefs and values in society, questioning if it's them, the culture or both that have changed.
  2. Through writing, the author processes conflicting emotions and ideas, especially as the culture shifts rapidly around them.
  3. The author invites readers to think about what they have changed their minds about in recent years, whether personal, political, cultural, or spiritual.

Is It Necessary to Have a Mystical Experience With Psychedelics?

Tripsitter • 179 implied HN points • 17 Aug 23
🏥 Health & Wellness Psychedelics Personal Growth Spirituality Psychology
  1. Having a mystical experience with psychedelics may lead to successful outcomes in some cases.
  2. Various factors contribute to mystical experiences with psychedelics, including dosage and individual mental state.
  3. Seeking only mystical experiences without integrating the lessons into one's life could lead to spiritual bypassing.

The Meaning of Sacrifice at Easter

The Joyous Struggle • 177 implied HN points • 07 Apr 23
⛪ Faith & Spirituality Religion Spirituality Meaning Sacrifice Easter
  1. Easter Saturday represents the struggle between despair and hope, reflecting the human experience of living in uncertainty.
  2. Many individuals today seek a spiritual perspective that is intellectually robust and personally meaningful, navigating a complex and varied spiritual outlook.
  3. Sacrifice, as seen in the Easter story and in chess, is about giving up something valuable for a greater goal, involving emptiness, self-dispossession, and a transition from weakness to power.

The Tale of the Machine

The Abbey of Misrule • 416 implied HN points • 29 Jun 23
📖 Philosophy Modernity Religion Technology Culture Spirituality
  1. The essay series discusses the modern project of replacing nature with technology and the emergence of the Machine as a powerful force shaping society.
  2. It explores the impacts of Machine values on culture, including the loss of human connections, cultural upheaval, and the rise of individualism.
  3. The series delves into potential responses to the dominance of the Machine, including stoicism, reactionary radicalism, and the search for eternal values amidst societal decline.

Weekly Wednesday Wisdom #8

Weekly Wisdom • 159 implied HN points • 02 Mar 23
⛪ Faith & Spirituality Spirituality Meditation Mindfulness Relationships Life Satisfaction
  1. The newsletter summarizes a mix of content on business, spirituality, and personal growth from various sources like authors, marketers, and speakers.
  2. The importance of relationships in human happiness is highlighted based on findings from a study discussed in a podcast.
  3. The author is contemplating on balancing commercial and creative interests, working on fundamental skills, and has embarked on the challenge of writing a book, spurred by a sense of urgency and mortality.

Toward the Spirit Self

Daniel Pinchbeck’s Newsletter • 19 implied HN points • 25 Oct 24
📖 Philosophy Occult Spirituality Consciousness Ethics
  1. Rudolf Steiner was a key thinker who created Waldorf Schools and introduced the idea of Anthroposophy. His work is still relevant today and can help us understand the world in a deeper way.
  2. He believed that modern science often overlooks the importance of consciousness and spirituality, focusing too much on physical explanations. This can make it hard for people to grasp the full depth of human experience.
  3. Steiner's teachings encourage a unique perspective that combines science with spirituality, offering valuable insights into how we can view ourselves and our place in the world.

The Black Swans are Overhead

What's Important? • 35 implied HN points • 26 Dec 24
📖 Philosophy Existentialism Ethics Metaphysics Consciousness Spirituality
  1. Black swan events are unexpected occurrences that have never happened before. They can significantly impact our world in surprising ways.
  2. There's a growing belief that non-human intelligence might be trying to help humanity avoid self-destruction with technology. This raises questions about what we could learn from it.
  3. The concept of collective consciousness, driven by love and self-awareness, is becoming more important. This idea suggests we are evolving and learning from our experiences together.

Feynman, Fairy Tales & Fooling Ourselves

Weekly Wisdom • 139 implied HN points • 16 Feb 23
📖 Philosophy Psychology Fiction Morality Spirituality Self-deception
  1. Richard Feynman emphasized the importance of not fooling oneself, as we are often prone to self-deception.
  2. Fairy tales serve as more than simple children's stories, often exploring dark themes and offering lessons through storytelling.
  3. Stories like 'The Emperor's New Clothes' highlight human tendencies such as vanity, greed, conformity, and the importance of speaking up against falsehoods.

Ecstatic Contact with the Cosmos

Daniel Pinchbeck’s Newsletter • 12 implied HN points • 12 Nov 24
⛪ Faith & Spirituality Spirituality Rituals Transcendence Consciousness Mythology
  1. Many people yearn for a deeper meaning in life and feel disappointed when they can't find it. This desire for something more has been ignored in modern culture.
  2. Traditional societies had rites of passage to help individuals find their purpose and transition to adulthood. Modern civilization lacks these, which has led to feelings of alienation and chaos.
  3. Crises or disasters can bring people together and awaken a sense of community and love. We can choose to connect with each other now, rather than waiting for a catastrophe.

The Cave of Consensus is Collapsing

What's Important? • 20 implied HN points • 29 Jan 25
📖 Philosophy Consciousness Spirituality Wisdom Reality Transformation
  1. The Cave of Consensus is where we learn common knowledge safely. However, focusing only on known facts can limit our growth.
  2. Outside this cave lies the Cavern of Consciousness, where we explore deeper topics like spirituality and the unknown. This space can be intimidating but also incredibly transformative.
  3. Leaving the Cave allows us to see everything differently and tap into our creativity. It's a space full of potential and freedom, unlike the restrictions of the Cave.

Apocalypse, Revelation, Singularity

Daniel Pinchbeck’s Newsletter • 11 implied HN points • 15 Nov 24
📖 Philosophy Transhumanism Cultural critique Spirituality
  1. The idea of a technological Singularity suggests that machines might soon surpass human intelligence. This could change everything about our existence and how we interact with technology.
  2. Some believe that instead of fearing this future, we should find value in our current experiences and connections. Emphasizing the present can lead to a more fulfilling life than chasing after technological advances.
  3. Philosophers suggest that technology shouldn't dominate our lives. Instead, we should see it as a means to enhance our current reality and creativity, rather than a goal in itself.

Nicoll, Commentaries, Vol.1 - Letter to Mr. Bush [1.a] - p.1-4 - Reading Club posting

Journal of Gurdjieff Studies • 59 implied HN points • 02 Feb 24
⛪ Faith & Spirituality Spirituality Teaching Growth Development
  1. Man's level of being attracts his life - the idea suggests that the circumstances and experiences people face are connected to their level of being, not just random events.
  2. Focus on changing one's being - the work mentioned involves a transformation of one's level of being, which can happen by conscious actions in the present moment.
  3. Development stages of man - the text discusses different stages of man's development from essence to personality and then to further growth of essence, emphasizing the importance of inner growth over external success.

(7.) Maurice Nicoll 1 - COMMENTARY III - ON WORK ON ONESELF - pp.25-29

Journal of Gurdjieff Studies • 39 implied HN points • 15 Mar 24
⛪ Faith & Spirituality Spirituality Consciousness Teachings
  1. Work on oneself should start today, as each day reflects one's life - change requires active effort on a daily basis.
  2. Circumscribe practical self-work to the present day, focusing on observing and changing reactions to daily events.
  3. Insulate oneself from external influences to foster inner growth and development, especially in challenging times like war.

Do Influencers Pass the Artist Test?

Litverse • 99 implied HN points • 14 Aug 23
🎨 Art & Illustration Influencers Artists Creativity Influence Spirituality
  1. The influencer industry is a huge business with some individuals worth millions, representing a new form of rebellion and artistic expression.
  2. Artists create within the collective but their creations stand outside it, providing a unique perspective that influences and inspires others.
  3. Influencers can be seen as Classicists in the art world, creating pieces that maintain the structure of their influence and resonate with the collective, but questions remain about their deeper spiritual purpose in creation.

Perennial Problems, Projects & Philosophies - Part 2

Weekly Wisdom • 99 implied HN points • 11 May 23
📖 Philosophy Spirituality Philosophy Ethics Religion Traditions
  1. The project aims to explore the convergence and divergence of different traditions and schools of thought to understand cultural breadth.
  2. Traditional systems of thought that have endured for centuries hold value and merit consideration alongside modern perspectives.
  3. Comparative soteriology analyzes the ideals and aims of various religious, spiritual, and philosophical traditions, offering insights into different paths to attainment.