Spirituality today: On gurus, divine feminine in Judaism, and paganism goes mainstream

Spirituality articles and features from around the web

Is guru a four-letter word? (Huffington Post): "There is not one clear-cut road of beliefs and practices to suit all human beings. There are well-trodden paths and religions that have proven to be helpful to many people in indescribable and irreplaceable ways. Yet whether we practice in one of these traditions or find our unique path through the labyrinth of life, we each walk the path differently, in a way that only the inimitability of each of our beings can do -- our "unique self."

Priestly caste (Tablet):"Kohenet is part of a growing, grassroots Jewish movement to reclaim the divine feminine—female aspects of God represented in Jewish texts—and reintroduce earth-based traditions to Jewish spiritual seekers. In recent years, for example, some women have elevated Rosh Chodesh, the marking of the new moon that was celebrated as a festival in biblical times, into an important feminist holiday."

Think laughter yoga is a joke? Ha! Participants tout benefits (ArgusLeader.com): "We focus on the physicality of yoga, but it's really about a mind-body-spirit connection. Reaching out, the overall sense of well being helps you feel better, think better and create connections with others."

Which value do people seem to take most for granted? (Ottawa Citizen):"A full life is not merely full in time; it is also full in space. It is full with the good things that we do with the life that is granted to us - the love we share, the good feelings we engender, the respect that we show, the kindnesses we bestow, etc. The reason why this is more likely to ensue from appreciating life is that once we appreciate our own life, it is a very small jump, really a small step, to appreciating and placing full value on the lives of others. All good things derive from that."

Paganism becoming more mainstream, experts say (Ann Arbor.com): "Paganism represents a wide variety of traditions that emphasize reverence for nature and a revival of ancient polytheistic religious practices...some Pagan traditions include ritual magic, but this practice is not universal. This diverse grassroots movement includes Wicca, Goddess Spirituality, and the Pagan Reconstructionist religions (Norse, Druidic, Egyptian, and Greek)."

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