The Praying Monk on Camelback Mountain

Camelback Mountain

One of my earliest memories as a child is when I first saw Camelback mountain, a very prominent landmark in Phoenix, Arizona.  The mountain is reddish, rocky and looks like a camel keeling, hence its name. Can you see its hump and its head?

At age fifteen I ventured to climb it for the first time.   It was intense, parts of it are fairly steep.  That was a long time ago.  Since then I have climbed it many times...but not lately.

The Praying Monk

The Praying Monk is one of the the most prominent features on the mountain.  It is a rock formation on the camel's "head", and it actually looks like he is walking up (or kneeling) on the mountain to pray.

Interestingly, there is a small cave about midway up the mountain.  

This was a very holy site to the ancient native people, the Hohokam who lived in the area we now know as Phoenix and other parts of Arizona before the 1400ds. 

It is easy to see why.

Perhaps it is time, once the weather cools to hike to this ancient holy place of quiet, beauty and solitude that is now surrounded by a large, busy metropolitan city. 

And pray.

What is Spirituality, exactly?

Spirituality.  The term is very popular these days....it seems to be much more "in" than "religion", (organized religion, that is).  But what is spirituality, exactly? 

No matter where we may look, how much we research, how many different books we read on various "spiritualities",  finding a definitive explanation  of spirituality proves to be quite elusive. 

Where to begin?

For starters, let's look at the root word "spirit".  Spirit is the animating force, the vital principle within all living beings.   Interestingly the word "spirit" comes from the Latin word espiritu, which means "breath".  Interestingly, it has the same translation in many languages; ruach, (Hebrew) al ruh, (Arabic), pneuma (Greek).  One's spirit is breath!   Being alive!  Alive and really living!

God is in on this too.  Yep, it's true.  The very word spirituality is rooted in the Spirit of God and is a big aspect of many religions of the world; Christianity, Judaism, Islam, Baha'i, Hinduism, indigenous religions, etc.    Although beliefs about the Spirit differ by faith tradition, overall it is the aspect of God that inspires, gives life, creates, and is that intangible and aspect of the Holy...like the wind...it is free...it blows where it will. The symbol of the Holy Spirit is the dove.  

But back to spirituality.  The Oxford dictionary defines spirituality as "relating to or affecting the human spirit or soul as opposed to material or physical things".  And yet, spirituality also implies a holistic view rather than separate, whole, as in "body - mind - spirit".  We are all of these things, and they are all interconnected.  One affects the other. 

Ironically, spirituality seems to imply something supernatural,  incorporeal, up there or out there, but it is very much linked to our human experience and our being.  We experience and feel it, (such as a spiritual moment or experience).  

There are many types of spiritualities or spiritual practices.  So it is linked to something we do, usually as a path, a method, or a way, a practice.   Such as prayer, meditation, types of prayers, contemplation, yoga, hiking, music, silence, solitude, etc. 

Spirituality has a transformative quality about it.  Spiritual growth changes us.  There is also a sense of the mystery when it comes to spirituality.  And thus in many ways it is linked to the mystical, mysticism. 

Also quite ironically spirituality is actually very closely linked with religion, not opposed to it, or out of context with it, as is implied in the ever popular saying "I'm spiritual, not religious".   And yet spirituality goes beyond religion too, beyond doctrine, theology, ecclesiology, hierarchy and so forth.  

One more thing.  Spirituality also goes beyond the intellect and discursive thought.  Perhaps this is why it is so difficult to define or explain.  It refers to matters of the inner life,  the heart.  

But now,  I turn this conversation to you and ask, what is Spirituality?   

Reminders of the Holy...Roadside Prayer Shrines

Prayer Shrine near Bisbee, AZ

Little roadside prayer shrines.  We may drive past most of these without realizing they are there as we whiz down highways and back roads.  But if we do notice them and actually take the time to stop, look and listen to these little gems, we enter into another world.  

A couple of years ago I was driving in southern Arizona on a highway just north of the town of Bisbee.  I happened to notice a small, white structure, on the side of the road...a prayer shrine. 

I stopped for a look and snapped this photo.  As you can see, it is brick, painted white, has a locked gate and statue of the Lady of Guadalupe, flowers and candles.

I stood there by the shrine as cars whisked by.  In between the occasional car rushing by were moments of silence and the sounds of nature, birds, wind... in the high southern desert mountains of Arizona.  It was beautiful.  

As I stood there looking into the shrine, time seemed to slow down.  I wondered who built this?  Who maintains it?  But it really did not matter...for how nice it was there...

Prayer Shrine near Globe - Miami, AZ

Here is another prayer shrine on the Arizona road, near the towns of Miami and Globe.  This shrine is a little bigger and much more ornate with many pictures, candles, prayers, statues and so forth.  

And this little prayer shrine is near Tombstone, AZ. 

I know there are many more.  

What a gift they are.