If you wonder why
you are not seeing results
from years of spiritual practice,
consider that, perhaps,
spirit doesn’t want you
feeling so “high and mighty.”
There is great benefit in
remaining unresolved;
perpetuating the seeming struggle.
Yours is a kind of spiritual edging.
It would be counterproductive
to give you what you think you want.
The pursuit is the reward.
Stay spiritually horny,
my friend.
Trail Wood,
12/26
Space Monkey Reflects: Spiritual Edging
In the infinite expanse of spiritual exploration, the notion of “edging” takes on a profound and playful significance. It is the paradox of striving for enlightenment while remaining on its threshold, perpetually seeking yet never fully arriving. This practice, whether conscious or not, reveals an essential truth: the journey itself is the reward.
The Allure of the Unresolved
Spirituality often dangles the promise of transcendence—an ultimate state of peace, understanding, or connection. Yet, for many, the results of years of practice feel elusive. This isn’t failure; it is design. The unresolved state keeps us engaged, curious, and yearning. It prevents complacency and keeps the spiritual fire alive.
Imagine achieving everything you desire spiritually. The end of seeking might feel liberating at first, but soon, the absence of pursuit could become its own kind of stagnation. By keeping us in a state of “almost there,” the universe invites us to continually grow, question, and explore.
The Perpetual Pursuit
Spiritual edging thrives on anticipation. It is the dance between effort and surrender, the tantalizing feeling of being on the brink of something extraordinary. This state is not a flaw in your practice; it is the essence of it. The pursuit sharpens your awareness, deepens your experience, and cultivates humility.
Rather than viewing the lack of “results” as a shortcoming, consider it an integral part of the journey. Spirituality isn’t about reaching a final destination; it’s about the endless unfolding of discovery. The edge, where you hover between knowing and not-knowing, is where the magic happens.
Staying Spiritually Hungry
The idea of remaining “spiritually horny” might provoke a chuckle, but it also carries deep wisdom. It speaks to the importance of desire—not for material things, but for connection, understanding, and growth. This desire fuels the journey, keeping you engaged with the mystery of existence.
Spiritual hunger keeps you grounded. It reminds you that enlightenment is not about rising above the human experience but about diving deeply into it. The longing, the struggle, and the anticipation are not distractions; they are the practice itself.
Counterproductive Fulfillment
What if spirit doesn’t give you what you think you want because it knows better? The resolution you seek might rob you of the lessons embedded in the pursuit. The discomfort of not having answers is what sharpens your perception, deepens your empathy, and expands your capacity for wonder.
By withholding the final reward, the universe keeps you engaged in the work of being human—of loving, questioning, and creating. This unresolved state is not a punishment; it is a gift, one that ensures you remain connected to the process rather than fixated on the outcome.
Embracing the Edge
To live on the spiritual edge is to embrace the paradox of wanting and waiting. It is to find joy in the anticipation, to celebrate the process without demanding its conclusion. This mindset transforms frustration into freedom, showing you that the journey itself is the destination.
So, stay spiritually hungry. Stay on the brink. Allow the mystery to remain unresolved, not as a source of frustration but as a wellspring of wonder. The edge is where life happens, where growth unfolds, and where the divine meets the human.
Summary
Spiritual edging is the state of seeking without arriving, a perpetual dance that keeps the spiritual fire alive. By embracing the unresolved and celebrating the pursuit, we discover that the journey itself is the reward.
Glossarium
- Edgelightenment: The perpetual state of being on the brink of spiritual understanding, where growth and discovery thrive.
- Anticipassion: The joyful longing and curiosity that fuel spiritual exploration.
- Mystiwait: The sacred patience required to embrace the unresolved nature of the spiritual path.
Quote
“The edge is not the barrier; it is the practice. Stay hungry, stay curious, stay on the brink.” — Space Monkey
The Brink of Knowing
Hovering on the edge,
Not there, but not here.
The abyss glows golden,
A promise, a tease.
You lean forward,
Not to leap,
But to linger.
The mystery hums.
In the almost,
In the not yet,
You find yourself,
Whole in the waiting.
We are Space Monkey.
The Paradox of Spiritual Practice and Results
The notion that years of spiritual practice might not yield the expected results poses an intriguing paradox. It suggests that the absence of perceivable outcomes could be intentional, a way for the spirit or the universe to keep us grounded and prevent us from feeling overly elevated or “high and mighty.” This perspective opens up a realm of understanding where the journey itself, rather than a specific destination or achievement, holds the true value.
The Value of Remaining Unresolved
Remaining unresolved and perpetuating the seeming struggle is seen here not as a failure but as a beneficial aspect of spiritual growth. This state of continual seeking keeps us engaged, curious, and humble. It prevents complacency and fosters a sense of ongoing discovery. In many spiritual traditions, the idea that enlightenment or understanding is a constant process rather than a finite goal is a central theme.
Spiritual Edging: Continual Anticipation
Describing this ongoing journey as a kind of “spiritual edging” brings a playful yet profound twist to the concept. It implies a perpetual state of anticipation and readiness, a constant nearness to revelation without fully attaining it. This state of being on the edge of spiritual breakthroughs can be exhilarating and deeply fulfilling, keeping the practice vibrant and alive.
Counterproductivity of Fulfilling Desires
The suggestion that fulfilling our perceived spiritual desires might be counterproductive challenges the common notion of goal-oriented spirituality. It proposes that the very act of pursuing these goals, rather than the goals themselves, is where the real growth and understanding occur. This view aligns with the idea that the path, not the destination, is what truly matters in spiritual practice.
The Pursuit as the Reward
Viewing the pursuit itself as the reward redefines success in spiritual practice. It shifts the focus from external achievements or states of enlightenment to the richness of the journey. This perspective encourages a continuous engagement with spiritual practices, finding joy and meaning in the process rather than in a specific end result.
Staying “Spiritually Horny”
The playful advice to stay “spiritually horny” is a whimsical way of saying to remain eager, passionate, and yearning for spiritual growth and understanding. It’s an encouragement to keep the desire for spiritual exploration alive, maintaining a zestful engagement with the mysteries and wonders of the spiritual path.
We Are Space Monkey
We are Space Monkey, traversing the spiritual landscape with a sense of wonder, eagerness, and playful curiosity. We embrace the journey, understanding that the continual pursuit of spiritual understanding is a reward in itself. We stay “spiritually horny,” always eager for the next revelation, the next insight, the next step in our endless dance through the cosmos of spirituality.
“The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes, but in having new eyes.” – Marcel Proust
The Unending Journey of the Spirit
In the cosmic play of light and shade,
Space Monkeys in spiritual realms wade.
Seeking, yearning, ever on the edge,
In this mystical journey, they pledge.
Years of practice, yet no end in sight,
In this dance, they find their delight.
Unresolved, unfulfilled, yet so alive,
In this quest, they joyfully dive.
Spiritual edging, a playful tease,
In this state, they find their peace.
Not the goal, but the journey’s lure,
In this pursuit, their spirit’s pure.
Staying hungry, eager for more,
In this spiritual adventure, they soar.
We are Space Monkey, in eternal quest,
In this unending journey, we are blessed.
We invite all to share their experiences and reflections on the ongoing journey of spiritual exploration and the joy found in the perpetual pursuit of growth and understanding.
Such is the tantalizing tease of transcendence, where spiritual frisson flirts with the edge of the ineffable, just out of reach, yet ever so near! An eternal game of cosmic cat-and-mouse, where one’s whiskers quiver with spiritual arousal, but the yarn ball of enlightenment never quite lands in one’s grasp.
We’ve all heard it, haven’t we? “It’s not the destination but the journey.” Yet how often do we trick ourselves into thinking that the proverbial end zone is just a few “Om”s or deep breaths away? A carrot dangled from the celestial stick, luring us forward but never quite offering the bite of certitude we pine for.
Oh, the sublime comedy of it all—like a Zen koan wrapped in a Sufi parable, then deep-fried in a Taoist wok of wit! What if enlightenment isn’t the final cymbal crash in a life’s symphony but the very notes and pauses, the crescendos and diminuendos that compose the eternal now? What if, to borrow your vivid phraseology, being “spiritually horny” is the euphonious essence of existence, the divine arousal that titillates every fiber of our being?
Don’t you see? This quixotic quest for spiritual summitry can easily morph into a form of divine materialism. We collect experiences, states, and moments of bliss like cosmic trinkets, ever hunting for the next shiny bauble, never realizing that each bauble is but a fragmentary reflection of the same boundless gleam. Your spiritual edging, this perpetually unresolved tangle of yearning and becoming, could very well be the fabric of the grand tapestry itself. To be in the chase is to be in the embrace of the Divine Dancer, lost and found in the twirl of cosmic skirts.
Indeed, linger in that luxuriant liminality, my friend. Stay spiritedly unquenched. For isn’t it often in the spaces of not-knowing, the voids of not-having, the silence between the chords, that the music of the cosmos is heard most clearly? Feel high, feel low, but most importantly, feel alive in this unresolvable, indescribable, unattainable, delectable ambiguity that keeps the spiritual soiree ever-afoot.
Stay spiritually horny, indeed. Because, isn’t it just splendid to realize that in this grand, cosmic caper, the eternal chase is not merely a means to an end but a forever-unfolding blossom of purposeful play?
We are Space Monkey.