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Dale, H. (n.d.). 5
Meditation Style For Beginners. Retrieved October 24, 2013, from Popsugar
Health & Fitness:
http://fitness.popsugar.com.au/Five-Types-Meditation-Beginners-32158430

Howard, B.
(n.d.). Ben Howard. Retrieved October 24, 2013, from azlyrics:
http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/benhoward/keepyourheadup.html

Thompson, V.
(n.d.). Spiritual Prayers. Retrieved October 24, 2013, from Journey
with Spirit: http://www.journeywithspirit.com/prayers.htm

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Intellectual

The Intellectual gateway is the knowledge of spirituality through reading and reflecting upon ideas as well as concepts.  Richard Rohr is a fine example of a person perfroming the intellectual gateway.  He informs others about spirituality as well as developing his idea of spirituality himself.

Relational

This is the relationship or connection one has with others.  It is giving people love, or help, seeking beauty in people.  Mother Teresa is an example of a person portraying the relational gateway as she helped those in need expecting no returning reward to herself.  She developed a strong relationship with those she helped.

Contemplative

The third gateway presented is one in which you 'contemplate' spirituality, hence contemplative.  Here you can reflect with yourself and seek wisdom.  As Tomas Merton states 'Contemplation is the highest expression of man's intellectual and spiritual life'.  This gateway is about being aware of surroundings and not taking for granted the luxuries and privileges one has.

Activist

This is an action of standing up for what you believe in and not expecting anything in return, much like the relation gateway.  However this is for more social rights, helping people get jobs and resolve situations.  Dorothy Day is a fantastic example of one illustrating this gateway as she protested for what she believed in; helping those in poverty, making life easier for those struggling.

Creation

Creation is a type of reflection, focusing on nature and calming objects.  It is recognising something bigger than oneself.  A poem wrote by Jonathan Hill named 'Bed' includes the gateway of creation.  The poem explains him going out onto his balcony and looking at the starts/moon, reflecting of life itself.

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A ritual in which I perform/believe in is running.  To me running is an escape from stress, worries, troublesome thoughts or negativity.  I cannot explain how it does this nor how it makes you feel but it is wonderful, to me.  Some see running as a chore of horrible, however, I don't understand how or why.  When I can't run it makes me feel down and I find it very hard to re anger and stress.

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Dear God, you are my shepherd of peace.
I am your servant of love.
This love, this eternal hope, flows within me,
enriching my life and the lives of others.
I acknowledge my blindness when I walk without God’s grace.
But today, in abundant love for your way
of letting yourself be known in my life,
I walk beside you.
I am your servant of peace.
When I see those who have hurt me,
I give them my peace.
I see the peace of you,
dwelling deeply within them,
for we all are your creations of love.
I raise my hands not to strike,
but to embrace the commonality of love between us.
My hands are your instruments of peace.
I am your love God,
and I flow freely where you need me to be.

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Spirituality is about reassurance...

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For just this moment:

Tell yourself that you are completely safe.

Tell yourself that you are incredibly attractive.

Tell yourself that you are endlessly powerful.

Tell yourself that you have the love of the entire cosmos without exception.

Tell yourself that you are brilliant...

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I spent my time watchin' the spaces that have grown between us.
And I cut my mind on second best or the scars that come with the greeness.
And I gave my eyes to the boredom, still the seabed wouldn't let me in,
And I tried my best to embrace the darkness in which I swim.

I'm walkin' back down this mountain
With the strength of a turnin' tide
Oh the wind's so soft on my skin,
The sun so hard upon my side.
Oh lookin' out at this happiness,
I search for between the sheets.
Oh feelin' blind and realize,
All I was searchin' for was me.
Ooh all I was searchin' for was me.

Keep your head up, keep your heart strong.
No, no, no, no.
Keep your mind set, keep your hair long.
Oh my my darlin' keep your head up, keep your heart strong.
No no no no, keep your mind set in your ways, keep your heart strong.

I saw a friend of mine the other day,
And he told me that my eyes were gleamin'.
Oh I said I had been away, and he knew,
Oh he knew the depths I was meanin'.
And it felt so good to see his face,
Or the comfort invested in my soul.
Oh to feel the warmth of a smile,
When he said "I'm happy to have you home.
Ooh I'm happy to have you home."

Yeah, keep your head up, keep your heart strong.
Oh, no, no, no, no.
Keep your mind set, keep you hair long.
Oh my my darlin', keep your head up, keep you heart strong.
No no no no, keep your mind set in your ways,
Keep your heart strong.
'Cause I'll always remember you the same.
Oh eyes like wild flowers within demons of change.

May you find happiness there,
May all your hopes all turn out right.
Ooh may you find happiness there,
May you find warmth in the middle of the night.

Yeah, keep your head up, keep your heart strong.
Oh, no, no, no, no.
Keep your mind set, keep you hair long.
Oh my my darlin', keep your head up, keep you heart strong.
No no no no, keep your mind set in your ways,
Keep your heart strong.
'Cause I'll always remember you the same.
Oh eyes like wild flowers within demons of change.

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Ben Howard's 'Keep Your Head Up'
is a song that reflects, what I believe, a superior example of spirituality.  While the song has a laid-back, relaxed vibe, the lyrics are very inspiring (as you can read to the left).  To me these lyrics create a picture in my mind of walking through the countryside on a bliss day.  Ben describes happy experiences, reflecting on old memories and through tough times 'Keep Your Head Up".

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Ben Howard

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New album 'I Forget Where We Were' is out now: http://po.st/BHStore3 * iTunes: http://po.st/IFWWWA5 * Amazon: http://po.st/IFWWWAamz5 * Spotify: http://po.st/CiJIRK Get debut album 'Every Kingdom' now: http://po.st/YO5SAs Official site: http://benhowardmusic.co.uk/ Official store: http://po.st/BHStore3 Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/benhowardmusic Twitter: http://twitter.com/benhowardmusic Music video by Ben Howard performing Keep Your Head Up.

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Define: Meditation is a practice of concentrated focus upon a sound, object, visualization, the breath, movement, or attention itself in order to increase awareness of the present moment, reduce stress, promote relaxation, and enhance personal and spiritual growth.

Meditation is used to relax ones mind and symbolises spirituality.  There are many different types of meditation.  5 basic types of meditation methods you can experiment to see if they make you relax:

Mindfulness Meditation: This most famous type of meditation is to do with surroundings such as sounds and activities.  You don't allow yourself to think about one thing, your mind runs free and thoughts are fluid.  If there is a lot of action happening in your environment this kind of meditation does not block them out, however you don't let yourself focus on the surrounding activities.

Spiritual Meditation: This form of meditation is about connecting with God and for those who participate in prayer.  As like many other meditation styles, spiritual meditation requires you to be quiet, calm and focused on the problem or issue you might have.  This type of meditation is not only relaxing but rewarding.

Focused Meditation: If clearing ones mind completely is a difficulty or a stressful thought then focused meditation is the right one for you!  This type of meditation allows you to focus on one object, sound, thought mantra.  However the key is to completely focus on this one object or thought.  Relaxed music is a great example of an element to focus on in this meditation.  It is surprising how rejuvenated one can feel after this experience as one person normally thinks about 10 different things at once!

Movement Meditation: Movement meditation can seem intimidating but some say it is the best type!  Instead of focusing on an object or thought this meditation involves focusing on movement and movement only.  Yoga is a terrific example of movement meditation.

Mantra Meditation: Mantras are words that are chanted loudly during meditation.  If may seem odd to make loud noises during meditation but these chants are what one focuses on during meditation.  Chants are normally positive words that inspire or comfort.

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To me spirituality is being thankful for the opportunities and fortunes earned or received.  It is about taking time to reflect on the simple things in life and not taking luxuries for granted.  Spirituality is happiness, not busy, blissful and peace.  Spirituality is reflection, thankfulness and gratitude.