Students who intend to pursue a degree, whether in a traditional campus setting or through online education, might find the perfect fit in Florida schools. Higher education is a priority in the state, with 38.1 percent of Florida's working-age population holding a two-year or four-year degree in 2012 -- a nice increase over the 37 percent that held a degree the year before, as reported by the Lumina Foundation. According to the study, over 10 percent of Florida adults held an associate degree that year, 18 percent had their bachelor's, and nine percent had earned a graduate or professional degree.

To get more information, browse through our network of schools and find a program most appropriate for you.

Those interested in joining the ranks of degree holders in Florida can find numerous opportunities through both traditional and online schools. Florida is home to many impressive universities, including such powerhouses as University of Florida, Florida State University, and University of Miami -- an institution ranked 47th among National University Rankings by U.S. News and World Report. Those who prefer distance learning are in luck; the state boasts many aggressive initiatives that aim to bring online education in Florida to more students than ever before.

Florida is home to 14 public four-year institutions and 62 two-year public institutions, setting the stage for numerous degree opportunities. In fact, there are so many institutions of higher learning in the state that all residents live within 50 miles of one, according to Enterprise Florida. The Sunshine State has the most affordable average tuition in the nation, with students graduating from a four-year university at a cost of $46,071, according to the Leaders & Laggards Report from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. Those who attend two-year colleges also see low tuition rates, at an average of $38,126 to earn their degree.

Once the degree is complete, there are many booming industries in Florida that could offer opportunities for graduates. Florida has long been a leader in the aerospace and aviation industry, with the largest airport for international cargo, space launch capabilities, and significant operational hubs for powerhouse industry leaders like Lockheed Martin and Boeing. But there are several other industries that might lure graduates, including:

Those who do chose to settle in Florida after graduation can enjoy a cost of living on a par with the average in the United States. In 2012, the median household income for a Florida family was $47,390, according to the U.S. Census. Home ownership was above the national average at 68.1 percent, and the median value of a home was $170,800. Residents might also be happy to know that Florida has no state income tax.

Arts and culture is booming in the state, as is recreation: the state is home to numerous professional sports teams and over 1,000 golf courses. And don't forget the climate: There's a reason Florida is known as the Sunshine State!

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Online education in Florida is a leader among all states, with numerous initiatives that offer students the opportunity to earn course credit, continuing education requirements, and full degrees through online-only work. In fact, Florida is home to the nation's first online-only public university, launched in 2014 through the University of Florida system. Complete Florida is another strong move, this one aimed at helping the 2.2 million adults in Florida that have earned college credit go back to school to complete their degree.

The Florida Virtual Campus pulls online courses and degree programs together into a portal, offering students comprehensive information on distance education available at public and private colleges in the state. The website has information on financial aid, admission requirements, university profiles, and more to help ensure that students have all they need to begin their journey through distance learning.

Completing online degrees in Florida has become a popular option for students; roughly 71,000 students systemwide, or 21 percent, complete their undergraduate or graduate degrees entirely online, according to the Tallahassee Democrat. With increasing initiatives for higher education online, as well as colleges like Florida State and Florida A&M University providing new offerings over the last few years, distance learning in Florida is definitely enjoying an upward trend.

When choosing an online college, students should conduct the same in-depth research they would for any other institution. "Completing a bachelor's or master's degree is an investment that can provide returns for the rest of your working life, so take the time to choose the one that's right for you and that requires doing some homework," says Patrick Partridge, who handles marketing and enrollment for Western Governor's University.

"It's important to find a school that's accredited and one that is respected and legitimate in the eyes of hiring managers and other institutions," he adds. "Call enrollment offices, ask for the experiences of students and alumni on schools' Facebook pages, and read objective news coverage about the university you're looking into. Also, realize that higher cost does not always mean higher quality. For example, competency-based education programs, such as those offered at WGU, rewards students for knowledge and skills they already possessed -- helping them save both time and money."

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Those looking for job security and a great paycheck should look no further than these top careers in Florida. As with most states in the nation, the majority of the top-paying jobs are in the medical field; in fact, with the exception of chief executives and physicists, the highest-paying jobs in Florida include doctors, surgeons, psychiatrists, and orthodontists, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Florida schools that focus on medical disciplines are a good bet for those who want to take advantage of the high salaries commanded by doctors, surgeons, and the like. Excellent opportunities are available at the Florida College of Medicine (University of Florida), the Leonard M. Miller School of Medicine (University of Miami), and the Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine (Florida Atlantic University), among others. The University of Florida also ranks in the top 50 for graduate nursing degrees, according to U.S. News and World Report, while the University of Central Florida ranks among the top 25 in the nation for online nursing degrees.

Professions outside the medical world that bring in top dollar include airline pilot, air traffic controller, and engineering manager, reports Economic Modeling Specialists Intl, or EMSI. The fastest-growing careers are also a good area to research, as students certainly need to know where the majority of jobs are before they embark on a degree program. Since 2007, physicians and surgeons, lawyers, physical therapists, computer software engineers in applications, chief executives, and occupational therapists have seen the greatest growth, according to EMSI. Here's what students need to know to get started on these excellent degree paths:

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Florida is definitely the home of sun and fun, as evidenced by the vast numbers of students who take to its beaches every year to celebrate spring break. Here are a few major cities in the state that deserve a mention:

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Not sure which area of Florida is best? Students can embark on a roadtrip just like this one to hit various colleges and universities that might suit their fancy:

Taking a drive through Florida promises to be filled with great scenery, sunny weather, and more than a few colleges and universities to admire along the way. Start at Jacksonville, right at the Georgia border, and take some time to admire the ocean before visiting the University of North Florida. While there, students can stroll the handsome campus of Trinity Baptist College or say hello at Florida Technical College.

Heading down the coast, students will find more surf and sun, as well as Daytona Beach, where they can stop at Bethune-Cookman University -- and don't forget the community colleges along the way. Continuing down the coast takes the roadtrip to the University of Central Florida and the Florida Institute of Technology. Heading further south, students cruise into Boca Raton, Fort Lauderdale, and Miami -- home to numerous universities, both public and private. From Florida International University to Miami International University of Art and Design, there are several to choose from -- but the biggest by far is University of Miami.

After a day in Key West to touch the southernmost point of the United States, it's back on the road and up the west coast to Naples, then Fort Myers and Sarasota -- with stops to admire Hodges University, Southwest Florida College, and New College of Florida. Further up is University of Tampa, Valencia College, and a few hours later, Gainesville -- home of the University of Florida.

But there's still the panhandle, with more beaches to enjoy and plenty of higher education. Tallahassee offers Florida A&M University for student consideration, while sunny Panama City is home to Gulf Coast State College. Take a drive to the corner of the state and say hello to Pensacola State College before driving out into Alabama.

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No matter where a student chooses to go to school, one big question must be addressed: How much will it cost? Whether students opt for a state school, private institution, community college, or online education, there is no doubt that higher education can be expensive. Fortunately, financial aid is available to help students pay the tuition, fees, room and board, and other costs that come along with going to college.

Florida is very generous with financial assistance. According to the Leaders & Laggards Report, students at the four-year university level receive an average of $41,647 in state and local funding to complete their degree, which is slightly above the national average. Those in two-year colleges reap the biggest benefits, however, with $21,115 in average state and local funding -- putting Florida in the top five states in the nation for two-year funding.

In addition to this aid, there are numerous scholarship options available to Florida students. Many scholarship and grant programs are administered by the Florida Department of Education, but there are also many options through local, regional and private organizations or companies. In most cases, these scholarships and grants apply both to the traditional college experience and online programs.

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Sources: The American Occupational Therapy Association Inc., http://www.aota.org/en/Education-Careers/Find-School.aspx "Best Law Schools 2015," U.S. News and World Report, 2014, http://grad-schools.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-graduate-schools/top-law-schools/law-rankings/page+2 "Best Online Graduate Nursing Programs," U.S. News and World Report, 2014, http://www.usnews.com/education/online-education/nursing/rankings?page=2 "Education," City of Jacksonville, FL, http://www.coj.net/about-jacksonville/education.aspx "Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University," U.S. News and World Report, 2014, http://colleges.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-colleges/embry-riddle-aeronautical-university-1479/rankings Enterprise Florida: Industries, http://www.enterpriseflorida.com/industries/ "Facts about Miami," Miami for Visitors, http://www.miamiforvisitors.com/local/facts.htm Florida Virtual Campus, https://www.flvc.org/home "Florida to Open First Online-Only Public University in U.S.," Huffington Post, June 23, 2013, Bill Cotterell, http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/04/23/florida-online-university_n_3135328.html "Florida Quick Facts," United States Census Bureau, July 2014, http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/12000.html "May 2013 State Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates: Florida," Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment Statistics, 2014, http://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes_fl.htm#otherlinks "Leaders & Laggards: Florida," U.S. Chamber of Commerce, http://www.uschamberfoundation.org/reportcard/florida/ "National University Rankings," U.S. News and World Report, 2014, http://colleges.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-colleges/rankings/national-universities/spp%2B50 "Ned Lautenbach: Online education takes off in Florida," Tallahassee Democrat, August 19, 2014, http://www.tallahassee.com/story/opinion/columnists/2014/08/19/ned-lautenbach-online-education-takes-florida/14309583/ "Schools and Libraries," City of Tampa, FL, http://www.tampagov.net/info/schools-and-libraries "State Scholarship and Grant Programs," Florida Department of Education, http://www.floridastudentfinancialaid.org/SSFAD/home/uamain.htm "A Stronger Nation Through Higher Education: Florida," The Lumina Foundation, http://strongernation.luminafoundation.org/report/#florida "Top Jobs in Florida for 2012," EMSI, March 27, 2012, Gwen Burrow, http://www.economicmodeling.com/2012/03/27/top-jobs-in-florida-for-2012/

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Twister Heller Sale Barn Video Sales Really Nice, Ranch Raised Horses for Sale:Click on Geldings Mares

Call Twister: Hm 928 427 6335 or Cell 928 231 3657 We are now offering Consignment Horse Sales..Let us do the work!!! Attention...Barrel Racers, Ropers, Trail & Cowhorse Events...

We are looking for quality consignment horses...

Ranch Raised Cowhorse Sales: Our babies are full of versatality & are promising prospects. Ranch Raised Quarter Horses with nice minds, sure footed & confident because they grow up outside in our rough,rocky country. Rock Horses that sure enough get around. A pleasure to ride. We offer quality futurity athletes and prospects, cowhorse bred, tough rock horses with legacy bloodlines, competitors, ropers, cutting, pleasure and using horses. All Ranch Raised Horses are well started colts that are Ranch Bred, quality AQHA/APHA Cowhorses.. Blue Roans, Red Roans, and nice good lookin horses. Twister Heller is a member of the AQHA Professional Horseman Breeders Referral Program & AQHA Professional Horseman Association. We have a nice herd of kind, gentle, well started sale horses.... Browse thru our site and you will find we offer a fine assortment of Ranch Raised, Ranch Bred horses for sale....young horses, stallions, geldings & mares.

Take a look at "Tuffy" Video: An example of our horses for sale. Tuffy is a coming 4yr old 3x in Branding Pen...Congradulations to Art Porter, New Mexico rancher (Porter Angus) on his purchase of this really nice horse. Let us help you too!!! These Az Ranch Horses are raised outside, they grow up outside & know how to get around, they are handy in the rocks, nice minded, sensible &, gentle ....you need to try a Ranch Raised Quarter Horse, we have quality breeding,color, paints & attractive horses. We breed for "gentle". Located just north of Wickenburg, Az on Highway 89 North, you are cordially invited to visit our Facility.....we are happy to show you around. Ranch Horse Sales is one of our top priorities. Take a moment to watch our training preview videos.

We don't get much "fan mail" from these neighbors, plan a trip to hang out with us!!!

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Apprenticeship Program Twister Heller has the skill and the knowledge to make you a quality horse trainer! Reach for excellence in your horse training program. Individuals who want to reach higher levels in their horsemanship skills. We will save you time and grief by instruction and sharing from a life of experience. Must be intermediate/advanced riders. Lessons are simple: From the ole school of common sense and practical experience!!!!

CERTIFICATE is issued upon completion of our Apprenticeship program. Twister Heller Az Horse Training Facility Start Colts-Tune Horses-Problem Horses

Cowhorses, Cutting, Reining, and Pleasure

In the Pen-In the Pasture-On a Cow

Honest Job...Honest Price...Durn Good Horse!!!

Serving Local Arizona Communities

We are conveniently located just North of Congress, Ariz on Hwy 89 North...just a short driving distance from Scottsdale or Cave Creek Az. Simply drive the Carefree Highway heading to Wickenburg & Grand Avenue, turning West on Grand Avenue. Heading towards Congress is so simple...We are now connected through a new loop or bypass around Wickenburg and gives easy access to 89 North to Congress. See Our Map: Contact Page

National & International Students: Arizona is our home but have had the priviledge of proudly serving customers in California, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Texas, Iowa & East Coast Students, as far as New York, Pennsylvania & our Northern clients from the Dakotas to Canada. Also, special recognition is given to our European neighbors hailing from Belgium, England, Switzerland and Norway. Certainly our lives have been enriched from these gracious global neighbors.

Plan to visit us: Modern Ariz Equine Facility

Twister Heller Az Horse Sales & Horse Training Facility. Cowhorse bred horses for sale. Help for horse trainers, Quality Az Horse Training Student Training Facility, Professional Horseman Breeders Referral Program.

We will accept Credit Card: orders taken via phone/or swipe (in our office we use Intuit) or thru PayPal online....Look for that option on sale pages.

Attention: Credit Card Options

PayPal: Set up your PayPal account (very secure option for credit card)...then just send using friend or family option to our email. Click on SEND option in top menu.

Intuit: Additional Fees applied Swiped Card: 2.75% Keyed IN: 3.75%

Breeders Referral and AQHA Professional Horseman

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Twister was born 8/24/1948. With 55 yrs expernience in the ranching, livestock industry always incorporating his passion with well trained, enjoyable horses. Having a hunger to see horses reach their potential, it just made good sense to helping your horses making any job easier. A great formula for a happy horse partner and a satisfied man. The early years were spent raised in Northern Nevada, being horseback since 4 years old. His Passion: Horses and a standard of excellence. Enjoys helping others reach their potential. Arizona resident since 1971. Started training horses at age 12. We have been married 30 years this coming July..... Together we enjoy 3 children, 3 grandchildren, and a traditional family/ western ranch lifestyle. Read More: About Us

Over a span of 30 years we are proud that Twister Heller has been featured and revisited in several issues of National and International publication Western Horseman Magazine, and most recently see the articles in Working Ranch Magazine. You will find several articles listed further: Click on: Publications and Links.

FUN SECTION In other words, "Let's SHOP !!!! SHOP...SHOP...SHOP

CHECK THIS OUT.... "CowboyWife Stuff" section we want you to look at: Affordable, Original Cowgirl Art created by Susan Gahr...on canvas, water colors, prints & cards...click: Cowgirl Artist ...

Just For Fun...Watch Shetland Bronc Riding 2011, Post, Texas

PO Box 1079, Congress, Az 85332 928-427-6335

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Spiritual Healer Master John Douglas is a qualified Thought Spiritual Healer & Energetic Healing Practitioner.

Trauma, emotional and mental stress, false belief systems and blocks to our personal growth can be stored in the energy fields of our bodies, impacting our ability to function at our full potential. These blocks obstruct the vital flow of energy through our body and systems that is necessary for our health and well being. Over time this leads to illness and depleted mental and emotional reserves. Energetic healing can restore these vital flows.

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A trusted non-profit guide to mental health and well-being

HelpGuide is a trusted non-profit with over 200 science-based articles and other resources to help you overcome mental and emotional challenges, improve all your relationshipsand much more.

Dealing with Depression: You cant beat depression with sheer willpower, but you can make a huge dent with simple lifestyle changes and other coping tips. The steps may seem small, but theyll quickly add up. Learn how to get started today. MORE

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Choosing Healthy Fats: Despite what you may have been told, not all fats are bad guys in the waistline wars. The answer for a healthy diet isnt to cut out the fatits to replace bad fats with the good ones that promote health and well-being. MORE

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A program, rooted in brain science, that changes your relationship with troublesome feelings, helps nurture meaningful connections, and build lasting happiness. MORE

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For the belief in being able to contact the dead, see Spiritualism.

Spirituality may refer to almost any kind of meaningful activity,[note 1]personal growth, or blissful experience.

Traditionally, spirituality refers to a process of re-formation of the personality but there is no precise definition of spirituality.[note 2]

The term spirit means "animating or vital principle in man and animals".[web 1] It is derived from the Old French espirit[web 1] which comes from the Latin word spiritus (soul, courage, vigor, breath)[web 1] and is related to spirare (to breathe).[web 1] In the Vulgate the Latin word spiritus is used to translate the Greek pneuma and Hebrew ruah.[web 1]

The term "spiritual", matters "concerning the spirit",[web 2] is derived from Old French spirituel (12c.), which is derived from Latin spiritualis, which comes from spiritus or "spirit".[web 2]

The term "spirituality" is derived from Middle French spiritualit,[web 3] from Late Latin "spiritualitatem" (nominative spiritualitas),[web 3] which is also derived from Latin spiritualis.[web 3]

There is no single, widely-agreed definition of spirituality.[note 2] Surveys of the definition of the term, as used in scholarly research, show a broad range of definitions, with very limited similitude.

According to Waaijman, the traditional meaning of spirituality is a process of re-formation which "aims to recover the original shape of man, the image of God. To accomplish this, the re-formation is oriented at a mold, which represents the original shape: in Judaism the Torah, in Christianity there is Christ, for Buddhism, Buddha, and in Islam, Muhammad."[note 3]

In modern times the emphasis is on subjective experience. It may denote almost any kind of meaningful activity[note 4] or blissful experience. It still denotes a process of transformation, but in a context separate from organized religious institutions, termed "spiritual but not religious". Houtman and Aupers suggest that modern spirituality is a blend of humanistic psychology, mystical and esoteric traditions and eastern religions.

Waaijman points out that "spirituality" is only one term of a range of words which denote the praxis of spirituality. Some other terms are "Hasidism, contemplation, kabbala, asceticism, mysticism, perfection, devotion and piety".

Words translatable as 'spirituality' first began to arise in the 5th century and only entered common use toward the end of the Middle Ages.[12] In a Biblical context the term means being animated by God, to be driven by the Holy Spirit, as opposed to a life which rejects this influence.

In the 11th century this meaning changed. Spirituality began to denote the mental aspect of life, as opposed to the material and sensual aspects of life, "the ecclesiastical sphere of light against the dark world of matter".[note 5] In the 13th century "spirituality" acquired a social and psychological meaning. Socially it denoted the territory of the clergy: "The ecclesiastical against the temporary possessions, the ecclesiastical against the secular authority, the clerical class against the secular class"[note 6] Psychologically, it denoted the realm of the inner life: "The purity of motives, affections, intentions, inner dispositions, the psychology of the spiritual life, the analysis of the feelings".[note 7]

In the 17th and 18th century a distinction was made between higher and lower forms of spirituality: "A spiritual man is one who is Christian 'more abundantly and deeper than others'."[note 8] The word was also associated with mysticism and quietism, and acquired a negative meaning.[citation needed]

Ralph Waldo Emerson (18031882) was a pioneer of the idea of spirituality as a distinct field.[18] He was one of the major figures in Transcendentalism, an early 19th-century liberal Protestant movement, which was rooted in English and German Romanticism, the Biblical criticism of Herder and Schleiermacher, the skepticism of Hume,[web 4] and Neo-Platonism. The Transcendentalists emphasised an intuitive, experiential approach of religion.[web 5] Following Schleiermacher, an individual's intuition of truth was taken as the criterion for truth.[web 5] In the late 18th and early 19th century, the first translations of Hindu texts appeared, which were also read by the Transcendentalists, and influenced their thinking.[web 5] They also endorsed universalist and Unitarianist ideas, leading to Unitarian Universalism, the idea that there must be truth in other religions as well, since a loving God would redeem all living beings, not just Christians.[web 5][web 6]

An important influence on western spirituality was Neo-Vedanta, also called neo-Hinduism and Hindu Universalism,[web 7] a modern interpretation of Hinduism which developed in response to western colonialism and orientalism. It aims to present Hinduism as a "homogenized ideal of Hinduism" with Advaita Vedanta as its central doctrine. Due to the colonisation of Asia by the western world, since the 19th century an exchange of ideas has been taking place between the western world and Asia, which also influenced western religiosity. Unitarianism, and the idea of Universalism, was brought to India by missionaries, and had a major influence on neo-Hinduism via Ram Mohan Roy's Brahmo Samaj and Brahmoism. Roy attempted to modernise and reform Hinduism, from the idea of Universalism. This universalism was further popularised, and brought back to the west as neo-Vedanta, by Swami Vivekananda.

Another major influence on modern spirituality was the Theosophical Society, which searched for 'secret teachings' in Asian religions. It has been influential on modernist streams in several Asian religions, notably Neo-Vedanta, the revival of Theravada Buddhism, and Buddhist modernism, which have taken over modern western notions of personal experience and universalism and integrated them in their religious concepts. A second, related influence was Anthroposophy, whose founder, Rudolf Steiner, was particularly interested in developing a genuine Western spirituality, and in the ways that such a spirituality could transform practical institutions such as education, agriculture, and medicine.[27][28]

The influence of Asian traditions on western modern spirituality was also furthered by the Perennial Philosophy, whose main proponent Aldous Huxley was deeply influenced by Vivekanda's Neo-Vedanta and Universalism, and the spread of social welfare, education and mass travel after World War Two.

Important early 20th century western writers who studied the phenomenon of spirituality, and their works, include William James, The Varieties of Religious Experience (1902), and Rudolph Otto, especially The Idea of the Holy (1917). James' notions of "spiritual experience" had a further influence on the modernist streams in Asian traditions, making them even further recognisable for a western audience.

After the Second World War spirituality and religion became disconnected, and spirituality became more oriented on subjective experience, instead of "attempts to place the self within a broader ontological context." A new discourse developed, in which (humanistic) psychology, mystical and esoteric traditions and eastern religions are being blended, to reach the true self by self-disclosure, free expression and meditation.

The distinction between the spiritual and the religious became more common in the popular mind during the late 20th century with the rise of secularism and the advent of the New Age movement. Authors such as Chris Griscom and Shirley MacLaine explored it in numerous ways in their books. Paul Heelas noted the development within New Age circles of what he called "seminar spirituality":[31] structured offerings complementing consumer choice with spiritual options.

Among other factors, declining membership of organized religions and the growth of secularism in the western world have given rise to this broader view of spirituality.[32] The term "spiritual" is now frequently used in contexts in which the term "religious" was formerly employed. Both theists and atheists have criticized this development.[34][35]

Rabbinic Judaism (or in some Christian traditions, Rabbinism) (Hebrew: "Yahadut Rabanit" - ) has been the mainstream form of Judaism since the 6th century CE, after the codification of the Talmud. It is characterised by the belief that the Written Torah ("Law" or "Instruction") cannot be correctly interpreted without reference to the Oral Torah and by the voluminous literature specifying what behavior is sanctioned by the law (called halakha, "the way").

Judaism knows a variety of religious observances: ethical rules, prayers, religious clothing, holidays, shabbat, pilgrimages, Torah reading, dietary laws.

Kabbalah (literally "receiving"), is an esoteric method, discipline and school of thought of Judaism. Its definition varies according to the tradition and aims of those following it,[36] from its religious origin as an integral part of Judaism, to its later Christian, New Age, or Occultist syncretic adaptations. Kabbalah is a set of esoteric teachings meant to explain the relationship between an unchanging, eternal and mysterious Ein Sof (no end) and the mortal and finite universe (his creation). While it is heavily used by some denominations, it is not a religious denomination in itself. Inside Judaism, it forms the foundations of mystical religious interpretation. Outside Judaism, its scriptures are read outside the traditional canons of organised religion. Kabbalah seeks to define the nature of the universe and the human being, the nature and purpose of existence, and various other ontological questions. It also presents methods to aid understanding of these concepts and to thereby attain spiritual realisation.

Hasidic Judaism, meaning "piety" (or "loving kindness"), is a branch of Orthodox Judaism that promotes spirituality through the popularisation and internalisation of Jewish mysticism as the fundamental aspect of the faith. It was founded in 18th-century Eastern Europe by Rabbi Israel Baal Shem Tov as a reaction against overly legalistic Judaism. His example began the characteristic veneration of leadership in Hasidism as embodiments and intercessors of Divinity for the followers.[citation needed] Opposite to this, Hasidic teachings cherished the sincerity and concealed holiness of the unlettered common folk, and their equality with the scholarly elite. The emphasis on the Immanent Divine presence in everything gave new value to prayer and deeds of kindness, alongside Rabbinic supremacy of study, and replaced historical mystical (kabbalistic) and ethical (musar) asceticism and admonishment with optimism,[citation needed] encouragement, and daily fervour. This populist emotional revival accompanied the elite ideal of nullification to paradoxical Divine Panentheism, through intellectual articulation of inner dimensions of mystical thought.

Catholic spirituality is the spiritual practice of living out a personal act of faith (fides qua creditur) following the acceptance of faith (fides quae creditur). Although all Catholics are expected to pray together at Mass, there are many different forms of spirituality and private prayer which have developed over the centuries. Each of the major religious orders of the Catholic Church and other lay groupings have their own unique spirituality - its own way of approaching God in prayer and in living out the Gospel.

Christian mysticism refers to the development of mystical practices and theory within Christianity. It has often been connected to mystical theology, especially in the Catholic and Eastern Orthodox traditions. The attributes and means by which Christian mysticism is studied and practiced are varied and range from ecstatic visions of the soul's mystical union with God to simple prayerful contemplation of Holy Scripture (i.e., Lectio Divina).

Progressive Christianity is a contemporary movement which seeks to remove the supernatural claims of the faith and replace them with a post-critical understanding of biblical spirituality based on historical and scientific research. It focuses on the lived experience of spirituality over historical dogmatic claims, and accepts that the faith is both true and a human construction, and that spiritual experiences are psychologically and neurally real and useful.

The Pillars of Islam (arkan al-Islam; also arkan ad-din, "pillars of religion") are five basic acts in Islam, considered obligatory for all believers. The Quran presents them as a framework for worship and a sign of commitment to the faith. They are (1) the shahadah (creed), (2) daily prayers (salat), (3) almsgiving (zakah), (4) fasting during Ramadan and (5) the pilgrimage to Mecca (hajj) at least once in a lifetime. The Shia and Sunni sects both agree on the essential details for the performance of these acts.[37]

The best known form of Islamic mystic spirituality is the Sufi tradition (famous through Rumi and Hafiz) in which a spiritual master or pir transmits spiritual discipline to students.[38]

Sufism or taawwuf (Arabic: ) is defined by its adherents as the inner, mystical dimension of Islam.[39][40][41] A practitioner of this tradition is generally known as a f (). Sufis believe they are practicing ihsan (perfection of worship) as revealed by Gabriel to Muhammad,

Worship and serve Allah as you are seeing Him and while you see Him not yet truly He sees you.

Sufis consider themselves as the original true proponents of this pure original form of Islam. They are strong adherents to the principal of tolerance, peace and against any form of violence. The Sufi have suffered severe persecution by their coreligionist brothers the Wahhabi and the Salafist. In 1843 the Senussi Sufi were forced to flee Mecca and Medina and head to the Sudan and Libya.[42]

Classical Sufi scholars have defined Sufism as "a science whose objective is the reparation of the heart and turning it away from all else but God".[43] Alternatively, in the words of the Darqawi Sufi teacher Ahmad ibn Ajiba, "a science through which one can know how to travel into the presence of the Divine, purify one's inner self from filth, and beautify it with a variety of praiseworthy traits".[44]

Jihad is a religious duty of Muslims. In Arabic, the word jihd translates as a noun meaning "struggle". There are two commonly accepted meanings of jihad: an inner spiritual struggle and an outer physical struggle. The "greater jihad" is the inner struggle by a believer to fulfill his religious duties.[46] This non-violent meaning is stressed by both Muslim[47] and non-Muslim[48] authors.

Al-Khatib al-Baghdadi, an 11th-century Islamic scholar, referenced a statement by the companion of Muhammad Jabir ibn Abd-Allah:

The Prophet [...] returned from one of his battles, and thereupon told us, 'You have arrived with an excellent arrival, you have come from the Lesser Jihad to the Greater Jihadthe striving of a servant (of Allah) against his desires (holy war)."[unreliable source?][49][50][note 9]

Buddhist practices are known as Bhavana, which literally means "development" or "cultivating"[51] or "producing"[52][53] in the sense of "calling into existence."[54] It is an important concept in Buddhist praxis (Patipatti). The word bhavana normally appears in conjunction with another word forming a compound phrase such as citta-bhavana (the development or cultivation of the heart/mind) or metta-bhavana (the development/cultivation of lovingkindness). When used on its own bhavana signifies 'spiritual cultivation' generally.

Various Buddhist Paths to liberation developed throughout the ages. Best-known is the Noble Eightfold Path, but others include the Bodhisattva Path and Lamrim.

Three of four paths of spirituality in Hinduism

Hinduism has no traditional ecclesiastical order, no centralized religious authorities, no governing body, no prophet(s) nor any binding holy book; Hindus can choose to be polytheistic, pantheistic, monistic, or atheistic.[55] Within this diffuse and open structure, spirituality in Hindu philosophy is an individual experience, and referred to as ksaitraja (Sanskrit: [56]). It defines spiritual practice as ones journey towards moksha, awareness of self, the discovery of higher truths, true nature of reality, and a consciousness that is liberated and content.[57][58]

Hinduism identifies four ways - mrga[59] or yoga[60] - of spiritual practice.[61] The first way is Jna yoga, the way of knowledge. The second way is Bhakti yoga, the way of devotion. The third way is Karma yoga, the way of works. The fourth way is Rja yoga, the way of contemplation and meditation.

Jna marga is a path often assisted by a guru (teacher) in ones spiritual practice.[62] Bhakti marga is a path of faith and devotion to deity or deities; the spiritual practice often includes chanting, singing and music - such as in kirtans - in front of idols, or images of one or more deity, or a devotional symbol of the holy.[63] Karma marga is the path of ones work, where diligent practical work or vartta (Sanskrit: , profession) becomes in itself a spiritual practice, and work in daily life is perfected as a form of spiritual liberation and not for its material rewards.[64][65] Rja marga is the path of cultivating necessary virtues, self-discipline, tapas (meditation), contemplation and self-reflection sometimes with isolation and renunciation of the world, to a pinnacle state called samdhi.[66][67] This state of samdhi has been compared to peak experience.[68]

There is a rigorous debate in Indian literature on relative merits of these theoretical spiritual practices. For example, Chandogyopanishad suggests that those who engage in ritualistic offerings to gods and priests will fail in their spiritual practice, while those who engage in tapas will succeed; Svetasvataropanishad suggests that a successful spiritual practice requires a longing for truth, but warns of becoming false ascetic who go through the mechanics of spiritual practice without meditating on the nature of Self and universal Truths.[69] In the practice of Hinduism, suggest modern era scholars such as Vivekananda, the choice between the paths is up to the individual and a persons proclivities.[58][70] Other scholars[71] suggest that these Hindu spiritual practices are not mutually exclusive, but overlapping. These four paths of spirituality are also known in Hinduism outside India, such as in Balinese Hinduism, where it is called Catur Marga (literally: four paths).[72]

Different schools of Hinduism encourage different spiritual practices. In Tantric school for example, the spiritual practice has been referred to as sdhan. It involves initiation into the school, undergoing rituals, and achieving moksha liberation by experiencing union of cosmic polarities.[73] The Hare Krishna school emphasizes bhakti yoga as spiritual practice.[74] In Advaita Vedanta school, the spiritual practice emphasizes jna yoga in stages: samnyasa (cultivate virtues), sravana (hear, study), manana (reflect) and dhyana (nididhyasana, contemplate).[75]

Sikhism considers spiritual life and secular life to be intertwined:[76] "In the Sikh Weltanschauung...the temporal world is part of the Infinite Reality and partakes of its characteristics."[77] Guru Nanak described living an "active, creative, and practical life" of "truthfulness, fidelity, self-control and purity" as being higher than a purely contemplative life.[78]

The 6th Sikh Guru Guru Hargobind re-affirmed that the political/temporal (Miri) and spiritual (Piri) realms are mutually coexistent.[79] According to the 9th Sikh Guru, Tegh Bahadhur, the ideal Sikh should have both Shakti (power that resides in the temporal), and Bhakti (spiritual meditative qualities). This was developed into the concept of the Saint Soldier by the 10th Sikh Guru, Gobind Singh.[80]

According to Guru Nanak, the goal is to attain the "attendant balance of separation-fusion, self-other, action-inaction, attachment-detachment, in the course of daily life",[81] the polar opposite to a self-centered existence.[81] Nanak talks further about the one God or Akal (timelessness) that permeates all life[82]).[83][84][85] and which must be seen with 'the inward eye', or the 'heart', of a human being.[86]

In Sikhism there is no dogma,[87]priests, monastics or yogis.

In some African contexts, spirituality is considered a belief system that guides the welfare of society and the people therein, and eradicates sources of unhappiness occasioned by evil.

The term "spiritual" is now frequently used in contexts in which the term "religious" was formerly employed. Contemporary spirituality is also called "post-traditional spirituality" and "New Age spirituality". Hanegraaf makes a distinction between two "New Age" movements: New Age in a restricted sense, which originated primarily in mid-twentieth century England and had its roots in Theosophy and Anthroposophy, and "New Age in a general sense, which emerged in the later 1970s

...when increasing numbers of people [...] began to perceive a broad similarity between a wide variety of "alternative ideas" and pursuits, and started to think of them as part of one "movement"".

Those who speak of spirituality outside of religion often define themselves as spiritual but not religious and generally believe in the existence of different "spiritual paths," emphasizing the importance of finding one's own individual path to spirituality. According to one 2005 poll, about 24% of the United States population identifies itself as spiritual but not religious.[web 8]

Modern spirituality is centered on the "deepest values and meanings by which people live."[90] It embraces the idea of an ultimate or an alleged immaterial reality.[91] It envisions an inner path enabling a person to discover the essence of his/her being.

Not all modern notions of spirituality embrace transcendental ideas. Secular spirituality emphasizes humanistic ideas on moral character (qualities such as love, compassion, patience, tolerance, forgiveness, contentment, responsibility, harmony, and a concern for others).[92]:22 These are aspects of life and human experience which go beyond a purely materialist view of the world without necessarily accepting belief in a supernatural reality or divine being. Nevertheless, many humanists (e.g. Bertrand Russell) who clearly value the non-material, communal and virtuous aspects of life reject this usage of the term spirituality as being overly-broad (i.e. it effectively amounts to saying "everything and anything that is good and virtuous is necessarily spiritual")[93] Similarly, Aristotleone of first known Western thinkers to demonstrate that morality, virtue and goodness can be derived without appealing to supernatural forceseven argued that "men create Gods in their own image" (not the other way around). Moreover, theistic and atheistic critics alike dismiss the need for the term "secular spirituality" on the basis that i) the term "spirit" is commonly taken as denoting the existence of unseen / otherworldly /life-giving forces and ii) words such as morality, philanthropy and humanism already efficiently and succinctly describe the prosocial and civility meant to be conveyed by the term secular spirituality but without risk of such confusion.

Although personal well-being, both physical and psychological, is said to be an important aspect of modern spirituality, this does not imply spirituality is essential to achieving happiness (e.g. see). Free-thinkers who reject notions that the numinous/non-material is important to living well can be just as happy as more spiritually-oriented individuals (see)[94]

Contemporary spirituality theorists assert that spirituality develops inner peace and forms a foundation for happiness. For example, Meditation and similar practices are suggested to help practitioners cultivate his or her inner life and character.[95][unreliable source?][96] Ellison and Fan (2008) assert that spirituality causes a wide array of positive health outcomes, including "morale, happiness, and life satisfaction.".[97] However, Schuurmans-Stekhoven (2013) actively attempted to replicate this research and found more "mixed" results.[98] Nevertheless, spirituality has played a central role in self-help movements such as Alcoholics Anonymous:

...if an alcoholic failed to perfect and enlarge his spiritual life through work and self-sacrifice for others, he could not survive the certain trials and low spots ahead....[99]

"Spiritual experience" plays a central role in modern spirituality. This notion has been popularised by both western and Asian authors.

William James popularized the use of the term "religious experience" in his The Varieties of Religious Experience. It has also influenced the understanding of mysticism as a distinctive experience which supplies knowledge.[web 4]

Wayne Proudfoot traces the roots of the notion of "religious experience" further back to the German theologian Friedrich Schleiermacher (17681834), who argued that religion is based on a feeling of the infinite. The notion of "religious experience" was used by Schleiermacher to defend religion against the growing scientific and secular critique. It was adopted by many scholars of religion, of which William James was the most influential.

Major Asian influences were Vivekananda and D.T. Suzuki.Swami Vivekananda popularised a modern syncretitistic Hinduism, in which the authority of the scriptures was replaced by an emphasis on personal experience.D.T. Suzuki had a major influence on the popularisation of Zen in the west and popularized the idea of enlightenment as insight into a timeless, transcendent reality.[web 9][web 10] Another example can be seen in Paul Brunton's A Search in Secret India, which introduced Ramana Maharshi and Meher Baba to a western audience.

Spiritual experiences can include being connected to a larger reality, yielding a more comprehensive self; joining with other individuals or the human community; with nature or the cosmos; or with the divine realm.[107]

Waaijman discerns four forms of spiritual practices:

Spiritual practices may include meditation, mindfulness, prayer, the contemplation of sacred texts, ethical development,[92] and the use of psychoactive substances (entheogens). Love and/or compassion are often[quantify] described as the mainstay of spiritual development.[92]

Within spirituality is also found "a common emphasis on the value of thoughtfulness, tolerance for breadth and practices and beliefs, and appreciation for the insights of other religious communities, as well as other sources of authority within the social sciences."[110]

Since the scientific revolution, the relationship of science to religion and spirituality has developed in complex ways.[111][112] Historian John Hedley Brooke describes wide variations:

The natural sciences have been invested with religious meaning, with antireligious implications and, in many contexts, with no religious significance at all."[112]

It has been proposed that the currently held popular notion of antagonisms between science and religion[113][114] has historically originated with "thinkers with a social or political axe to grind" rather than with the natural philosophers themselves.[112] Though physical and biological scientists today avoid supernatural explanations to describe reality[115][116][117][note 10], some scientists continue to consider science and spirituality to be complementary, not contradictory,[118][119] and are willing to debate.[120]

A few religious leaders have also shown openness to modern science and its methods. The 14th Dalai Lama has proposed that if a scientific analysis conclusively showed certain claims in Buddhism to be false, then the claims must be abandoned and the findings of science accepted.[121]

During the twentieth century the relationship between science and spirituality has been influenced both by Freudian psychology, which has accentuated the boundaries between the two areas by accentuating individualism and secularism, and by developments in particle physics, which reopened the debate about complementarity between scientific and religious discourse and rekindled for many an interest in holistic conceptions of reality.[112]:322 These holistic conceptions were championed by New Age spiritualists in a type of quantum mysticism that they claim justifies their spiritual beliefs,[122][123] though quantum physicists themselves on the whole reject such attempts as being pseudoscientific.[124][125]

Various studies have reported a positive correlation between spirituality and mental well-being in both healthy people and those encountering a range of physical illnesses or psychological disorders.[126][127][128][129] Spiritual individuals tend to be optimistic, report greater social support,[130] and experience higher intrinsic meaning in life,[131] strength, and inner peace.[132]

The issue of whether the correlation of spirituality with positive psychological factors represents a causal link remains unresolved. Both supporters and opponents of this claim agree that past statistical findings are difficult to interpret, in part because of the ongoing disagreement over how spirituality should be defined and measured.[133] There is also evidence that a predisposition to experience positive emotions and/or a tendency toward sociability (which both correlate with spirituality) might actually be the key psychological features that add to well-being. There is also some suggestion that the benefits associated with spirituality and religiosity might arise from being a member of a close-knit community. Social bonds available via secular sources (I.e., not unique to spirituality or faith-based groups ) might be just as effective for improving well-being. In sum, spiritual may not be the "active ingredient" (i.e. past association with psychological well-being measures might reflect a reverse causation or effects from other variables that correlate with spirituality),[93][134][135][136][137][138][139] and that the effects of agreeableness, conscientiousness, or virtue see personality traits common in many non-spiritual people yet known to be slightly more common among the spiritual correlate more strongly with mental health than spirituality itself.[140][141][142][143][144] In fact, after removing the effects of virtues on well-being, spirituality (defined as faith in supernatural forces and an afterlife) has been found to have a negative association with psychological well-being see. This suggests nonbelievers can be as happy (if not happier) than the spiritual.

Masters and Spielmans[145] conducted a meta-analysis of all the available and reputable prior research examining the effects of distant intercessory prayer. They found no discernible health effects from being prayed for by others.

Neuroscientists have examined brain functioning during reported spiritual experiences[146][147] finding that certain neurotransmitters and specific areas of the brain are involved.[148][149][150][151] Moreover, experimenters have also successfully induced spiritual experiences in individuals by administering psychoactive agents known to elicit euphoria and perceptual distortions.[152][153] Conversely, religiosity and spirituality can also be dampened by electromagnetic stimulation of the brain.[154] These results have led some leading theorists to speculate that spirituality may be a benign subtype of psychosis (see).[135][155][156][157][158] Benign in the sense that the same aberrant sensory perceptions that those suffering clinical psychoses evaluate as distressingly in-congruent and inexplicable are instead interpreted by spiritual individuals as positiveas personal and meaningful transcendent experiences.[156][157]

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Spirituality - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

If you've had difficulties focusing on the things that should matter to you the most, this will be the most important web page you visit. Maybe you always have a list of exciting things you should accomplish, but life and time keep getting in the way... Or there's this habit you need to cultivate that can help you in business... Or you just need a gentle push in the right direction. You will soon be striking items off that filled-up to-do list... starting today! Now, you might keep blaming the lack of time, energy or opportunities for the inability to accomplish things. But the truth is that none of these is the problem. It isn't someone or something on the outside that stops you from fulfilling your dreams. And don't blame it on laziness or any incapability. Because, as you are about to find out, you can actually harness the power of your subconscious mind to create answers, solutions, and more importantly, take action. Your subconscious mind is that powerful internal drive that can be trained and reprogrammed to keep working 24 hours to bring your desires to life because it actually does work round the clock. But this time you are going to learn how to consistently tap-in and make the most use of its incredible power using the simple tools about to be revealed.

It's often the result of the faulty programming of your subconscious mind. And the good news is that whether it was programmed accidentally or on purpose you can override the negative programming with desired ideas, thoughts and belief. The simplest way to achieve this is to focus your undivided attention on the things you want to accomplish. Our creative and inspiring motivational posters are the fastest, easiest, cheapest and most efficient way we know of that you can eliminate the background noise and let your new thoughts get louder and louder until they take on a life of their own. We've been producing these motivational posters since 1999 and a good number of our clients say the posters are quite different from what they see elsewhere. The posters are integral to their lives and help them accomplish far more than they thought they could achieve.

In your subconscious mind, there's an inbuilt mechanism that begins to re-design your life towards your mental pictures. The more you feed these positive, mental pictures into your mind, the quicker and faster your mind goes to work to bring them to reality. Remember how the subconscious mind works? So, all of our Motivation Posters have been tailored to activate that power within you. All you need to do is display them where you can see them.

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For years your doctor, your mom and your friend who goes to the gym multiple times a week have probably been telling you to eat better and exercise more. Its all you hear on television, in the newspapers and on talk radio. New doctors and dieticians usher in new diets, new fads, and so youve made some lifestyle changes cutting back on your fat and sweets intake, and doing some cardiovascular exercise a few days a week. Despite all this, you still feel burned out, cant drop those extra pounds, and dont have the energy to greet each day with enthusiasm. What are you missing?

Though the exact mechanisms of how sleep works, how sleep rejuvenates the body and mind is still mysterious, one thing sleep specialists and scientists do know is that adequate sleep is necessary for healthy functioning. Research shows that all mammals need sleep, and that sleep regulates mood and is related to learning and memory functions. Not only will getting your zzzs help you perform on a test, learn a new skill or help you stay on task, but it may also be a critical factor in your health, weight and energy level.

An estimated 18 million Americans have sleep apnea, a sleep-related breathing disorder that leads individuals to repeatedly stop breathing during sleep. Not only does sleep apnea seriously affect ones quality of sleep, but it can also lead to health risks such as stroke, heart attack, congestive heart failure and excessive daytime sleepiness. Sleep apnea is often associated with people who are overweight weight gain leads to compromised respiratory function when an individuals trunk and neck area increase from weight gain. These interacting problems of weight gain and sleep apnea make it difficult to help oneself off the slippery slope of health problems. From a behavioral perspective, those suffering from sleep apnea may be less motivated to diet or exercise daytime sleepiness lowers their energy levels and makes it difficult to commit to an exercise and/or diet program which would improve both their weight and sleep apnea. Unfortunately, losing a significant amount of weight in a healthy manner can be very difficult, so Richard Simon, MD recommends treating sleep apnea first: "Unfortunately, we do not have great treatments for obesity that have long term success rates of much greater than 510%," Simon says. "Thus I prefer to start therapy with [continue positive airway pressure] (70% success rate) and then add exercise (probably less than a 50% success rate). People feel restored when they are effectively treated for sleep apnea and are more willing to start exercising then."

Sleep deprivation may also inhibit ones ability to lose weight even while exercising and eating well! A 1999 study at the University of Chicago showed that restricting sleep to just 4 hours per night for a week brought healthy young adults to the point that some had the glucose and insulin characteristics of diabetics. Such sleep restriction may have been a bit extreme, but it is also not altogether uncommon in our society and is a pattern deemed the "royal route to obesity" by Eve Van Cauter, PhD, who conducted the Chicago study.

Though research shows that exercise is certainly good for ones body and health, properly timing exercise is necessary to maximize the beneficial effects. For example, a good workout can make you more alert, speed up your metabolism and energize you for the day ahead, but exercise right before bedtime can lead to a poor nights sleep. All the jumping jacks in the world wont make up for a night of tossing and turning! Sleep experts recommend exercising at least three hours before bedtime, and the best time is usually late afternoon. Exercising at this time is beneficial because body temperature is related to sleep. Body temperatures rise during exercise and take as long as 6 hours to begin to drop. Because cooler body temperatures are associated with sleep onset, its important to allow the body time to cool off before sleep.

Are you someone who needs a fresh cup of java to coax you out of bed in the morning? Or perhaps you prefer an afternoon jolt from the cola vending machine? Or maybe youre more the candy bar type in any case, youre not alone. In a 24/7 culture, cups of coffee, cans of soda and candy bars are staples of everyday consumers. For some, the day cant begin without a cup of Starbucks and for many students today no study break is complete without a can of Coke. How did caffeine become the drug (and food) of choice?

In fact, lack of sleep creates a vicious cycle the more tired you are, the more caffeine youll consume to stay awake during the day; but the more caffeine you consume, the harder itll be to fall asleep at night. Not only are foods and drinks high in caffeine likely to keep you up at night, but theyre also usually replete with sugar or artificial sugar and not much else. When a healthy snack such as a carrot or granola bar is replaced with a can of Mountain Dew, youre at higher risk for putting on weight and it becomes harder to sustain energy for a longer period of time.

For those individuals who suffer from gastroesophageal reflux (GERD), commonly known as acid reflux, diet and sleep go hand-in-hand. Those individuals with GERD often suffer from nighttime heartburn, and according to NSFs 2001 Sleep in America poll, adults in America who experience nighttime heartburn are more likely to report having symptoms of sleep problems/disorders such as insomnia, sleep apnea, daytime sleepiness and restless legs syndrome than those who dont have nighttime heartburn.

Food is also related to sleep by appetite and metabolism. Research by Dr. Van Cauter shows that people who dont get enough sleep are more likely to have bigger appetites due to the fact that their leptin levels (leptin is an appetite regulating hormone) fall, promoting appetite increase. This link between appetite and sleep provides further evidence that sleep and obesity are linked. To top it off, the psychological manifestations of fatigue, sleep and hunger are similar. Thus, when youre feeling sleepy you might feel like you need to head for the fridge instead of bed.

By now you probably realize that health is complex if one part of the body system suffers, youre likely to see consequences in other areas of your life. Though diet and exercise are critical components of healthy lifestyles, its also important to remember that sleep is inherently linked with how we eat (and how much), how we exercise (and whether or not we lose weight), and how we function on a daily basis. Getting the proper amount of sleep each night is necessary to face the world with your best foot forward. Sleep will help you on the road to good fitness, good eating and good health.

Reviewed by David G. Davila, MD (December 2009).

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Diet, Exercise, and Sleep - National Sleep Foundation