I'm not religious, but I feel so moved...
cmon, let's talk religion!
In my upcoming book The Confidence Ritual, I talk about how spirituality is a journey we travel on alone and that spirituality, the practice and it’s exploration can actually fall under the category of inner glow up. One of my goals for 2025 is to lean into spirituality and dive deeper into what feels in tune with my beliefs. I simply want to explore this side of myself!
We’re supposed to feel this sense of calm when we’re there. The design and overall vibe puts the visitor into a place of serenity which (however you look at it) will trigger the feelings of hope, escapism and inner calm. Not designed by the gods, designed and built by humans for their beliefs.
While we might share overlaps with others, our beliefs really are ours and ours alone. Ultimately our solo practice or thought process leads us to explore, feel and experience or even neglect spiritual aspects in our life.
In Antwerp recently we visited the Cathedral of a Lady – a huge Roman Catholic building laced with gothic details towering over the city. While my beliefs don’t align with that of the church, the building still in all it’s glory, took my breath away.
Filled with the most intricate carvings, ceiling paintings, floor tiles, gold leaf, and Reuben artworks, I couldn’t argue with the fact that the cathedral (beliefs aside) is a total masterpiece. Exploring the building it reminded me of feelings I experienced as I visited the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi, which is potentially the most beautiful building I’ve ever seen closely followed by some of the Buddhist temples I have visited in Thailand, Vietnam, China and Japan.
Both buildings and their interiors took my brain to an instant place of solace and wonder… which I guess is their purpose. We’re supposed to feel this sense of calm when we’re there. The design and overall vibe puts the visitor into a place of serenity which (however you look at it) will trigger the feelings of hope, escapism and inner calm. Not designed by the gods, designed and built by humans for their beliefs.
While there are many many aspects of mainstream religion I do not align with, both buildings conjured up an appreciation for peoples commitment to their beliefs and connection to a perceived higher being.
In 1521 when Antwerp Cathedral ceased construction (it was never fully finished), I kept thinking about how this building wasn’t only a place of worship, but a place of togetherness. How each carving would have been appreciated by all who entered the church hoping for a place of inner calm. The same can be said for the mosque, covered in elaborate paintings and vast openness and height, that building took my breath away.
There’s a line in the song Nothing Fails from the album American Life by Madonna - ‘I’m not religious but I feel so moved, I’m not religious but it makes wanna pray’ – which I think rings true, the buildings may represent something we don’t algin with, but the design and the inner air of hope (because hope ultimately is at the core of most religions) swims over, under and through us as we walk round.
Atheist, agnostic or devout believer – it’s impossible to overlook how a hope in an afterlife or something else out there has kept humans searching for a sense of clarity…
Thoughts?
Love Always XX Jules
PS Sorry this week hasn’t posted on Monday, I’m up to my tits with travel and work (nice problems to have) but I’m determined to upload every Monday if I can! Uploaded and finished this post from the airport with Dutch!! XX
I think, all spirituality comes from the same place and everything else is just different ways to connect with it and express it. I‘m also a very spiritual person, but not into institutionalised religion - and always overflown with emotions in the stillness of places of worship. love your thoughts on this (and the photos) 🤍💫