Desperate Spiritual Help!

Hey, Im a young hippie, although I have a lot of knowledge of the sixties! I love all the bands from the sixties and seventies, The Beatles, Jefferson Airplane, Jimi Hendrix Experience, Rolling Stones, Led Zeppelin, etc. But the problem is I live in a another classic old republican, conservative, christian town where all the kids are classic conservative, up-to-date, hippie-hating people who cant think for themselves. Im basically the only hippie in my school, and I am bullied for that. I was already bullied for being different from every body else and then when the caught on that I am a hippie they started calling me various drug-related names. And when the school says they will do something, the kids get a tiny slap on their wrists.

Another problem is Im surrounded by death. My grandpa, uncle, great aunt, great uncle, other great aunt, and most recently my dad, other grandpa and I just got word today that my friends aunt (Who I knew and loved a lot) died. Ive become a bit depressed and Im losing all hope in every thing. School is becoming harder and harder to bear, each day Im worried about the world and if some ones going to bomb the US and just basically life.

I really need help, but I dont know where to go. I think the center of all my stress and depression is because Ive completely lost spiritual faith. One of the resons Ive lost that kind of faith is because my dad was Roman Catholic and my mom is Jewish and I just never knew what to do! I was wondering if any one knew any good books or advice about natural spirituality and native american religions because those seem to be the most calm and peaceful faiths.
((Sorry if I rambled on and if their are any mistakes, I had so much to write!))

 

check out this thread I think it's a good start: http://www.hipforums.com/newforums/showthread.php?t=342554&f=22

PAX

 

Death is part of life and is the one thing we can all count on some day. Both joy and pain are part of life and we should expect to experience both, although it sounds like you are getting more than your share of pain at this time. The times you are going through would be tough on anyone. Be strong. A very many people are anxious about our country and suffering stress due to the war and the economic times. It is contagious. You must follow your own path as to your choices on religion. Christianity, as taught by Jesus, is a peaceful and forgiving religion. It is man that corrupts and tarnishes it. Your difficulties with your social relationships in school can be very difficult and stressful, but they will pass. Public school is just a small piece of your life. Again, be strong and make the best of it. I would suggest reading a new updated translation of the Bible such as the New King James version. I can't suggest who to talk to as I don't now the people in your area. Try some counselors through your school or a church. Don't expect to find a perfect match the first try. Not all counselors are equal and there are a lot of poor ones but good ones do exist. Use your own good judgement during the search.
Good luck

 

Thing is, ya gotta stop and smell the flowers NOW, not worry about all the what if's. Find beauty in ugly, learn from others lessons...

People can get into a bad habit of feeling sorry for themselves and fretting and worrying about everything that's wrong, and then miss all the potential good stuff that's right in front of their faces.

Every hippie has gone thru similar stuff with others looking down their noses and staring and all the rest. Definitely not alone there. I think it's all designed to separate the reals from the wanna-be's.

Believe me, everything has it's balance and somehow it finds itself... Don't let the constant teachings of life be lost on you. It'll help you be certain of who you are.

Looking to religion to settle your problems is just another problem. "Let go and let god" is just another cop out in the real world. It's best to take charge of yourself and take responsibility for yourself, and not compromise your position. If god is in everything, then he's in you too. And god don't give a damn which "religion" you are! Forget religion and celebrate life! That's where god lives.

It doesn't matter what others think of you as long as you know you are right with yourself.

 

just hold your head up buddy. the sun will rise again, and the tide will bring in new experiences and adventures. just imagine, in a matter of time, the entire world will be open for you. as for the mean time, watch those conservative robots go about their daily lives and laugh at them. They are actually pretty damn funny. Know that you are actually living the way you want and not living how you feel others want you too. ultimately those typical conservatives are going down a path that leads to nowhere. they are going to spend their precious precious TIME working to buy what they think will make them happy only to realize they need to next best thing to prolong their fake material joy. they might call you names and everything but they are nothing but ignorant.
Also, instead of hoping to find happiness through something like god, maybe you should find happiness within yourself. Learn to appreciate all the simple beauties of life. Take long walks and explore the natural world. Set aside some time to just do nothing but think (or think while you walk . slow down your life and approach everything with a good attitude. look to find knowledge in anything you can.
anyways some authors you might like are henry david thoreau, tolstoy. I just started reading a book the other day which i am really really liking and it has put a lot of my broken thoughts into words. its called Vagabonding by Rolf Potts. You might like it, it really makes you realize what you are capable of doing.

 

Wow, Im actually feeling a bit better. You know, now I think the reason I seem to want to turn to god is because thats been pushed on me all my life. Ive always God knows all, he is everything but now I realize I dont need god.
Actually I find god in the form of a really good song. I guess music is my religion!

 

try my post at the bottom of page two:
http://www.hipforums.com/newforums/showthread.php?t=345273&page=2
life force equals spirituality - try it! Life bless you!

 

Everything must pass. In a few years you'll be out on your own and can live where you want. Hang in there. Life isn't always hunky dorey peachy. Learn from it. Lots of good lessons and character development available. A big part of life is learning to deal with conflict and frustration. Keep your cool. Best wishes.

 

Don't get too hung up on what happens at school. I admit that it seems like a big problem now but you only spend a small fraction of your life in school. It won't be long after you are done that you will forget the names of those bullies. Rest assured they will get karma payback when they get older.
As for the deaths in your family, I am sorry that is quite a lot of it. But, it seems they were for the most part older so no real tragedy. We all grow old and die from one cause or another. All the more reason to enjoy your life and live every day to the fullest.

 

So there you are, baby. You don't need any imaginary god; you need singin', dancin', ass kickin' YOU. Everybody's been telling us who to be and what we're supposed to do since we were born. As a result everyone your age feels just like you do; their resentment of you is just part of their own confusion about their own identity. Believe me, no horny (as we all are) 17 year old kid is a Republican no matter what s/he claims. S/he's a hippie in denial.

It's a long, hard road to learning how to dance with yourself and you need all the help you can get. So let me recommend to you some books to set your head straight. Try some of the paperbacks in the "Insight" series by Osho http://tinyurl.com/avso7g Pick a title that appeals to you and get a cheap copy from one of the Marketplace sellers. Osho shows you where to find your true self and how to grow into an adult with it. He understands exactly why the world is so messed up and he's got some good ideas that can help you survive the mess.

(Aside to other forum members: No, I didn't sign up here to sneakily promote some asshole guru I worship. It's just that the OP's problems are exactly the issues Osho talks about so brilliantly in these books. So, honest, I promise never to mention him again.)

 

try to feel the love. I feel you, believe that. It gets easier, and harder.

most times these days, i feel constant pain and sorrow... then I get to laugh it ALL off for a good day, and then new pains and sorrows emerge.

Born to Kill.

 

Hello you sound like a very nice girl who knows herself and is true to herself which is the most important thing. Egnore all these people that make fun of, their doing it because they are scared of people who like to be different. They just dress the same as everyone else because they follow the crowd and dont want to be different. I am in the same situation, alot of people round here dress all the time and sometimes i feel nervous to wear some of my clothes because what they will say but now i think screw ill dress how i want to. I've always been different and iv had people call me weird a everything so i know where ur cuming from. Just try a think it because they people dont know who they are so they take the mick outta of people who know where their heads are at.

Death also is a part of life and everyone has to live with it. I know how u feel i have fears of people dyign around me and of the world ending because what the world is like now. But we just have to make the best of things with the time that we have.

Ur faith and spiritual side will come you are just having a blip and it's just a tester in life.
Take care. Charlie