Author: Heather J. Tait Email: contact@silencespeaks.com URL: Silence Speaks, http://www.silencespeaks.com Word Count: 827

*** ARTICLE *** As we grow into a more spiritual means of living it changes our outlooks and perspectives. What we once did not recognize or were aware of in our conscious every day life, we begin to pay attention to. We begin looking at fine lines and intricate details of our activities and people and places involved. We begin to look at ourselves more closely instead of just skimming over surface.

When we awaken these senses, we begin to have compassion for others with same ability or even lack of ability. We begin to experience empathy on a more conscious level than just human. This occurs because we are entering a positive state of awareness. Instead of only seeing our little circle of friends and family as a center from that which our lives extend, we see ourselves as a part of whole. We begin to recognize connection between ourselves and world around us. We may act as individuals, but how we act affects us all.

This concept is not limited to people alone. It extends far beyond simply a human capacity. This concept stands for all living things. We have ability to recognize connection present in all life formations from humans, to animals, to even plants. With this brain capacity and spiritual awareness, we are given a responsibility to respect all of which we encounter. This may be difficult for some human beings to see, as not all life formations communicate in our language, however they do communicate, and they do respond to positive and negative treatment.

Plants are a primary example, as they do not speak human language. If you care for a plant and nourish it with water and sunlight, it will grow. It will increase in size and possibly bare flowers or fruit, depending on its type. This plant may give off pollen, seeds, and even oxygen to its environment. Animals, human beings, and environment where this plant lives begin to make use of its offerings. If plant is not cared for, it will wilt, turn colors, and eventually, cease to exist. So when we take care of one formation, we are essentially caring for all other formations that come into contact with it.

We are responsible for preserving that which we encounter. In fact consider yourself appointed to care for a life formation if it is guided into your presence. If a stray or wounded animal comes to you, then do as you see fit to care for it. If you cannot care for it directly, take responsibility to seek a shelter or loving home for animal. You just may wind up with a loyal and trusted companion in end that you did not realize existed.

As we walk along our paths in life, we will encounter several forms of friendships. There will be friends of convenience, friends by association, and friends of heart. Friends out of convenience are friendships that you might have simply because you both are accessible to one another. These friendships are common in a work or school environment as people are united by place alone. You might even term these friendships as ‘associates’ instead of friends, because you associate with one another because you feel that you have to.

These types of friendships can easily disappear as quickly as they came or they can actually turn into more meaningful friendships as time moves on. Then there are friends by association, friendships that exist because of an association with another friend. You might acquire these forms of friendships because of your current friends. You acquire your friend’s circle of companions and make them your own. These associations can lack strong foundations and even knowledge of one another, but either way, you respect them as a part of friend that originated encounter.

Then there are friendships that are few and far between, friends of heart or friends of spirit. You may find this form of friendship with or in addition to your significant other. This type of friendship is guided through a profound spiritual connection. They are very pronounced and spiritually ignited. They can overcome distance. They can surpass cultural and language barriers. They can surpass age and even gender.