What makes us spiritual, religious or none of the above? And how do unexpected events or communications change our view of the universe and our place in it?

In this fascinating episode, The Year of Being 70 Ep 14 - Our Changing Beliefs, Spirits and a Ghost Story, Lucy and Lisette, two childhood friends who recently turned 70, discuss their personal and spiritual journeys as they reflect on their experiences with religion, spirituality, and beliefs about the afterlife during their lives.

Lisette grew up in a non-religious household but had a strong yearning for spiritual connection and exploration from a young age, exploring concepts like reincarnation and having vivid past life experiences. In contrast, Lucy had a more traditional Christian upbringing, became an atheist in her late teenage years, then later in life had a supernatural experience that caused her to question her previous beliefs about the afterlife.

Key Highlights of this Episode:

The Queen's Chapel

Lisette's family were non-believers so did not attend church, but alone among her family she craved celebration and communication with a world beyond the physical. Lucy's father was a 'member of the Royal Household' so her parents attended services at the Queen's Chapel in St James' Palace (the Queen herself was not in attendance - Lisette checked!). Lucy and her brothers went to a children's service every Sunday and had the Bible and Pilgrim's Progress read to them by a devout Nanny.

Past Lives

In her 30s and 40s, Lisette took an active route to learning to communicate with the 'interbeing universe' she had always been aware of. She accessed past lives she believed she had led, including as a young Chinese boy and an African child. Around the time of her divorce, Lucy went on an Alpha Course, and enjoyed the community and kidness of evangelical Christians, but didn't change her views in the long term.

Lucy's Ghost Story

When Lucy moved into an old farmhouse in the country, she was contacted, through a psychic friend, by the spirit of a man who had lived in her village during World War 2 and wanted her to clear his name of a baseless accusation that had forced him out of the village. He provided some specific details and, after a lot of detective work, Lucy found that Ernest really had existed, found his gravestone, records of his children at the school her daughters now attended and eventually contacted members of his family. She wrote a novel called 'Kindred Spirits' to give her ghost closure.

This led Lucy to become more open-minded about the possibility of life after death and other non-physical realms.

Conclusions: Why You Should Listen

Both Lisette and Lucy express fascination with the idea of spiritual realms, the nature of consciousness, and the ability to communicate with those who have passed on.

They discuss the challenges of being open to such experiences when the mainstream culture emphasises rational, scientific worldviews.

Overall, this episode explores the deeply personal and nuanced journeys that individuals can take in developing their spiritual beliefs and connection to the metaphysical aspects of existence.

Engage with Us!

What are your spiritual and religious experiences - or are you a confirmed materialist? Do you have a ghost story or an experience of a past life? We’d love to hear about them! Whether you’re young or old, share your thoughts in the comments below. Don’t forget to hit the like button if you enjoyed this reflection, and make sure to subscribe to The Year of Being 70 for more inspiring conversations.

Join the conversation and be part of this thought-provoking journey through our lives and memories.

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