I was curious how people viewed their significant other and vice versa with regard to the ideas on this board about consciousness, the afterlife, etc.  How does one integrate a spouse/lover who does not believe with one's own investigations and journeys?  How many of you are together with a kindred soul who appreciates all this?

Matthew

I think all of our relationships are significant because they all teach us something about learning to love unconditionally.  I think it's wonderful when two people living together as a couple can share in their spiritual search and be supportive of each other.  However, when opinions differ, there is still much to learn... perhaps even more in some cases.  It's probably just a matter of believing that we are always being guided to have the experiences we need most.

Love, Kathy :-)  

Something I’ve noticed when a partner doesn’t share our spiritual pursuit is that we seldom can change them. The only thing we can do is to be happy and feel confident in order to let they wonder why we can deal so well with some life issues, so one day they might want to know what make us so confident and give us so solid faith. In other words an example can worth more than a thousand words.

Sometimes people stay on the same path together, sometimes they wander alone, sometimes they depart on separate roads.  Will they meet again?  Only the journey will tell them....  

love, blink

All of these responses are so good.  

My husband doesn't believe in anything that I believe in.  He doesn't believe or understand/accept any of my experiences.  It makes me so very sad but in a way it also makes me stronger I guess.  I know how to stand up for what I believe and what I know to be true.  But it does hurt sometimes, and it's hard.  I would rather have him understand.  

Its often important for both to be on the same path, but not necessary for happiness.

My husband is pretty much grounded in C1..whereas I spend more time in the astral.

We have a good life, but I know that often he just doesn't quite understand.  I can tell, when his eyes glaze over and he starts talking about the latest NASCAR race as a diversion.. ;D

Thing is, he doesn't mind my explorations and even once attempted to join in.  It was on another board, and we were trying PE..meeting at a big crystal (not the TMI one).  He remembered nothing though.

well, he tried Shirley...thats really cool, he tried, sometimes a partner won't even do that. maybe some other time..all my male friends in the past seemed grounded in practical, logical earthy type pursuits, while  I was with my head in the clouds, and still that way!

"while  I was with my head in the clouds"

hehe :)

My husband is a Virgo ... need I say more?  LOL!

He sometimes listens to me, but I don't often try to engage him in these conversations unless I've had an experience so powerful that I'm just bursting to tell someone and he's handy!  

Every relationship has great things to offer, many opportunities for each person.  For instance, he has been a good "provider" ... this is really important when you have a big family to feed and clothe and keep safe from the elements.  And I have provided, let's say ... a broader outlook on the spiritual aspects of life!  

My children are free thinkers ... he once told me that they'd be better off getting along in this world if I hadn't been such a "hippie" and raised them to always think they were okay no matter what.  This was said in the heat of an argument, and I burst out laughing ... Laughter can really take the heat out of an argument in a hurry!  It still cracks me up ... he certainly hadn't meant to compliment me, but he did!  

Acceptance is so important, really.  I have many family members and many friends to share the 'deep & mystical' aspects of my life with ... and my husband has plenty of friends and brothers to commiserate over a life-time of hunting seasons and football games with.  

There's that old saying about variety???  I don't think one needs to be wed to a clone of themselves in order to be happy.  For me at least, the important things are respect, humor, and just being nice to each other.  I like that we have the freedom to enjoy our own interests and not feel that we're being cheated from fulfillment for not sharing them.  

I'm sure that I am right where I need to be on my journey, and I'm convinced that my husband is as well ... and that each one of us is.  

I'm equally convinced that my mysticism is not superior to his earthiness!  For all I know he could be a highly advanced soul who completed spiritual things that would blow me away in a former life ... and came in this time to be the solid support that would free me to pursue my spiritual quest.   ;D

you have a good attitude Hannah about relationships, I'm sure that's why it has lasted so long.
I'm convinced that relationship one on one here is about learning how to forgive the other for not meeting expectations we hold about what they are in our lives for, then you could say we are discovering what PUL is through forgiveness, and that expectations are conditions we set up, love then can be unconditional and spring eternal up from forgiveness.
but if you were a hippy, you may have known this all along. sometimes forgiveness, or letting go of expectations is a daily affair until each one "gets it."
did u ever read that book back in the 60's called "I'm ok, you're ok?  I took one look at the title and got the whole message just from that title and I told my children exactly what you told them! they seemed to turn out ok despite I didn't tell them much else!

signed..love to laugh....

Thank you, Willowheart and Laffingrain, for this sage advice.

Bob

Ha, ha!  :D  "I'm just bursting to tell someone and he's handy." This made me laugh.

[quote author=Willowheart
He sometimes listens to me, but I don't often try to engage him in these conversations unless I've had an experience so powerful that I'm just bursting to tell someone and he's handy!  

My soon to be x  things we are all nuts.  He wanted to take one daughter to a doctor to put her on medication.  Grrrr....

My BF is very much into the same ideas as I am, but from a more scientific approach.  

My children ... well, they take after me ... lol