Primal Primer 20 (Mentality)
Spiritual orientation provides significant survival benefits contributing to the sapiens ability to scale social cooperation and heal body & mind. While the origins of spirituality are difficult to trace precisely, archaeological evidence suggests that spiritual beliefs and practice commenced thousands of years ago, likely extending further back in our lost genesis.
Social Cohesion & Group Unity – Religion involves shared beliefs, rituals, and values that unify groups. Practitioners bound by shared spirituality were more likely to integrate and work together cooperatively; increasing chances of success in hunting, gathering, building, and war.
Ethical Systems & Conflict Resolution – Moral codes & norms of reciprocity strengthen these innate instincts and encourage altruism between humans; facilitating sharing of resources and resolving group disputes through structure.
Psychological Comfort & Coping With Uncertainty – Homo sapiens are constantly challenged with chaos and challenges of surviving. Religion and spirituality provide possible explanations for life’s uncertainties, especially concerning death and the afterlife. Meaning and purpose are structually inspired providing strength in times of hardship or tragedy.
Rituals For Health & Healing – Early humans believed illness and injury were caused by spiritual supernatural forces. Shamans and healers alike often performed rituals providing psychological comfort and physiological healing. Tapping into the placebo effect mixed with herbal knowledge and natural remedies, early healthcare was born.
Seek Center & Anchor The Mind Body
Works of art, literature, and our apex positioning has all been grounded by belief. As Nietsche predicted, society would eventually move past archaic idea archetypes, leaving a hole which he surmised would be filled by lesser wholesome and destructive ideologies. Departure dates can be debated, but is more constructive to conceptualize and tether one’s own spirituality through some of the best ideas of the past. Understanding base beliefs and philosophies open and anchor in the storm of unknowables. Centering through any number of lenses, one optimizes mindfulness and solidifies the arrow of time. Laws of physical impermanence governs us all, and should be thought of constructively.
~Cave Implementation~
Seek out the various works of the greatest thinkers and religions that have approached questions of impermanence, the soul, legacy, and salvation. Although there are no empirically proven answers, anyone’s guess is just as good as the next. Confronting unknowables with humility and openness can have immeasurable positive effects on the psyche. Nihilism has never been a purposeful stance serving the individual or community for the better.
Laws of Physical Impermanence Governs Us All, And Should Be Thought Of Constructively.
