The Belief System of a Spiritual Nomad

As much as I've been a nomad geographically, I've been one spiritually, too.

Throughout my life, I’ve been drawn to various religions, books, teachings, and practices in my earnest attempt to make sense of things. But if someone were to ask me today what I believe in, truly and deeply, I'd say, rather simply... people. I believe in people.

A few months ago, I went to @thegetdownparty, an epic dance party in NYC. As I stowed my winter jacket at coat check, I suddenly heard my name — "FIONA!?" — ring from around the corner.

I spun around and there she was: Michal. A beautiful, generous soul I had met at a hostel in Krabi, Thailand roughly a year prior. Our re-convening was entirely random, and utterly beautiful. We spent the night dancing our sweaty asses off and exchanging declarations of our reverence for one another.

A few days later, we met up for brunch. As we spoke, Michal ripped off a piece of a napkin and wrote down three questions: "What is this making space for? What else is possible? Who does this belong to?" She told me to ask myself these questions when things aren't going quite the way I planned. I tucked that piece of napkin into my phone case and have carried it around with me ever since.

I am a spiritual nomad, but lately I've been reminded that there's been a common thread throughout all of that exploration: people. Good, kind, deeply flawed people, and the light they bring into the world. Into all of us. Because that night, the dancefloor was our church. That brunch, Michal was my spiritual teacher.

I’m not sure where I’m headed next, but I do know that I will always strive to see the divine in the unexpected. And to love people — deeply and sincerely, every single day of my life.