Spiritual Anger

I beginning to think that to live a spiritual, compassionate life is to also allow myself to be angry.  I think that maybe being compassionate for myself is another concept that would be OK for anger towards others.  I believe the more I tap into my heart which means opening my heart up which means being in touch with my emotions which means having permission to be angry is a path for my spiritual journey that I need to take.

Anger is passion. I believe I need to allow myself to give myself that full range of emotions where passion is at both ends of that spectrum, from anger to deep engagement.  I believe that is why I don't have a clear idea on what my passion, my Life's Work is for me.  I have trained myself not to fully engage in what I love and what I hate.  I took on my family and my Japanese culture's values of not being emotional.

So when is it OK to be angry?  How do I reprogram myself to know which situations that I should get angry about?  What IS righteous anger?  I feel that it is standing up for myself kind of anger where I perceive people who are not giving me respect.  How about those who cut me off while I'm driving?  How about dealing with customer service?

Julia Cameron, the author of The Artist's Way, says, “Rage at a bully or at a bullying situation is actually a wonderful sign. Once we own it, it is our own rage at allowing ourselves and others to be bullied. If it is our own, we can use it. Yes, this rage feel murderous and distorting, but is is actually a needed corrective. If our rage is that large, so are we.” 

As I play around the idea of when I can practice my anger, I realize that I have not much a clue.  Maybe I should just start small and work on my anger toward those that I know that I am already angry at, like my ex-wife, my older brother, my former bosses, or most Republicans or Tea Baggers?  I believe that this is easier to do than to be fully into my joy.  I vaguely remember those feelings more than anger which I never allowed myself to engage in.

I probably cannot defend my desire to be angry, especially toward someone, as a spiritual practice but there you go.  Psychological health and spiritual practice are intertwined don't you think?  I think being emotionally healthy begets enhanced spiritual enlightenment, or at least some peace within.

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