How to Use the 7 Deadly Sins to Enjoy a Better Life Experience

I would be lying if I didn't confess to being a sinner. Aren't most of us? Only I didn't understand what that should mean. Religion teaches us that sinning is a moral failing. It can be, but more often than not, it is a cumulation of the unhealthy cycles we are trained in during our formative years. The longer we dwell in unhealthy cycles, the deeper they become ingrained in our behavior. It usually takes a radical experience and decision to create healthier behaviors that lead to a better life experience.

A few years ago, I looked up the history of the deadly sins and was frankly surprised to discover its true origins. I always thought it came from the bible and was somehow a "formal" list. It turns out the list of sins (8 initially) was created by the monk (no, not Jay Shetty ;-) ) and theologian Evagrius Ponticus around 400 AD. It was a list of unhealthy behaviors that could lead to the death of the soul. Something I fully understand as a Shaman (druid, community healer, etc.) and someone who fought depression for years.

My depression worsened by not keeping up with my spiritual practices. Which is what the sin of being slovenly is all about. We have come to think of it as an external cleanliness when that is just one symptom. Slovenly is more about a lack of internal maintenance that can eventually manifest into a lack of external maintenance.

Evagrius identified 8 "temptations of the flesh" that one should guard against. These were later refined and consolidated into a list of 7 deadly sins by Pope Gregory I in the 6th century. This is about when the list became monetizable. The sins evolved into a tool for judgment, guilt, shame, and a host of lower-frequency energies ranking at the bottom of the human consciousness scale. It's the perfect setup for selling redemption.

I am not opposed to religion, just the way it has been used to control humanity and build empires that own tens of thousands of empty (but valuable!) buildings in a world with millions of homeless.

When we don't know how to manage our life experiences and choose healthy thought habits, we succeed in habit-forming unhealthy behaviors that lead to deepening sin. When we allow these unhealthy behaviors to fill the void, we realize a bottomless pit that often ends in misery or the death of the soul. Which is why they are called the 7 deadly sins.

The sins are supposed to be red flags that signal you need to make different decisions. They are not helpful as judgments or indicators of your morality, especially given that many of us learned our unhealthy thought habits and repetitive behaviors from our family, community, school, media, and church.

My suggestion is to turn these into a useful list of signs to call out behaviors before they lead somewhere dark and miserable. When you use them as guideposts and not condemnations of your evilness, they become valuable tools instead of suppressive self-judgment.

Here are the 7 "deadly" sins:

1. Pride: Excessive belief in one's abilities or worth, often leading to arrogance and a lack of humility.
2. Greed: Excessive desire for material wealth or possessions, often at the expense of others.
3. Lust: Intense or excessive desire or craving for gratification, often outside moderation.
4. Envy: Resentment or jealousy of others' qualities, success, or possessions, leading to spite and desire for what they have.
5. Gluttony: Excessive indulgence beyond what is necessary for sustenance or enjoyment.
6. Wrath: Intense or uncontrollable feelings of anger, hostility, or revenge that often lead to violence or harm toward others.
7. Sloth: Laziness or apathy towards one's responsibilities, duties, or spiritual obligations.

Here are some practices that will help to prevent the death of the soul:

1. Mindfulness meditation: Mindfulness meditation can help increase self-awareness, emotional regulation, and impulse control.?
2. Regular exercise: Regular physical exercise promotes physical health, reduces stress, and enhances overall well-being.?
3. Healthy relationships: Cultivating healthy, supportive relationships with family members, friends, and peers provides emotional stability, social connection, and a sense of belonging.?
4. Self-reflection and journaling: Taking time for self-reflection and journaling allows individuals to explore their thoughts, feelings, and experiences in a structured and reflective manner.?
5. Setting goals and priorities: Establishing clear goals, values, and priorities provides direction and purpose in life.?
6. Lifelong learning: Embracing a mindset of lifelong learning fosters intellectual curiosity, critical thinking, and personal development.?
7. Healthy lifestyle choices: Adopting a healthy lifestyle that includes balanced nutrition, adequate sleep, and stress management techniques promotes physical, mental, and emotional well-being.?
8. Community engagement and volunteerism: Participating in community service, volunteer work, and philanthropic activities fosters a sense of altruism, empathy, and social responsibility.?
9. Practicing gratitude: Cultivating an attitude of gratitude involves acknowledging and appreciating life's blessings, opportunities, and positive aspects.?

Love and Light,

Shaman Isis

www.ShamanIsis.com