Spirituality is often mistakenly thought of as synonymous with religion, we can be spiritual without being attached to any religion.The AA 12 step program talks about a higher power which removes the idea of a necessary supreme being. Having a sense of something that is greater than the individual applies to a wide sets of beliefs and experiences. Occasionally we may, out of the blue, have a fleeting sense of unity – no separation and no self – with all and everything – such experiences can come when we open to them. A prerequisite for such experiences is that we slow down and make space – something as elders we can have time for.
A way of approaching the progression of ageing is to see it as a journey towards completion, to wholeness and to self-realization. In all times there have been people who have lived to a great age and who have seen ageing as spiritually important although this has often been seen as time to seek forgiveness of the deity, etc. It is only in the past century, thanks to advances in health, diet, sanitation and education has the opportunities of an extended elderhood been open to so many of us. (In 2018 there were 12 million folk over 65 and 5.4 million over 75 in the UK (ONS 2019).) In essence, ageing can be regarded as a spiritual journey.
For many people religion does provide for their spiritual needs, for others being part of nature fulfils that need and for others it might be through secular meditation and the practice of being present to each moment. One of the advantages in living at this time in western society is that we are free to develop our own spiritual paths rather than have to blindly follow the cultural norm without question. We are free to explore our personal spirituality and to find our spiritual tribe.
See also the Spirituality section of the Wisdom page