Published by In day-to-day life, we have minor annoyances and stressors that draw our attention away from our health and well-being. For some, one of the first things to go is our spirituality. For those who have weekly meetings, it is easier to keep up with motions of religion, but even they can loose the heart of spirituality. And for those of us whose lives are based firmly upon that spirituality, it can be distressing when we feel we are disconnected from that important part of who we are. Finding small ways to bring our beliefs back into our every day lives without being stressed to do so can make it easier to cope with everything else we can feel is being thrown at us by life.
One good way to bring these together is to bring images into your personal workspace. If the idea of religious figures and symbols in your place of work bothers you, the symbols don’t have to be overtly religious. Symbols that have special meanings are often times personally more powerful than general religious objects. Having that constant image gives us a moment to pause and remember that we are not alone. If you have something specific to remember – like presenting grace under pressure and charity if you work with customers – assign these traits to ambiguous figures – I used frogs, for example. Putting these images around and assigning them special attributes acts as visual reminders of our spiritual side so that it becomes more thoroughly rooted in your every day routine.
Another way to bring your spirituality into the day to day is to bless your food before meals. Take a moment before you eat to be thankful for the meal. While you’re at it, this is a wonderful time to pray for anyone that’s on your mind – even yourself. This simple task can bring peace to a frantic day and make every meal feel special. If you practice Reiki, channeling Reiki energy into your food is a great way to do this, and raise your vibrations at the same time. If you are uncomfortable doing this around others, it’s a simple matter to just fold your hands as in prayer and no one will know the difference. Remember, you are what you eat, so blessing your food is like blessing yourself!
The one place you never want to forget your spirituality is at home, but it can still get lost. Whether you live with parents, a spouse, children, or just roommates, finding a way to bring your spirituality into your home can sometimes be difficult. If your personal space is confined to one room – if you live with your parents or roommates – then this can be especially problematic. But never impossible. If there is an unused corner or even just a clear stretch of floor along the wall, set up an alter. Most Pagans will understand what I mean by this, but maybe some of you others might not be too sure. Think of this as a prayer alter, a place where you can sit and put yourself in a prayerful mind. It can have religious symbols, or it can simply hold candles/incense to burn while you pray. While some Pagan traditions may be strict about what to have where on your alter for ritual, your personal alter is just that – personal – so there is no way to “mess up” your alter set up.
The thing to remember when you are finding ways to bring you spirituality to the forefront of your life – if it feels like a chore, you’re going to become annoyed at having to make yourself do it. Start small and don’t be too hard on yourself if you don’t reach your goal immediately. We all practice our religions because none of us are perfect and none of us will get everything right. Sometimes the mistakes you make toward your goal can have unexpected positive results for yourself or someone near you. Your efforts might even inspire someone around you to take the steps they’ve been meaning to take.
Great article. You just inspired me to turn the little shelf thing above my bed into an altar!