Building a Daily Practice

As busy as we are, how do we find time for all the worthwhile pursuits of the spirit? Most of us like the idea of meditating, of doing devotional rituals, of spending time outdoors--but most days I'm doing well if I make it home from work and collapse on the couch without having killed anyone, and there are a thousand things to do in those few hours we are permitted between work and sleep.

I've been heard to say many times that I wished there was such a thing as a Pagan monastery. If I were filthy rich and could do whatever I wanted with my money, I would buy an island somewhere and create a place where people could come to live a devotional life, and others could come on retreat. I love the idea of living far away from the maddening world, away from commercialism and television and American politics and religious nuts (I've always preferred spiritual fruits), where we would grow all our own food and spend the whole day in reverence with rituals at dawn and dusk, prayers for meals, chants and songs...

Perhaps someday a sack of gold will fall out of the sky and not hit me in the head, and I will be able to live out that monastic dream; in the meantime, like most Wiccans, I live and work in the rat-race world of modern Western civilization, and somehow have to eke out a spiritual life amid the commitments and craziness we all face.

As busy as we are, how do we find time for all the worthwhile pursuits of the spirit? Most of us like the idea of meditating, of doing devotional rituals, of spending time outdoors--but most days I'm doing well if I make it home from work and collapse on the couch without having killed anyone, and there are a thousand things to do in those few hours we are permitted between work and sleep. So many things compete for our attention. Twenty minutes of meditation may seem laughable with the kids tearing the house apart and a new episode of Desperate Housewives on at nine.

Still and all, regular contact with the sacred is absolutely vital to our spiritual growth. If we find a way to nurture that connection, life somehow begins to run more smoothly, and those day to day annoyances like jobs and other humans seem less difficult to deal with. We feel better physically and emotionally and the commonplace begins to take on a new importance, a new beauty. As hard as it is to maintain a dailiy practice, it's more than worth it.

You may discover, for example, that sitting down at your altar to meditate every single day simply doesn't happen. Well, what if you tried for three times a week, or even two? On the other days, find something else that fits in with your life--while I believe we should challenge ourselves and learn spiritual discipline, we also have to be realistic. Anything that is too disruptive to your daily routine you are more likely to give up. Look for places in your day that you can pause a moment and ground, or become aware of the changing seasons. Take your coffee break outside and breathe in the fresh air for a moment. Every little bit helps.

My advice, whether you have four hours of free time a day or five minutes, is this: every day, do something that nourishes your spirit. Anything. Try to find one small thing every day, and make it your practice.

As an exercise in finding what works for you, do this: for the next week, every day try to do one thing that you consider spiritual. It doesn't have to be meditation or ritual per se. There are a great many things we do every day that could easily become a spiritual experience. As you navigate your day, think about the ordinary activities you perform and consider how they could be devoted to the sacred.

Simple Ideas for Daily Devotion

One of the most basic and easy things to start out with is eating mindfully. Everyone eats, or at least everyone healthy does. Every day, at at least one meal, try not to rush. Look at the food in front of you and think about where it came from, the plants and animals whose lives went into it, the humans who labored to bring it to you. Think of the energy of the Goddess and God that infuses every bite. As you eat it, feel yourself taking in that energy which then becomes a part of you.

You can do the same thing with drinking, especially water. Water, as one of our four essential Elements, is the life-giving essence of the Mother; as you drink visualize its energy filling you. Give thanks for the gift that Nature has bestowed upon you that will now help you to become healthier.

At night, as you prepare to go to sleep, take a moment to give thanks to the Goddess and God for three positive things you experienced and then three negative ones you learned from. Another idea, a variation on the "God bless Mommy and Daddy and Fido and..." prayers of our childhood is to devote a few minutes each night to blessing the people in your life one by one; visualize their faces, then visualize the light of Deity surrounding them and giving them strength. Be sure and include yourself.

You might be rushed first thing in the morning, but odds are you have at least a few seconds to pause before you get out of bed and ask a quick blessing on the day or recite an affirmation or statement of intention. Though I'm no fan of St. Patrick, I do like a prayer that was attributed to him, which I reworked in a more Wicca-friendly manner:

I rise today
through the strength of Earth
the wisdom of Air
the passion of Fire
the compassion of Water
and the grace of Goddess and God.
May I and all in my heart be blessed.

I'm always amazed at what a difference it makes to begin the day in a reverent way rather than sprinting out the door with coffee in one hand and my underwear on backwards.

Another easy yet marvelously useful idea is to leave reminders of your beliefs scattered around your home and work, where possible. Print out affirmations, quotes, poetry, pictures that speak to you, and stick them to your bathroom mirror, your fridge, in your office (inside a drawer you open frequently is an option if you don't want everyone asking about your Pagan-tude), in your car. Alternately choose one word, like "breathe" and stick it in random spots, and every time you see it, stop and take one deep, grounding breath, perhaps thinking a quick blessing or affirmation as you do so. Buddhist-inspired mindfulness verses work well here, for example: "Breathing in, I breathe in beauty. Breathing out, I breathe out judgment."

Your daily practice doesn't have to mean blocking out an hour to intone mantras or light candles; it can be anything, no matter how minute-seeming, that brings you back to an awareness of the sacred. The more you do it, the easier it gets; start simple and keep it simple, and you'll find you don't have to be a Pagan monk to enjoy a deepening, ongoing relationship with Deity.

Comments

[Wisteria]

I just started reading the book, "By Candlelight, Rites For Celebration, Blessing and Prayer", by Janina Renee. It's non-denominational, (with a decidedly Pagan slant)with some wonderful, SHORT rituals for just about every occasion and need. Five or ten minutes of mindfully lighting a candle, saying a few words of intent and you are done! This is a great way to connect with Spirit when you don't have a lot of time. She has suggested correspondences for candle colors and scented oils which can enhance the ritual, but none of those things are necessary. Just a simple, cheap, white candle...even a tea-light is fine. Candles can be left burning, or extinguished to be re-lit later at your discretion. There's really no excuse why anyone can't take FIVE minutes a day to do this.

[ceyda şanlı]

thanks from heart for your precious advices for an ongoing relationship with deity.
I live in Turkey, Anatolia, you know the ancient center of pagan issues. but I feel lonely here. I need the guidance of someone who has wisdom. I hope you are the one.

[mary]

Yes, we do have to work hard to keep our spirituality and I believe that is why we need a female perspective. I would truly like to see that Hillary Clilnton gets elected for President.

[Psychic]

It can be difficult to fit everything in at times.