Tag: daily practice

A Daily Practice

by 8hummingbirdway

A new client recently expressed interest in establishing a daily practice. She and I will talk more about it, and I wanted to share some thoughts here as well.

My daily practice has the role of renewing my focus each morning. It is usually the first thing I do. If I had a rough start or am encountering challenges, it brings me to gratitude and to connection with God/Creator/Spirit and to humility. I walk away with the resources I need to be my best self.

My daily practice evolves. There are times when it felt important to be outside every morning and dance on the earth and sing out loud. I miss that. I would like to do more of that. But I live in a neighborhood now and I don’t have a desire to perform for humans – only bees and the groundhog and flowers and the wind.

Today my practice is to go to an altar in my loft over the garage. My altar is a small low table. On it I have the basics – the 4 elements represented by stone, feathers, a candle and water .

I have photos above my altar of those I look to for inspiration – those I admire.

I have small photos of beloved people too .

I light the candle, and my practice begins. “I light the flame of connection to Spirit, to Creator, to my helping spirits ….”

I speak a lot of words. It feels right to me to express myself verbally, to offer gratitude in this way and to reaffirm my connection and gratitude to and for my ancestors, to ask for protection for myself (and for others who have given me permission to do so).

I sing too. I sing in gratitude …and to express my willingness to be a tool for helpful transformation.

If only one or two sentences of this description resonate with you, that could be your daily practice. It might change …and grow …it might be perfect for you for a lifetime. Or at some point you may feel you no longer need it.

A daily practice could be as simple as touching a special stone on your way to the kitchen with the words “Thank you for my life and for this day.” or a chant or a simple song.

My altar practice is not a rule or an obligation; it’s just a help along the way.

It helps me drop my anger or annoyance toward others.

It helps me remember my blessings.

It reminds me of the support I have.

It reminds me of who I want to be in each day.

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Presence

by 8hummingbirdway

This is an unusual trait for an adult.

Children are amazingly present to each moment. Perhaps this is my favorite aspect of children.

I totally enjoy children. They are honest and wise and full of wonder.

I don’t have any little ones in my life right now. I thought retirement would be all about children, but this has not been the case.

I have faith that they will show up when the time is right.

I realized recently that my children are all very present much of the time. This is good news. I must have played a part in this trait showing up in all 3 of them.

Presence could be defined as a lack of distraction.

When you are with a present person, they are right there, aware of you, sensing your being, your feelings, your presence.

Part of presence is paying attention.

I am fortunate to have several friends who carry presence.

I would like to be more present myself. Mostly I think I do well, but I can be lost in distractions at times. Internally.

It has been some time since I had a meditation practice, but when I did, it brought me to a place where I had a more empty and attentive mind. When I stacked the wood, I stacked the wood. When I washed the dishes, I washed the dishes.

I guess that’s the way I honed my ability to be present.

Also parenting; the children needed my presence and attention.

As adults, we still need presence and attention. Sometimes it is hard to find.

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Daily Practice

by 8hummingbirdway

One of the best things I do for my personal wellbeing is to connect with God/Spirit/Source every day. For me, this is often first thing upon awakening. It sets the tone for the day and renews my deepest intentions. 

It’s kind of like a visit with my best friend. 

Actually, it IS a visit to my best friend .. and biggest supporter.

An altar can be as simple as a candle that you light to symbolize or enact this connection. Or sage to burn. Or water to anoint yourself. Or a stone to hold.

I have all of these present on my altar because I am oriented in an earth-based tradition where the simplest aspects of spirituality are earth, air, fire, and water. We all carry these 4 elements in this physical realm we inhabit.

Over time, other items have come to sit on and near my altar – small photos of my most beloved ones, reminders of my helping spirits, symbols of my ancestors, seashells + feathers, and reminder notes about how to navigate my life.

I realize as I write this, that my time at the altar IS prayer. The presence of the 4 elements and other items make it stand apart from what I have thought of as prayer. But it is the same action – being present to the spirit within and the source beyond. 

Anything can be spokenor expressed here at my altar …gratitude, requests, intentions. Also songs are sung.

Gratitude – I give thanks daily for my life and for the present day, for my loved ones and my home, for my ancestors who walked this earth before me and brought me forth. I give thanks also, as I am moved, for spiritual support, for opportunities, experiences, teachings, etc.

Requests – I ask for protection, transformation, healing, release, expansion, alignment with my soul, opportunity to help, 

Intentions are woven into my requests – to walk a path of service and humility, to be more aware, to navigate life with love and generosity, to be present and open, etc.

If you are stepping onto a new path of connection with God/Spirit/Source, or if you want to strengthen the path you are already on, you may find a daily practice of your own creation to be a help to you.

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