Core Spiritual Practices

When it comes to spiritual practice, outer trappings are not important. If certain rituals or traditions speak to you, by all means use them. If they don’t, simply create your own: each one of us is unique and needs to find what works for him or her. However, it is helpful to consider some core practices that have historically been used by people around the world to attune themselves with the spiritual reality of their being. 1. Meditation: the practice of calming one’s mental and emotional bodies to come into a place of peace and quiet allows our higher faculties and higher consciousness to speak to us directly. Stress reduction, self-improvement, personal growth and the development of a stronger connection with the spiritual realm are some of the key beneficial outcomes of a consistent spiritual practice of meditation. 2. Practice of detachment and self-awareness: any practice that helps you to step back from over-identification with your physical body and personality/ego will bring greater peace and self-awareness into your life. Soul lessons can be more readily understood and integrated into the physical order of life through consistent effort in the area of detachment and self-awareness. 3. Service: charity, volunteering and other forms of service to others in need is a time-honored tradition that can beautifully support the essential qualifies of the soul. In fact, scientific research has validated what so many of us have already known from personal experience: working to improve the lives of others is good medicine for both our minds and our spirits. 4. Creativity: expressing ourselves creatively – whether through art, music, writing, technological innovations, or new methods of education, business, healing or any other pursuit where we apply our talents and imaginations to create something new and useful – is an important form of spiritual practice. Using our minds and spirits in creative ways serves as a complement to the greater creative force which birthed the universe. 5. Spiritual study: we all need spiritual sustenance; this can come in the form of reading and contemplation on spiritual topics, participating in workshops and trainings, chanting and listening to sacred music, spiritual dance or movement and many other activities with a spiritual focus. Learning from one another allows us to remember truths we may have forgotten or that may otherwise be lying dormant within us. 6. Physical practices: yoga, sacred dance, tai chi and the many varied forms of martial arts or other physically based practices can also serve as a gateway to the Divine. The body can provide an immense source of wisdom and guidance on our spiritual journey, and practices that respect and incorporate the physical body can lead us towards greater union with Spirit. 7. Connection with nature: connecting with nature – whether through hiking, camping, gardening, mountain climbing, taking care of animals, environmental work or any other practice that brings us close to the earth and its incredible beauty – is a potent and profound way to connect with the heart and mind of our Creator. The perfect order behind all of creation can be felt most deeply in a natural environment that resonates with the greater harmony of the universe. 8. Devotional and ceremonial practices: for many people, spiritual services, prayer, chanting, singing, dancing and other spiritually focused activities serve as an important support for fulfilling the desire of their souls to experience the transcendent and inspirational nature of spirit. The path of devotion and ceremony can serve as an important means of experiencing and expressing our divine nature. 9. Community building: joining with others in community, whether formally or informally, is a powerful spiritual practice. When we join with others – whether it’s for a simple dinner, to elect a leader, to come together in times of difficulty or create a spiritual community – we form a common bond. In coming together, we recognize and acknowledge our shared experiences and the potential for unity and harmonious co-existence within the human family.