Soul
Practices
What is a Practice?
A practice is an activity one undertakes on a regular basis which assists in developing a part of our Selves that is often neglected.
There is an inner sacred dimension to our lives which must be recognized and embraced if we are to be whole in body mind and spirit.
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Spiritual practices take us deeper inside ourselves. Through them we can access our subconscious and connect to our inner wisdom. Practices also help us to re-connect to our bodies, so we can begin to hear to its messages.
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Anything can become a practice. It can be formal like sitting in meditation, or journaling each morning. It can also be a hobby, such as gardening, cooking, creative pursuits, walking, exercising.
The key is to do your practice with conscious awareness and presence. That is what differentiates it from everyday actions.
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What makes it soulful is choosing a practice that aligns with your soul. Ask your heart what brings you joy and create a practice around that.
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How to Practice
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1) Create a ritual around your sacred time and space. A simple ritual is best so that you can practice it wherever you find yourself. Light a candle, say a prayer, or open your arms in welcome to the universe.
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2) Commit to a regular time. The morning is best so you can begin your day with a positive attitude and a centered being. It is most likely that if you don’t do it in the morning it won’t get done. Life in all of its complexity has a way of taking over.
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3) Do it every day.
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4) Journal what you learn from it. Express yourself in words or through a creative activity. Let the inner flow out of you and find expression in the world.
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Heart-Brain Coherence Practice
Create Loving Energy and Share!
Step 1: Heart Focus. Shift your focus into the area of your heart. Begin to breathe slowly and deeply, as if your breath is coming in and going out from your heart. Keep breathing for at least ten repetitions. (This step is a powerful technique to reduce stress, to slow yourself down, and to activate the loving energy you are.)
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Step 2: Activate a Positive – Appreciative Feeling. Make a sincere attempt to experience a regenerative feeing such as appreciation or care for someone or something in your life. (The key in this step is to first create the feeling, to the best of your ability, and then to embrace the feeling, again to the best of your ability. Your ability to sustain the feeling is what maintains the optimal conversation between your heart and your brain.)
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Step 3: Send out this loving energy - Use your imagination to send it to yourself, and everyone you know. See and feel it energizing those who have asked for prayer, loved ones, all of humanity, and mother earth.
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Adapted from HeartMath Institute.
Journaling Practices
Stream of Consciousness Writing
Set a timer for 10 minutes. Think of a word ___________ (you choose) and write “stream of consciousness style” without taking your hand from the page. Do not stop writing. Allow your mind to go anywhere and everywhere. Open the floodgates until the timer beeps. For this exercise, you can also use any word that draws you.
Note: Free-flow writing serves as an avenue to tap into the subconscious, where repressed thoughts and feelings hide, allowing us full conscious expression.
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Here's a Poem that came flowing out of me one day
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listen for the spirit
of your life’s longing
you may feel it in a heartbeat
or on the breath of the wind
accept it when you feel it
in all that is
live and breathe and love forever
in the spirit of the wind
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I hope you'll get in touch with your Creative Muse too! It's fun!!