spiritual mamas, give me tools to nourish my soul!

[La Sombra]

Hi mamas, I've never posted here before, never even been the remotest bit interested in this forum, frankly. Yet here I am!

I feel like recently I have had a kind of spiritual awakening. I think I've always been a kind of spiritual person, that is to say that I've always been aware of my soul and its connection to something bigger than me but I've struggled with how to nourish that connection.

I've been going through some really difficult times lately in my marriage and I find myself connecting for the first time with my spirituality on a really deep level. I have days where I have this thrilling and overwhelming sense of being on a journey and being the sculptor of my destiny. I feel like I am learning to listen to my heart, a concept that had always alluded me (someone who is a terrible over-thinker and people-pleaser).

When I have days of doubt and fear, I remember than maintaining this spiritual connection is WORK. It wasn't just a sort of fleeting gift from the universe that can waft in and out of my life willy-nilly. It is there because I do work to keep it there. And when I don't do that work, the connection weakens.

So I want to ask you mamas who don't necessarily prescribe to a certain religious practice (I am certainly not Christian, Jewish, Muslim...there are elements of Buddhism that I like, and I also am interested in Paganism) what things do you do to nourish this connection and keep your soul fed?

Examples of things I'm doing now but I'd love to learn of MORE tools:
*journaling
*meditating
*mindfulness exercises
*dream analysis
*talking about my spirit (I find just talking about it seems to, I don't know, perk it up somehow!)

Other ideas? Thank you!

[kangamitroo]

see if your library has The Energy of Prayer by Thich Nhat Hanh. i think prayer can be very nourishing, but the form that prayer takes is very personal; i could not exactly give you specific tools/instructions. if Buddhism has some appeal for you, his book (which is meant for readers of all affiliations) might be helpful.

do you practice any creative arts? check out John Daido Loori's book Zen of Creativity for spiritual tools that work in your art making.

i enjoy spiritual reading: meditating for openness before reading, noticing parts of the reading that jump out at me, then reflecting or journaling about those parts.

[Magelet]

I have to say that in addition to looking for MORE tools, you may want to learn how to go deeper with the ones you have. meditation can take so many forms, and lead you to so many things. Its also a great begining for trancework, which I have always found to be incredible (its not something I do regularly, but when I feel I need to, or am in need of some guidance. Its too powerful a tool for me, to use everyday. its more of a special powerful tool for me). I would check out what books your library has on meditation. there are religion neutral books, buddhist books, pagan books, jewish books and I'm sure all sorts of others (those are just the ones I know about for sure). Many of them will have mulitple types of meditation, and you may want to use one or several of them.

Depending on what you believe in terms of higher power/divinity, talking to said higher power. (like talking about your spirit in some ways). If you believe in a deeper inner self, talking to that. (admittedly, from what I've learned, talk isn't the best way to reach it, but I like talking to my higher power. it can be very helpful.)

Also, creating your own rituals. I have to say that there are a LOT of excellent pagan books about ritual creation. you can learn a lot from them though at some point, the only way to learn is to give it a try. (there is a little bit about trancework in them, though I had a hard time finding as much as I wanted).

song and dance. whether its praying, letting your soul speaking, or being in the moment, song and dance can be VERY powerful spiritual tools. (particularly alone, or in a same sex group, ime. maybe it sounds old fashioned, but there are certain times when a same sex group can be much more powerful, particularly for dance.)

good luck!

[eastkygal]

Prayer
Meditation
Kundalini Yoga

I'm a Christian and those three things have awakened me so much spiritually in the last months. And of course my Creator. I think spirituality is a very individual thing. But, Kundalini Yoga I believe is for people of all faiths. I'm loving it.

[PPK]

Kundalini Yoga (prayer and meditation included).

Flower essences

Jin Shin Jyutsu

Dance

Being outdoors (in nature) when possible.

[EnviroBecca]

I find it very helpful to put inspiring quotes in the corner of my bedroom mirror or on the kitchen cabinet door next to the stove so that I read and think about them regularly. These may be Bible verses, song lyrics, or just a sentence or short paragraph from something I read.

[aweynsayl]

since you mention paganism, you might pop on over to the altar camp thread here and check out maybe making yourself a special space for exploring your spirituality... altars being not specific to any one faith, and within that not even limited to a single focus.... having something tangible to see might spark something in your exploration!
enjoy!

[javilu]

nak

i just came across this thread and wanted to let you know i am in the same boat. i feel like i've finally let myself embrace my own soul, and it's been something i've denied for so long i feel like i just MUST nurture this poor little spirit of mine. i'm going to look into yoga, for sure. i think art is a good, soul-affirming activity (but it's not my thing...i think). music definitely leaps out to me. the UU church in my town has a drumming circle i'd like to explore. i think running and dancing and other things can help, too.

i'm interested in learning more about my"self" and it feels good to finally pay attention to my spirit.

(this is complicated by the fact that my very atheist husband doesn't believe in the existence of the soul, so i feel like i'm bursting at the seams, so happy to *be*, and i can't even mention it outloud. so i really, really need a spiritual forum.)