Daily Spiritual practice--how does this work for you?

[HappyHappyMommy]

So I've been thinking about this a lot recently. I find more centered when I can do a bit of spiritual practice each day, but I'm struggling a bit. If you do any kind of religious or spiritual practice daily, would you share with me what works for you?

--Where do you practice? At your home? Outside? At a center of worship?

--Do you practice at the same time every day?
--Do you practice alone or with others?

--Any tips for sustaining a daily practice?

Thanks in advance!

ETA: I welcome suggestions regardless of what faith/spiritual direction you identify with or what kind of practice you do. I'm most interested in how we each incorporate our practice into our day-to-day lives.

[Nazsmum]

Originally Posted by HappyHappyMommy 

So I've been thinking about this a lot recently. I find more centered when I can do a bit of spiritual practice each day, but I'm struggling a bit. If you do any kind of religious or spiritual practice daily, would you share with me what works for you?

--Where do you practice? At your home? Outside? At a center of worship?

--Do you practice at the same time every day?
--Do you practice alone or with others?

--Any tips for sustaining a daily practice?

Thanks in advance!

ETA: I welcome suggestions regardless of what faith/spiritual direction you identify with or what kind of practice you do. I'm most interested in how we each incorporate our practice into our day-to-day lives.

I am a christian..

Where do you practice?

HOME- I read my bible and devotional in "my seat".  I pray as I'm reading but I do must of my praying in bed in the dark. (I have done this since I'm a little girl)

OUTSIDE- I really my favorite place to worship God. I can sing and dance in open spaces. I had a friend that we would get together and sing and praise the Lord once of week in the park.

CHURCH- I do worship at church. BUT the church that we go to now does not have a real joy to worship.

CAR- I do most of my learning in the car. I LOVE Let's Talk about Jesus radio show. I also buy CD from Hope of the World MInistries. So that is were I listen and learn from pastor/teacher.

With others- I invite people over for the Lord's Supper and other holidays. We had an open house for Hanukkah. We had some great people to share with....BUT in the long run I'm not go at this part. I don't fit in at the church that we are going to....the women's group is not somewhere I feel welcome.

FAMILY- I try very hard to make faith a normal part of our day. We pray together and talk about the Lord at many time during the day.

Sustaining daily practice- tip- If do something give it a few days to become a habit. You might get busy and forget a day or two. But get right bavk to it.

Some years I don't read my Bible everyday....but that is OK. I know that I can get back to it tomorrow. Some with other things that I talked about here.

[revolting]

For sustaining a daily spiritual practice, I'm a huge fan of slacker paganism: http://www.patheos.com/blogs/pantheon/2012/06/slacker-paganism/, which I think can be applied to a variety of faiths. Choose your spiritual practices. On good days, do them all. On busy days, do one. It's okay to mumble through it. It's about showing up.

I practice predominately at home and outside. I practice roughly at the same times every day, just because my kids thrive on routine. I practice with my children, as a family, and alone. We used to attend a place of worship, but since moving, we haven't found one we like.
 

[Ella-6]

The way I first got into the habit of sustaining spiritual practice was by making a deal with myself. I decided that I would not lay down to sleep until I had meditated. This technique worked and continues to be helpful to this day (many years later).

During the day I silently chant a mantra as often as possible, even before and after speaking to another person. On the days I am most successful with this I am rewarded with an effortless meditation at night.

Tonight I'm attending a Spiritual Talk about the Bhagavad Gita. DH will return early from work to be with DS (3) so that I can be there.

Every year or so my Spiritual Teacher travels to my country so our whole family goes to see Her. This is a very special time and a wonderful experience. I am also blessed that Amma visits my dreams to give further guidance when She sees I need it.

I find that decreasing worldly commitments helps improve focus, as well as, having a giving attitude to others who are beyond my immediate family.


Note: I was brought up a Catholic and now have an Indian Guru.

[DecemberSun]

I go to church when I can.  That really fills me up.

I dig in the dirt and play in my garden, which is an awesome quiet time to reflect, talk to God, breathe, etc.

I pray silently or sing as I'm just doing day to day stuff.  It's off the top pf my head, informal, and fun.  That's my way of getting centered, grounded, and communicating with Spirit.

I make a conscious effort to be grateful and positive.  The more I recognize and give thanks for that all I have/am, the happier and more spiritually fulfilled I am.  I really hate folding, sorting, and putting away laundry so that's a great time to count my blessings (clean water in my home, money for nice clothes, etc.)

I heal with Reiki daily, so that's a direct line of communication with God right there.  :) 

I wish I had more time to do lengthy, in-depth meditations, but that's rare with a housefull of kids.  Most of the time I end up falling asleep!  ;P

[LisaW412]

I too enjoy being in nature and finding meditative moments in everyday life (while folding laundry, doing dishes, pruning in the garden).  Spending quality time with my young son feeds my spirit.  Listening to any kind of music that makes my heart sing or hearing/reading a good story also feeds my spirit.  In terms of more organized religous practices, I'm Episcopalian and I attend regular Sunday worship with my family - we have a very nice community at our Church.  I also enjoy reading Compline (http://www.bcponline.org/) when I can in the evenings, and I have been participating in Lent Madness (http://www.lentmadness.org/2013/03/martin-luther-king-jr-vs-frances-perkins-2/) as well as watching the daily videos from the Brothers of the Society of St. John the Evangelist (http://ssje.org/word/) as my Lenten discipline this year.

[Fortune Teller]

Daily tarot readings do wonders for my spirit.  

I don't always do them every day, but when I do, I am always amazed at the experience, and my days flow much better.

[HappyHappyMommy]

Thank you all for sharing these ideas; please keep them coming!
 

[owlhowl]

Not laying down to sleep until I've meditated, brilliant idea/reminder. Thank you, Ella-6!

I used to be so good at making sure I meditated daily. I really need to put some effort into starting again.

The first time I go outside each day, I take a moment to be still and listen to the world and breathe.

[HappyHappyMommy]

Thanks for the continued ideas. I'm really like the ones I can do anytime, anywhere. owlhowl, taking a moment to be still and listen to the world when I go outside sounds like a simple practice, but when I do it, it's very powerful. Several of you mentioned meditating, praying, and/or silent chanting throughout the day; I've been trying that out and liking that a lot; it feels like a way to have my spiritual practice throughout the day. DecemberSun, I like what you said about consciously being grateful; I used to do a gratitude list daily, but dropped out of habit. I think integrating gratefulness into my practices will help. My next goals: working on not going to sleep at night until I've done a practice, even a short one. Thinking about what it would mean, for me, to practice with others. And keeping revolting's wise words in mind: "Choose your spiritual practices. On good days, do them all. On busy days, do one."

Thank you all and please keep the ideas coming! Has anyone else tried a new idea from this thread?
 

[skreader]

I have a book of hours that I use - for morning, noon, evening, & compline. It's Episcopalian:

http://www.episcopalbookstore.com/product.aspx?productid=1485

Morning prayers - in my house before the rest of the family wakes up. Usually in the kitchen or the living room. Sometimes I'll read some special collect for the day or season or just one I'm very fond of. I have a copy of the Book of Common Prayer on my e-reader and have highlighted my favorites for easy retrieval.

Noon prayers - wherever I'm eating my lunch - usually before I eat.

Evening & Compline - I often skip or miss because of busy-ness. Sometimes I will do Compline lying in bed, before sleep.

I sometimes say some prayers for people in the day when I think them.

I say some rote prayers when I'm nervous, or to quell anger or impatience (like last week waiting at a luggage carousel at an airport for more than 30 minutes, waiting for my bag to come out).

Mornings when I have enough time and energy to do my hatha yoga stretching, I sometimes say some prayers when I'm in the "easy pose".

I go to Church most Sundays (10 am - Eucharist)

[Thistlemoon]

Originally Posted by HappyHappyMommy 

So I've been thinking about this a lot recently. I find more centered when I can do a bit of spiritual practice each day, but I'm struggling a bit. If you do any kind of religious or spiritual practice daily, would you share with me what works for you?

--Where do you practice? At your home? Outside? At a center of worship?

I practice at home and outside in nature, which I would consider my center of worship.

--Do you practice at the same time every day?

I have a daily devotional practice which is a mixture of prayers, meditations and reading.

--Do you practice alone or with others?

I normally practice alone, but on holy days the family gets involved.

--Any tips for sustaining a daily practice?

Just do it! Sometimes it is less than perfect and somedays it might feel rushed, but it matters.

[Backroads]

Originally Posted by HappyHappyMommy 

So I've been thinking about this a lot recently. I find more centered when I can do a bit of spiritual practice each day, but I'm struggling a bit. If you do any kind of religious or spiritual practice daily, would you share with me what works for you?

--Where do you practice? At your home? Outside? At a center of worship?

--Do you practice at the same time every day?
--Do you practice alone or with others?

--Any tips for sustaining a daily practice?

Thanks in advance!

ETA: I welcome suggestions regardless of what faith/spiritual direction you identify with or what kind of practice you do. I'm most interested in how we each incorporate our practice into our day-to-day lives.

I'm LDS (aka Mormon).

I practice all over.  I try to get in daily scripture study and prayer as well as yoga and meditation.  I also attend church and temple.  

Right now, I don't practice at the same time everyday, other than prayer at morning and night.  

I attend church and temple with others and my family does family prayer.

For sustaining a daily practice, make it a priority and something you will remember to do until you get in the habit.  A familiar ritual works for me, but I also try to do something different now and then.

[inconditus]

--Where do you practice?

At your home? -- Meditation in whatever room in the house I feel like. Eventually I would like to have a specific room set up so that the energies can linger there but it hasn't happened yet. 

Outside? If I go to a park I like to meditate there. It's always better in nature :)

--Do you practice at the same time every day? No, and I don't really every day. I try to have a good dialouge with myself every day though. So that kind of counter acts it when I forget. I'm a firm believer that EVERYTHING is a spiritual experience depending on your persective.

--Do you practice alone or with others? Mostly alone though I would like to swindle DH into a sitting meditation with me. When LO is born I plan on having us meditate together, even when she's really little I'll put her in a carrier on my chest while I meditate so she can soak it all up.

--Any tips for sustaining a daily practice? Set an alarm? Don't beat yourself up about it if you don't remember. There is always tomorrow. 

[Dancianna]

I feel like this list is my "tribe".  People who have a regular spiritual practice to the extent that the folks here describe.  Thank you HHM for starting this thread.  It's nice to know I am not the only one meditating and praying through my day.

Actually, that is my intention.  Reality is I pray and meditate int he morning for sure, but through the rest of the day it's catch as catch can.  I do a few of the morning blessings from the Jewish prayer service, then read from some inspirational or holy reading, then meditate for 5 -20 minutes, then write to G-d in my journal - another form of prayer.  Dh and I also meet a few mornings a week to pray together.

-Dancy

[Dancianna]

Originally Posted by inconditus 

--Any tips for sustaining a daily practice? Set an alarm? Don't beat yourself up about it if you don't remember. There is always tomorrow. 

Yeah.  Thanks for the reminder.