Spiritual Practice Ideas
Below you will find ideas for spiritual practices/disciplines that you can do alone, with a partner, or in a group! We will continually update this resource, so check back periodically for new practices to try!
Personal Practices (that we do alone)
Sacred Writing: Following prompts (Karen Hering’s “Writing to Wake the Soul”is a great resource), freewriting, or daily examine practices.
Example of daily examine questions:
Where today did I feel most connected?
Where today did I feel most disconnected or least connected?
Sacred Reading (Lectio Divina): Sacred reading is a practice of immersion. This resource is through the lens of Christianity, but the practice it delineates can be applied to any sacred/spiritual or personally meaningful writings.
Gratitude Journal: Consider a 5-year journal, which will circle you back to your gratitudes from past years.
Altar Building: Altars are a designated place of ritual. Click here to learn more about the benefits of altar-building and how to build your own altar.
Meditation and Mindfulness practices: Visit our Meditations and Sustaining Practices topic for guided meditations and practices. We will regularly update this topic with new content so be sure to hit the topic follow button!
Partnership practices (that we do with one other person)
Tech Sabbath: Pick one day a week to turn off technology. Click here for tips on practicing the tech sabbath.
Designated Time for Deepening Spiritual Connection: Set aside a week or a month for daily spiritual practice and checking in with each other.
Communal Practices (that we do with others, in groups)
Centering Prayer:
Chanting: There are many chants from many traditions that cultivate community and mindfulness.
Buddhist Mantra: Om Mani Padme Hum
Mindful movement and dancing, such as Gabrielle Roth’s 5 Rhythms
Mind Practices (that engage our minds and thinking)
Body Practices (that get our physical selves involved)
Yoga: Join our yoga field trip at 9 am on Friday, April 16th!
T’ai Chi Chih: Foothills hosts Tai Chi every Monday morning!
Mindful breathing practices
Mindfulness walks: Look around, listen, and smell. Notice how your feet feel against the earth. Engage your senses and notice details.
Massage & Stretching: Practice body awareness, identify where you are holding tension, and consciously try to breathe into those spaces.
Soul Practices (that make us use our imagination and creativity)
Make Art:
Watercolor: improvising with color
Coloring in “coloring book” sheets in a meditative way.
Collage, such as Soul Collage
Mindfulness walks: Look around, listen, and smell. Notice how your feet feel against the earth. Engage your senses and notice details.
Family Practices (that are found in and around the people with whom we live and interact)
Family nature walks: a practice of noticing, wonder, and gratitude
Family rituals:
Table Blessing: taking a moment to offer gratitude for all the sustains us.
Intentional launches & landings: greeting and departing each other with loving intention, saying a meaningful good night (especially with teens who may be pulling away) and greeting each other with a full heart
Justice Practices (that engage us in the work of helping to heal this all-too-broken world)
Practices offered through the Irresistible Podcast.