Laurel Alexander

Inspiring Wellbeing, Resilience, and Imagination

We might believe that connecting to the spiritual can only happen in a holy place, e.g. a temple or church; however, our links to the profound can also occur in daily life. Here are some examples of how you might touch the sacred anytime and anywhere:

Look for Signs in Nature

Look for minor signs anytime you are out. From cloud formations to birds, maybe it’s that feather your dog brought in from the garden. It’s the little things that bind us to nature. Pick wildflowers.  Go for a walk in nature. Stop to smell the roses. Literally.

Light a Candle

Sit and gaze into it.

Scent of Spirituality

Keep a small bag of dried lavender or another fragrant herb in a drawer or cabinet. When stressed, open the bag for a deep breath of calming aromatherapy.

Bake some Magick

Make homemade foods such as jams or baked goods and give them as gifts to family members or neighbours.

Creative Expression

Take a drawing, painting or other art class and learn a new skill to express yourself.  Keep a journal.

Do the Washing Up

These are the plates, cutlery, and pans that cook the food that keeps us alive and feeds our bodies and spirits. The food was grown on Mother Earth; maybe an animal gave its life to us so we could eat. Making them clean again shows respect for that food and ourselves.

Prayer

This doesn’t have to be formal or even addressed to any specific god/dess.  And if you worry about always asking for something for yourself, you can try praying for the earth, e.g. ‘Let there be peace on earth and let it begin with me.’ is good.

Meditate

Here is a way to alter your consciousness and let go of the day’s issues, if only for a moment. Sit or lie in a comfortable position and follow the movement of your breath in and out.  You could say ‘goddess’ with your exhale and ‘god’ with your inhale. Or substitute other words that help you to feel relaxed and centred, like ‘serenity’, ‘oneness’, or ‘spirit’.

Yoga/Tai Chi/Qi Gung

These are forms of exercise designed to be spiritual and physical. When done slowly and mindfully, yoga and tai chi can make you centred and grounded. Qi gung helps to move your energy, or qi, through your body. These exercises also strengthen your body as they refresh your spirit.

Aura Cleansing

This is a good one to do at the end of the day before you go to bed or when you come home from work (primarily if you work in a physically or psychically toxic environment). The intention is to eliminate whatever negativity you have picked up during the day. One easy way to do this is to leave a water bowl by the front door. Whenever you come in, take a moment to focus on sending anything icky into the water. If you do this for a while, you will probably notice the water turning cloudy or darker, so replacing it periodically with a fresh bowl is a good idea. Alternatively, you can use incense or a sage smudge stick to clean your aura or envision yourself surrounded by a glowing, positive light.

Rise to Greet the Sun

If you’re an early riser, this should be simple. Sit outside with your morning drink and watch the sunrise.

Walk

Walking outside is enough to relax and reconnect with Mother Earth. Don’t have a lot of time to fit in a walk? Instead of sitting at your desk for a lunch break, take your lunch outside and walk afterwards even if only for ten-minutes.

Light Incense

Just as you light a candle for your gods or to reconnect, light incense daily to relax and ground.

Read a Spiritual Book

Take fifteen minutes out of your day to read a spiritual book.

Love your Pets

Whether you have a dog, horse, or hamster, set aside some daily time to love them.

Smudge Yourself

A regular ritual of smudging yourself removes the damaging debris stuck in your aura, helps to relax you and grounds you after a long day of work.

Move Yourself

In this modern day and age, everyone is busy and sedentary. We don’t have the time to work out. But here’s the thing – we were gifted with these bodies by the gods/universe/ancestors, so we should be grateful for them and care for them just as we care for our spirits.

Brew a Cuppa

Brew a cuppa as a daily ritual. Enjoy choosing your loose-leaf herbs, hearing the tea kettle whistle on the stove, and pouring hot water over the herbs. Sit down, be quiet, and drink while waiting for the Divine to speak to you.

Smudge your Home

Along the same lines of smudging yourself, smudge your home to rid it of negative vibes or spirits.

Use Herbs in Cooking

Have an indoor or outdoor garden with herbs? Use them in your cooking daily. If you don’t have fresh herbs, choose spices from your kitchen cabinet for specific purposes. For example – cinnamon for money. Sugar to sweeten up situations and people. Rosemary for love. Etc.

Gaze at the Moon

On nights when the clouds are clear, gaze at the moon outside. Feel the lunar rays on your skin.

Ground and Centre

With how chaotic life can get, making grounding and centring a part of your daily rituals can do wonders for your well-being. Even if you touch a tree before going inside or walk outside barefoot, these rituals help.