Undertaking Daily Spiritual Practices

Light a candle or two, the flicker of the flames gives off a soft warm glow, and the flames dance in the shifting air. You’ve invited spirits in and they like nothing better than to jump across a flame, challenging themselves to leap higher and higher with their graceful twirls and their arms reaching for an even more elusive light glowing warm above. The air pulsates with warmth and envelops you in its embrace, you know its your spirit people pulling you close, so pleased to have your attention.

And yet even with these graces afforded us when we come to our daily practice, we sometimes skip it, or say to ourselves, ‘I’ll get to that later’. Then don’t. Next thing you know, it’s been a few days since you’ve paid attention to your soul! Why is it that our spirit can often be last on the list? How often do you hear Mind, Body, Spirit (in that order)?

Over the years, I have gathered many spiritual tools. I still refer to all of them as spirit guides me. I’ve always adored little books, my Mum gave me a dear little one to hold onto in church when I was small, it was dog eared! I so loved the beautiful words and the pictures of angels.

I work with Runes, and have two very special books I read from with these, one of which is decorated with symbols akin to me. I also work with tarot, my favourite tarot so far being the Motherpeace tarot, and I’m currently using ‘Aroha’ by Dr Hinemoa Elder a book that presents whakatauki, Maori proverbs and brings them to relevance in this current world. I’m blessed with crystals glinting, deflecting and absorbing light and vibration. I have a very sweet little owl carved from amethyst!

We all have our favouites, our go to sources, and perhaps this is where we can begin to diminish our practice? We are not opening ourselves to new avenues of feeling and thought. There are so many teachings available now, and the internet can be a great source. I still prefer, though, to go to a bookshop and search through the spiritual section, hoping some gem will fall into my hand. Secondhand bookshops can be a whakamiharo – a wonderful place to find inspiration. I encourage seeking new sources and resources and moving outside of your comfort levels, challenging your spirit. It will be worth it!

This is how I conduct my daily practice two or three times a week (early morning for me)

Cup of tea to hand, I light the candle(s) then, prodded by spirit I choose three readings from my spiritual library. I sit and read all three – there will be one spirit that sends me back to for further contemplation, and if time allows, I’ll sit with that reading and go through it again at a slower pace. It’s not so much the printed message from the reading but the inner divination by my soul. My aim is to encourage an inner warmth and glow that sends me forth into the world steering steady with truth in my being. Some call this enlightenment.  Often, a burden, however small, has been lifted from me and I can go lighter into my day. Afterwards, I always say thank you to my spirit family!

Jennie Swain Nicholls