How to Create a Spiritual Practice That’s Right for You

Is there one “best” or “right” spiritual practice?

As with so many things in the metaphysical world, there is no “one right way” to integrate a spiritual practice into your life.  There are probably as many ways to create a spiritual practice as there are people on the planet.

Your goal is to create a practice that is “right” for you.  Additionally, your “way” will very likely change over time as you change. I know mine continues to evolve!

Your goal in creating a spiritual practice

The goal of any spiritual practice is to create a regular routine of actions that, when taken, help you feel connected to your spiritual self and to God/Source/Spirit. 

Which actions are taken will differ from person to person.  It is likely that you will know when you have found the right mix of rituals when engaging in them leaves you feeling peaceful, centered, and calm.

Those who regularly engage in a spiritual practice report many benefits, including:

• Increased ability to use their “clairs”/intuition to connect with God/Source/Spirit.
• Feeling more “alive” and happier.
• Easier time making decisions.
• Clarity regarding future goals.
• Increased vibrational rate, which enhances your ability to protect yourself energetically from lower vibrating energy. This can include energy on the Earth plane (e.g., negative people, toxic environments) and energies from the spiritual plane (e.g., dark entities).
  • NOTE: Click here for much more information about psychic protection.

My recommendations for creating a great spiritual practice

How does one create a spiritual practice that is “right” for them? 

My students have told me that the following recommendations have proven to be helpful. Overall, I encourage you to take a trial-and-error approach. Experiment with different actions until you feel “compelling clarity” regarding which ones are right for you.

And just another reminder: As your spiritual life evolves and you grow as a person, at least some aspects of your spiritual practice will need to change. Be willing to adapt to your changing needs.

RECOMMENDATION #1 – Create a sacred space

Select a physical location that is designated for your spiritual practice.  Be sure that when you are in this space, you will not be interrupted and that it is peaceful and quiet.

Possible locations include:

• An area within a room where you keep your angel cards, pendulum, spiritually-related books, etc. 
• An entire room that includes a fountain, crystals, and/or pictures. 
• A special place outside where you can sit or walk.
  • NOTE: Keep in mind that outside locations can be problematic. On days when the weather isn’t favorable, you should have a back-up option in order to avoid any disruption in your routine (see RECOMMENDATION #2).

RECOMMENDATION #2 – Establish a spiritual routine

When you start engaging in a spiritual practice, you will quickly begin to notice that you look forward to these times and miss them when they don’t happen. Therefore, I do recommend that you create a routine.

Here are some issues to think about as you create your spiritual practice:

• Time of day: Everyone has a time of day when they feel most alert and alive (e.g., mornings, evenings).  If possible, I recommend that you choose that time of day for your spiritual practice.
  • NOTE: If you are going to include a form of meditation (which many people do but it is NOT required), then be sure to select a time of day when you know you won’t feel sleepy. For example, I’m a morning person, so I meditate upon waking. If I try meditating in the afternoon or evening, I almost always fall asleep.
• Amount of Time: Here are some things to keep in mind regarding the time you dedicate to your spiritual practice:
  • Start Off Slow: If spiritual work is new to you, it’s OK to start with just a few minutes per day and just a few days each week.
  • If Possible, Do Something Every Day: As you begin to see the benefits of engaging in a spiritual practice, it’s likely you’ll want to do more. I recommend doing something every day, whenever possible. However, if that schedule isn’t a good fit for your lifestyle, then do whatever will work for you.
  • Same Time & Same Days: I personally recommend engaging in your spiritual practice at the same time and on the same days. Our Earthly bodies and minds appreciate routines.
  • Make a Commitment to Yourself: I definitely recommend that you make a commitment to yourself that you will engage in your spiritual routine. However, there is no magical amount of time or frequency. Some people prefer once a day; others like twice a day. Some people prefer to be open-ended about how much time they’ll spend during each “session,” but others set a specific length of time. What is important is that you do something and don’t skip it. This commitment will help you reap the benefits of engaging in a spiritual practice. And if your goal is to increase your intuitive skills, then your dedication shows your angels and guides that you are serious about your spiritual development. If you do the work, then they are more likely to show up!
  • Using a Timer: Occasionally, students will report that they lose track of time and run late or miss appointments. If this is the case, then set the timer on your smart phone so it will play a soothing tone at the end of your time period.
  • Using Reminders: If you find that you are having a hard time either (a) remembering to engage in your spiritual practice or (b) making time for it, you might want to put a reminder on your calendar or in your day-planner.
• Rituals/Activities: During your spiritual practice, I recommend that you establish a routine regarding which activities you will engage in. Again, our bodies and minds love routine! Whatever you choose should support you in feeling spiritually connected (see RECOMMENDATION #3). 

RECOMMENDATION #3 – Select activities that feel right to you

What you do during your spiritual practice is totally up to you.  Some people do the same activities every single time, while others prefer to “mix things up.” Do your best to eliminate any preconceived ideas or rules.  Do what feels “right” to you.

Possibilities include:

• Automatic writing or channeling
• Burning candles, incense, or sage/sweet grass
• Chanting
• Clearing yourself and/or your space of negative energy
  • RELATED BLOG POST: Clearing Yourself and Your Space of Negative or Toxic Energy – Tips and Techniques
• Deep or rhythmic breathing
• Holding crystals and/or having them in your space
• If trained in Reiki or other healing modality, doing a self-healing
  • RELATED BLOG POST: What is Reiki?
• Journaling
• Listening to spiritually uplifting podcasts or recordings
• Meditating
• Mindfulness exercises (e.g., observing your body, breath, thoughts, feelings without judgment)
• Playing uplifting music
• Praying
  • RELATED BLOG POST: What is Prayer, How to Pray, Why Some Prayers Aren’t Answered, and Suggested Prayers for Protection and Guidance
• Reading spiritually uplifting material
• Surrounding yourself in white or gold light
  • RELATED BLOG POST: How to Create an Energy Shield for Psychic Protection
• Using angel cards, tarot cards, pendulums, or other divination tools
• Using essential oils
• And so many other options!

The above suggestions are just the tip of the “possibility iceberg.”  For example, I’ve spoken to people who have a spiritual practice that occurs while doing artwork, sewing, gardening, conducting business, during a yoga class, basically anything!  Whatever works for you is fine, as long as it results in your feeling connected with your spiritual self!

RECOMMENDATION #4 – Eliminate all judgment or preconceived ideas

When engaging in spiritual activities, I always tell my students to do their best to suspend personal judgment about what is “right” or “best.” Just try things out.  Don’t worry about what others tell you. Listen to yourself.

Just as an example, let’s apply this “no judgment” recommendation to meditating:

• Try not to evaluate how deeply or how long you meditated based on some external standard (e.g., a teacher or website that tells you that you MUST meditate for 15 minutes twice a day).
• If feelings come to the surface while meditating, then do your best to be the “observer” during this time.  Let the emotions come up, but you can analyze them later.

As you engage in any spiritual activity, simply watch and observe.  At a later time, you can evaluate what is working, what is not working, what you need to do in order to take care of a problem, etc.

RECOMMENDATION #5 – The importance of setting boundaries, being flexible, and making this work for you

For those who have families, roommates, or busy lives, carving out a time for your spiritual practice may take setting some boundaries. This may require explaining to others what you need (e.g., time by yourself, no interruptions, quiet).

However (and perhaps more importantly), this may require setting boundaries with ourselves. It’s incredibly easy to get “lost” in our never-ending “to do lists” and postpone our spiritual practice. Remember, if something is important, we need to make sure we set time aside for ourselves and for our connection to God/Source/Spirit.

There are times, though, when most of us get off-track. Life can get complicated, and we may need to let our spiritual practice go for a day, a week, or even longer. When this happens, it’s important to go back to RECOMMENDATION #4: Don’t judge. Just get back up on the proverbial horse and start again. That’s why it’s called a spiritual practice.

However, if you continue to struggle with creating a spiritual practice, setting boundaries, and/or sticking to your commitment to a regular spiritual routine, another option is to work with a spiritual coach. It’s OK to ask for help! A coach can help you in various ways:

• Problem solving regarding what might be blocking your progress
• Provide suggestions and support
• “Hold you accountable” and, therefore, help you stay committed to your spiritual practice

NOTE: If you need support, you are invited to schedule a training or mentoring session with Anne. You can meet with her either (a) 1-on-1 or (b) with a small group of friends who are interested in the topic being discussed. All sessions are VIRTUAL (i.e., phone or Zoom).

RELATED PRODUCT

• Guided Meditation for Psychic Development
• Psychic Protection 101: How to Feel Completely Safe Connecting with Spirit (eBook)

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By Anne Reith, Ph.D.