What is your daily practice?

[Fireyone]

Hi, I participated in my first pagan festival recently and it brought me one step further on my path but celebrations and festivals do not a witch make so what is your daily practice? What is the connective thread that keeps you on your path on the daily, that makes you feel like your path is alive?

Any input is welcome.

[patch]

Every day starts with a morning prayer to Hestia, at somepoint throughout the day I do something small to honour poseidon, and then I have my evening prayers.

If nothing else, these are my staple practices, but on top of these I'm normally doing something to honour one god or another.

[DandelionDame]

Great and interesting topic!

I started running a couple of months ago, and only recently realized (in a "duh!" kind of moment) the correlation between that and the goddess I'm trying to strengthen a relationship with - so when I run (usually every other day), I say "I dedicate this run to [goddess's name]."

I meditate on Her and her animal representations as much as possible, but it's hard to focus when you're also cursing all the bugs swarming your sweaty head and just trying to keep going! Nonetheless, the offering and intent are there and clearly stated. It's turned into a really nice, regular practice.

[Nitefalle]

I have a daily devotional that I say every morning in the shower, as well as little things that I do here and there, such as "charming" my laundry or saying a prayer when I see a dead animal in the road. I do need to do more, though.

[Astara Seague]

Start my day with a gratitude blessing then a meditation and
I spend at least one hour out of doors and spend time with nature observing the small things
and I try to do at least one thing for someone or something else
at night its another meditation before bed

[Windsmith]

I wrote a post about this a while back, and, being the lazy mofo that I am, I'll link to it (http://mysticwicks.com/showpost.php?p=3140286&postcount=3), rather than trying to reconstruct the whole thing.

[Fireyone]

I love all your suggestions! Thank you kindly.

[BlackLili]

I have multiple little altars that I leave offerings on, and where I light my candles and say prayers.

Jewish Shabbat candles I have found are quite inexpensive, come in packs of 10 or more, and work nicely.

[Heart of All]

Currently, since I am somewhere I'm allowed to have candles for once, I've been lighting a candle for each of my gods and saying a prayer as I light it. Then I meditate a bit. After that I pray again as i put out the candles.

Also I have a little chant I like to sing at sunset, but I haven't been doing that lately because you can't see the sunset very well in the city. So instead I've been trying to say a little prayer each morning when I wake up.

[novimarra]

What a great thread. I love these ideas.

I'm just starting out (or still starting out, in a frustrating sorta way), I start the day by sitting quietly in the morning to relax before work. At work I'm too crazed, so I don't do anything spiritual. When I'm home, I study for a couple hours and do a meditation ritual before sleeping.

It's the very practical things that really draw me in, like meditating to relax, and I try to take it further from there.

ETA: 100 posts!

[cheddarsox]

I moved recently, and my daily practice has fallen apart. I didn't realize how linked to place it was...That as I moved over familiar paths, tending to animals and the yard, I had, over the years built up rituals that became associated with those things.

Now, I don't have the same livestock, I don't have acres of open land for bonfires or to lie out and stare at the stars, no more rock outcrop, no more creek, a different set of weeds and wildflowers, etc.

So I am in the process of learning my way around a new place, discovering the wonders of my new yard, my new schedule, etc. But it's a dryspot as far as daily practice goes...except for my twice daily searches for tortoise food.

I walk the property morning and afternoon to find healthy weeds for my torts to eat, and I can see that developing into part of my daily spiritual practice as well, being reminded where all our sustenance comes from, etc. Also, as the yard is mostly wooded, I pay close attention to the areas of sun, both for my tortoises and so I know where to plant things that need bright sunlight.

It's a work in progress...also, at the same time, I was transferred to a different dept at work. I had placed various symbols around my old work area, and on the boxes that travel the conveyor, so I had random reminders throughout the day of my faith, and to take a moment to focus, meditate, etc...now those are out of my life as well.

Very interesting that these things are taking place at the same time...like a challenge..

[Simply Puzzled]

I meditate on Her and her animal representations as much as possible, but it's hard to focus when you're also cursing all the bugs swarming your sweaty head

I've found that the standard, 101, bubble of energy shielding technique to be 100% ineffective against bugs, but, I figured out a variation on it a while ago that seems to dramatically help. I don't have a problem with mosquitoes biting me so much as no-see-ums doing kamikazi re-enactments into my eyeballs. So, to keep them away, I build a bubble, but visualize it as fire energy that will burn them as the come near me. It doesn't keep them far off, they hover right around my face, but they stay out of my eyes, which is fine by me. You can experiment with moving them a little farther away by pushing the bubble back, but I have had limited success with more than a few inches.

If you try it, let me know your results.

[Shawn Cameron]

Thank you very much for this interesting thread! I too have been trying to think of ways to stay ‘spiritually alive’ on a day to day bases, and though I might find something for a few weeks, given time they all do the same thing and drop off after a wile *sigh*

I have tried Journaling, which I still do in fazes though I will go a few months without doing anything at all and then pick it up and do it every night for a few months or so and so on.

I have tried meditating every night (night is the only time I have quiet in my life.) but I usually fall asleep or sometimes I’m just so distracted that nothing I try calms my mind down enough to do it.

I used to make Tea every morning and dedicate it to Sigyn with a spoon full of sugar for her sons and her husband, I still do that randomly but not daily anymore

I have a new set of prayer beads that I carry around when I am stressed that I was going to try and use at least once everyday… still haven’t managed to get my lazy but up early enough to do it… damn snooze button…

And so the hunt for some kind of regularity in my daily devotions continues…

[Against The Tide]

Daily?

Tarot draw, meditate - everything else I do as and when needed.

[Æthelflæd]

I work in a dreary cubicle maze, away from a window, so each day I like to eat lunch outside -- except, of course, when it's raining. I don't say any specific prayers, but I try to be outside when I can, just because it makes me feel more grounded and alive. I also like to take the time to feel gratitude for my loved ones. Appreciating both nature and my loved ones reminds me of the presence of the divine and helps me feel more spiritually connected.

[Sage Rainsong]

Well other than the basic grounding and shielding thing, I have an ancestral altar and I usually tell them about my day and stuff like that. I do have a formal prayer that I do for them as well so it's kind of combination of formal/informal styles. I don't do any deity devotions as of yet because I don't really have a patron but I am closest to Pan and Hecate so that may get incorporated into my devotionals at some point but I am not sure.

[DandelionDame]

I've found that the standard, 101, bubble of energy shielding technique to be 100% ineffective against bugs, but, I figured out a variation on it a while ago that seems to dramatically help. I don't have a problem with mosquitoes biting me so much as no-see-ums doing kamikazi re-enactments into my eyeballs. So, to keep them away, I build a bubble, but visualize it as fire energy that will burn them as the come near me. It doesn't keep them far off, they hover right around my face, but they stay out of my eyes, which is fine by me. You can experiment with moving them a little farther away by pushing the bubble back, but I have had limited success with more than a few inches.

If you try it, let me know your results.

I need to subscribe to this thread - just saw this now.

This sounds like fun - normally I'm a bring-the-bug-outside if it's in the house kind of gal, but all bets are off when I run and they swarm; I actively wish them much harm then. Energetically burning them sounds like just the thing! :lol: Thanks, Simply Puzzled!

[Teresa]

One of my everyday practices is to get up and go to my ancestor altar and bow down and ask for a good day. I pray that me and mine will be covered in their protection.

[BearDancing]

The first thing I do before getting out of bed is this little prayer....Spirit Where will U have me go today.....What will U have me do when I get there.....and what will U have me say :boing:I feel my life is a living prayer....I pray a good part of the whole day....in almost all that i do

[kelmh]

Every morning when I wake up, I say a small greeting to the sun. I basically affirm that because the sun came up, today is going to be a good day, and then I attempt to make the best out of my day as I can and take all the opportunities that come my way. I have an alter to Ubasti and Ma'at, and I say hello to them, but I don't do any extreme meditations. I offer my day up to them by saying that I'll make the most of it by upholding ma'at [the concept]. At night, I tend to reflect on my day, either by talking about it or thinking about it.

[Rudas Starblaze]

What is the connective thread that keeps you on your path on the daily, that makes you feel like your path is alive?


for me? basically having the ability to do things that others cannot.

[coeur]

I wake up and tell myself that the average human being is forecasted to lose at least 5 million times within his or her lifetime. Then I tell myself that, rationally speaking, just because I will lose 5 million times within my life doesn't mean I can't win at least 5 million and one times.

[tellmethetruth]

I meditate every day, sometimes twice or more. When I have a decision to make and the answer isn't obvious to me, I use the tarot cards and/or pendulum to decide what to do and actually follow their recommendations. I'm kind of new to this, though, and I'm not sure I understand the cards and the pendulum 100% accurately. This has resulted in my behavior being very difficult to predict (maybe 'eratic' is the word?), leaving my family, boss and coworkers scratching their heads. It's fun to keep them guessing. It has made my life quite interesting.

[GEBS]

My daily practice starts with taking care of my body. I get up early, usually before anyone else. I have a healthy breakfast. If the weather is right I eat out in the yard under the trees. After breakfast I do yoga and some breathing exercises. Then I clean our home. I follow that with yard work.

I do not have deities in my life. My "worship" is more about respect of myself and my surroundings. What I consider the most important part of my daily routine is learning. I read every day. It doesn't have to be about any path. Sometimes it is history or a language. Sometimes it is science. As long as I am learning something I am happy.

[David19]

My daily practice starts with taking care of my body. I get up early, usually before anyone else. I have a healthy breakfast. If the weather is right I eat out in the yard under the trees. After breakfast I do yoga and some breathing exercises. Then I clean our home. I follow that with yard work.

I do not have deities in my life. My "worship" is more about respect of myself and my surroundings. What I consider the most important part of my daily routine is learning. I read every day. It doesn't have to be about any path. Sometimes it is history or a language. Sometimes it is science. As long as I am learning something I am happy.

That's quite a cool practice that you've got, GEBS, I can see how great it must be to learn something new, whatever it is (that's what I like doing too). I definitely agree with taking care of your body, for myself, I view it, as, not only honouring myself, and treating my body like my own Temple, but, I also view if a making myself honourable/worthy to my Gods (when I improve myself, either physically, mentally, etc), Ereshkigal, and the other Gods, get a better worshipper, IMO, anyway).