Daily practices and devotions

[Royzen]

Hello everyone,

In this busy and modern world that we live in now, I find it harder to arrange time to practice the craft. Job, school, daily chores, social obligations, etc... it just takes up too much time of the day and I'm left with no time for spiritual growth. Rarely when possible, I try to do some meditation just before going to bed, but I end up falling asleep that way and I'm not learning anything.

Lately I feel like I've been drifting away and losing the "magick touch" because I haven't been able to pay as much attention to my spirituality as my mundane life. It may not seem that big a deal, but I wish I had more time to read, do rituals and spell crafting.

If it isn't too rude to ask, I would like to know (as I'm sure there's always someone wiser than me) what methods are there, in spite of how busy one's schedule is, to keep in touch with one's own spirituality and of honoring your deities, to show that you really care about your path.

Thanks,

[Phoenix_Falls]

My simple answer is that I get up early in the morning lol. When I wake up, that time is for the Hindu deities I worship. I clean the murti (statues) I have, make offerings and do puja (prayer) and if there's time, I'll meditate, usually using mala (prayer beads) for one go around (you count your mantras with mala beads and there are 108 in a standard mala so you say the mantra 108 times with one go around)

Evening times are for the Kemtic (Egyptian) deities I worship. I do senut (daily rites) at night, pray, and make offerings to Them and my ancestors at night.

Often times throughout the day, I'll make offerings of whatever I happen to be eating or drinking to particular deities. You don't need to be at the altar to make offerings, or pray.

As for spells and whatnot, I rarely do anything that could be classified as a spell so I wouldn't be able to help in that respect

[Devo]

Well, I'm not a magic worker. I don't do spells and all that, but I understand the difficulties of doing daily practice and keeping the gods close to you. I personally have found a few ways to try and keep things close.

First and foremost, I do my morning rite to the gods in the morning. This means being up hella early, but it's the only time I have to spend with the gods. My morning rite is relatively short, but it's effective, and it helps ground me for the coming day.

Second, I keep the gods close at meals. I thank the gods and substance of the meal (animal, veggies, etc). I thank the gods for allowing me to be here to be able to eat, to be able to afford the meal, etc. I thank the items in the meal for giving their lives so I can live, etc. This helps keep me close to the world around me. The cycle of life and death.

And lastly, I work with others in my faith. I frequent forums where I can discuss nad learn more about my faith and my gods. This helps to keep my knowledge up, ideas flowing, and my mind on the gods. It's really helpful for me.


So that's probably the basics for me.

-Devo

[MerrisHawk]

If the time was the big deal, I'd be lost. I make my time where I can and enjoy the little things along the way.

Take the moments you get in a day, the things you notice that lift your heart and remind you of what our world is made of. It may be nothing more than a breath of wind in the trees, a patch of soothing sunlight or spectacular "fort" made with every clean blanket from the cupboard and all the dining chairs.

It's not taking any time from the day, it IS the day.
Noticing those moments and taking the time to appreciate them is worth more than the stress of trying to carve out a measured, limited time to practice.

You won't lose any points on the final exam if you don't get it all in perfect order. Do what you can, try not to stress over it or it makes harder to relax and get into your groove.

[~Audra~]

it would be awesome to concoct some sort of devotional that involved candles and incense...but i really don't have time for that, as work and school have joined forces in trying to kill me. but when i walk to school, that is my alone time with nature...i'm always very at peace around trees and nature in general, the more--and less people--the merrier

i kinda can't wait for my roomie to move out...it's hard to be "me" when she is such a devout christian...but living with her has let me see the beauties of her religion and her culture...i'm getting to the point where i really, truly know the meaning of the phrase "to each, his/her own"

maybe then i can have some alone time with the Goddess

[FiresSong]

It is difficult to get in that time, isn't it? I have a three month old, and he requires quite a bit of attention. I'll be starting school in the fall and so my time will be even more limited at that point, but I will still always make time to just take a step outside and breathe. Even if it's pouring rain or snowing or what have you, I always take a minute to go outside and have a moment with nature, and it's wonderful. I love communing that way, and I think the powers that be forgive me for not having more time to dedicate right at the moment. XD

[Sylver]

If the time was the big deal, I'd be lost. I make my time where I can and enjoy the little things along the way.

Take the moments you get in a day, the things you notice that lift your heart and remind you of what our world is made of. It may be nothing more than a breath of wind in the trees, a patch of soothing sunlight or spectacular "fort" made with every clean blanket from the cupboard and all the dining chairs.

It's not taking any time from the day, it IS the day.
Noticing those moments and taking the time to appreciate them is worth more than the stress of trying to carve out a measured, limited time to practice.

You won't lose any points on the final exam if you don't get it all in perfect order. Do what you can, try not to stress over it or it makes harder to relax and get into your groove.

Every bit of this post is just made of YES. <3
Particularly the blanket fort. I find that utterly darling and wish to give you hugs.

[Twinkle]

I don't do as well mentally, spiritually, physically, or emotionally when I don't do my daily worship. I simply have to make the time for it - so I get up death early to do it.

The peace and quiet is good for my mindset for prayers.

IMO it's simply a choice to find the time.

[Windsmith]

IMO it's simply a choice to find the time.This.

We make time for what we find important. I've turned down social engagements to leave time in my day for spiritual pursuits. Other times, I've skipped Pagan events I was "supposed to" go to because weeding my garden seemed more spiritually fulfilling.

I also, as MerrisHawk said, try to integrate the spiritual and the "mundane" as much as possible. Every moment of every day is magical; no "time out" needed.

[auntie moonbeam]

others have already mentioned what i try to do...for me sprituality and mundane life tend to go somewhat hand in hand...putting on make-up, bathing, gardening, going for a walk (or walking to/from the bus and/or train), cooking dinner...all can be done with great spiritual relevence and meaning. if needs must then find small ways to work in any ritual time when and where you can.

[Lilrodrigues]

I don't mean to put pressure on you by my reply, but there is always time, all you need to do is organize what training you want to pursue and think outside the box.

Create a list of what you want to practice daily and fit those things in your schedule. Breathing techniques (probably the foundation of all magical actions and rituals) can be worked at any time, all you need to do is, well, breathe. Practice your shielding/purification/cleansing/techniques during your school/job commuting or, if you drive a car, whilst your stuck in traffic (this will also help you immensely with visualization and concentration); you can do a banish ritual or ground and center in the shower or at lunch, you can practice all sorts of consciousness transference at any time, just pause for a moment and, for instance, feel your consciousness inside your pinky. Magic is most effective when one interweaves it with daily routine, there is no need to separate and, despite our need for a calm environment where we will not be disrupted, a hostile one will bring new challenges and dramatically increase your performance, you just need to actually want to get things done.

If you want to do offerings an prayers just keep an open eye to the things around you. Im sure that, at any point in a month or day, you walk by a body of water, or a high place or you know of an old tree. Take the time to prepare small offerings and take them in your bag. Place them at these spots with a small prayer. I'm also sure that constructing a small altar in a shoe box wont take any time at all, or printing some deity picture where you can leave tokens of your devotion/apreciation and offer, even if small, hymns. Heck pick a band that calls to you and play a song in the honour of your deity or spirit of choice, bake a cake or cook a meal an offer a part of it to the spirts and the gods ^(all you need is a plate and a window or a backyard).

In the end what matters the least is the shine and the bangles. It all boils down to intention, focus and passion. Live your day like a witch, priestess, magician or whathaveyou. You don't practice the craft (whatever that is) at intervals, you live it and act on it.

[electricpeppers]

This is something I've also been struggling with lately. I feel as I've been a very bad Pagan. I've neglected my reading and since I've been distracted with other things I've set in motion I haven't given the Gods their due offerings. I still pray and kiss my hand to their images, but that's not enough for me. I like to feel as if I've taken time out of my day to truly acknowledge them. This is a typical thing for summer, however, as my practice always slips when the sun comes out!

I start work at stupid AM so getting up any earlier is out of the question for me. I tend to make offerings and such at the end of the day, which doesn't always happen since I'm so shattered sometimes. I'll figure something out.

[Regulus]

The way I look at it, if you think your busy imagine yourself as a god. I'm pretty sure they understand. Its not all nectar and mead man. They are busy. I look at the swaying of the trees, enjoy the embrace of a warm breeze, enjoy the feeling of a spring rain. I'm pretty sure the momma is happy with that. As with most people, its the little things that matter.