The Hygge Blog

Choose Your Own Spiritual Practice

4/21/2018

"Whether you engage in some early morning asanas or prefer reading a few meditation passages before leaving the house, find what suits you and make it a routine. Not sure where to start? Try sitting alone quietly for few minutes each day. You’ll find your 'happy place' in no time!" ~ Katie Gavin, MindBodyGreen.com

We have spent most of this month exploring what it means to create a daily spiritual practice and what would make it a hygge one. I've asked you to daydream about what might be an ideal spiritual practice for you.

We've explored lots of hygge spiritual practice possibilities. And now, it's time.

Using the video above for inspiration, the link below for a few more ideas, and your memory of the great ideas we explored, think through what we've looked at, consider the new ideas, and choose the hygge practice that most appeals to you right now. Which one do you need?

Click here: Choose Your Own Hygge Spiritual Practice Adventure. :)

See you next time!

love, Jeanine

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The Magic of Daydreaming

4/20/2018

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"Everything you can imagine is real." -Pablo Picasso

Do you believe that? That everything we can imagine is already real?

Because if that's true, then daydreaming might be a very important spiritual practice. If it's true, then our daydreams can actually help us to create the realities we want to experience.

"Allow yourself the luxury of entering a dreamlike state during waking hours, without any objective other than the sheer pleasure of relaxing your mind. Before long you will find you mind wandering to far-off places, conjuring up images that arise from the innermost part of you, the part that houses your true nature." -Alan Epstein, SpiritualityandPractice.com

Daydream Journal

"All you need to do is sit comfortably and allow your mind to roam freely and without restriction, with just a part of your attention taking a step back and consciously noting what comes up as you daydream. You can even start a daydream journal in the same way you might keep a night dream journal."
- Toby Ouvry, TobyOuvry.com

Have you ever explored the meaning of your dreams?

I used to do it quite regularly. I'd put a small notepad and pen on my nightstand and when I woke up in the morning, or in the middle of the night, I'd write down anything I remembered from my dreams. Though I didn't know a lot at the time about how to know what your dreams mean, I believed that they meant something about who I was , or who I was becoming, or what I still struggled with in my life.

Years later, I trained to be an interfaith spiritual director, and learned how to analyze dreams and got very interested again in trying to figure out what my dreams were trying to tell me. But I believe we can learn just as much, and gain just as many insights from taking a closer look at our daydreams.

They can tell us who we are, what matters to us, what disturbs us, what we think should happen in our lives, and how we really feel about what happens to us each day. And if we are willing to pay loving attention, they also can show us the way to come home to ourselves.

Set aside time to daydream each day, while sitting in your cozy place, sipping tea and giving yourself time to relax. Then, grab your journal & write down each story you tell yourself.

Take a moment to remember any daydreams you've had today already. What stories do they tell?

See you next time!

love, Jeanine

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Tea and Kindness

4/19/2018

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"If you decide to take up a silent [tea] meditation practice, it is perfectly fine to begin with just a few minutes per session. After you’ve become accustomed to your short sitting periods, honestly and gently assess how that amount of time is serving you, and increase your practice time if it feels right to do so." -contemplativemind.org/practices

Here's a 9-Minute Loving Kindness Meditation

Link to the Loving Kindness Meditation (click here)

One way to pray for yourself or others while sipping your tea is to offer loving kindness. As people come to mind, wish them happiness, and when you think of yourself, offer a wish for your own happiness, too.

And I suggest taking it one step further by allowing a glimpse or image of what that happiness might look like. If you know your best friend is worried about finding a job, wish her happiness and then picture the phone call during which she tells you she got one.

If you are homeschooling your son and he is having trouble with long division, say something like, "may he be happy," "may we both be happy when we homeschool," and then imagine the delight on his face when he gets it and does a problem correctly.

As you pray, have the intention to send healing energy along with it. For whatever is needed in that moment, trusting that healing to find its target and do the healing intended.

What makes this practice hygge is that it can be done with a big cup of your favorite tea in your hand, while you are sitting in your favorite spot, glancing out of the window from time to time to watch the tree branches move with the breeze. The moments of contentment and "all is right with the world" that can come from hygge practices can pave the way for a deeper & more relaxed spiritual experience

Give it a try & let me know how it goes for you.

Love, Jeanine

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Hygge Peace Practice

4/18/2018

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"Simply find a quiet, comfortable place to sit or lay and place your hands over your heart. Breathe into your heart a few times and then just sit quietly with it, staying connected and tuned in."
~ Coach Linda Luke, LifeCoachLinda.com

Hygge Heart-Opening Peace Practice

A Hygge Moment that Will Calm You Quickly

Not only can deepen the peace by adding lots of hygge to this simple exercise, you can do it anytime and anywhere.

While sitting at a stop light. Right after your homeschooling day comes to a close.

Before connecting with someone in your life who is difficult. Before doing a dreaded task. After an uncomfortable conversation.

Or anytime you need a quick way to calm down and connect to peace, or strengthen your heart energy. Can you think of other moments in your life when a quick peace practice might come in handy?

Here's a way to do it with some hygge added...

Go to your favorite comfy spot, hopefully near a window with a grounding view of the trees. And settle in with tea nearby and a candle lit.

Then, simply place your hands on your heart and breathe, deeply and slowly, until you are fully relaxed and at peace.

Take a moment to try this exercise now,
before you finish reading this post.

With a simple hygge spiritual practice like this one, you can create moments of peace anytime you want.

See you next time!

Love, Jeanine

4 Comments

Reading as a Spiritual Practice

4/17/2018

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"Reading fiction doesn't help us escape the world. It helps us live in it.
What if we read the books we love as if they were sacred texts?"
- harrypottersacredtext.com

Are you a bookworm like me?

I doubt you'd be very interested in reading as a spiritual practice if you aren't. But for those of us who are bookworms, the idea that something we already love to do could make us become a better person, help us create a closer or deeper spiritual connection with the divine might be compelling, indeed.

"When your reading exercises your faith, fires your imagination, stirs your soul, and expands your circle of compassion, it becomes a sacred activity. As you read, notice and relish all the ways that the text speaks directly to you. It may remind you of something you are feeling, some need or yearning."-Making Reading Sacred, SpiritualityandPractice.com

Contemplative reading "begins with reading a short passage ... and then quietly reflecting upon it — not analyzing or trying to figure out the meaning — but rather allowing it to quietly work on you. The key is to read slowly, chew over the words, and allow them to quietly nourish and heal you." -Spiritual Practice by Wayne Muller

So it looks like your hygge reading experience can, indeed, be a spiritual practice. As a bookworm, I find that thrilling!

But is there a way to go about it that makes it more beneficial, or is just reading, itself, of benefit?

I think to glean wisdom, it is best to go beyond just reading. I think if we are open to gleaning wisdom and to being inspired, and we have both as an intention, we are much more likely to create that experience.

Want to try it? Here's what I suggest for reading as a spiritual practice...

(1) Read something, while sitting in your most comfy chair & drinking sweet tea or another favorite beverage.

(2) Reflect on what you're reading and write down any insights you get in your journal, so you don't forget them.

(3) Does anything come to mind as a way to apply or act on the wisdom or insight? Take a moment to imagine how things might shift as a result.

"Fiction urges me to explore the great what-ifs of the world: What if the world could change into that optimistic future? What if God is up to something bigger than our imaginations can even begin to encompass and this is just a small glimpse of that?" -thisisthecommunity.com

These stories "help us imagine beyond who we are." -thisisthecommunity.com

Has reading ever inspired you? Or helped you imagine a "you" beyond the way you see yourself right now?

Has it ever led to a longing for this world to be more like the one in the book you read?

That happens to me all the time! And when I was younger, I used to journal about the characters in the books I read and the movies I saw. I'd get this big idea that I should be more like them so my life could be transformed in the wonderful ways I imagined.

I love the idea of being inspired by reading again.

What do you think? Would you ever try reading as a spiritual practice?

See you next time!

Love, Jeanine

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Hygge Spiritual Practice: 2 Brief Letting Go Exercises

4/16/2018

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You could easily do either of these exercises at anytime during the day. When you first get up, while drinking your morning or afternoon tea. With your children, as you complete a day of homeschooling or at bedtime. With your family, just before or after dinner. Try them several times in one day and take note of how you feel at the end, writing down your thoughts & feelings in your journal just before you go to bed that night.

Hygge Letting Go Tealight Exercise

This is a great exercise for daily transitions from one moment to another. You can do it as you sip your morning tea, or at the end of your day, or anytime your kids need a tealight break.

If your kids are in school, you could use it when they come home, to let go of any stress from their day at school.

You'll need a tealight candle. I'd get a box or a bag, so you'll always have one when you need it. And scrap paper or tiny post-it notes, with a pencil to write down whatever you are letting go with this exercise.

At times, you also may need more time and process so that the letting go doesn't happen so fast, it hardly seems real. During those moments, take your time.

Make a cup of tea, write a little more about the situation in your journal and then, when you feel completely ready to let go, then you can move on to the rest of the exercise.

On a slip of paper write down the negative thought, negative moment or painful feeling you want to let go of and place it beneath your tealight candle. Light the candle and sip your tea, imagining that as the tealight burns away, so is whatever you are letting go of in that moment.

Once it has burned down fully, the letting go exercise is complete. Notice how you feel, but if you don't notice any change in the way you feel yet, don't worry.

Sometimes it takes time for your mind, body, heart and soul to process a change that has just occurred. But with any letting go exercise, your intention itself is powerful. The exercise is a physical demonstration and following through on the commitment you made to let go.

Eventually - and sometimes, it will happen almost immediately - you will feel differently about whatever you let go of and when you think of it in the future, you won't react the same way.

Hygge Letting Go Exercise with Water

This is a great exercise to do throughout the day whenever something has knocked you off center, or in the transition moments between different activities.

You'll need a hand soap whose scent you adore so much, it makes you enjoy washing your hands. And if you can, find a hand lotion in the same scent. Or one that combines well.

Do you remember the song about washing that man out of your hair? In a way, this letting go exercise borrows a bit of that idea.

You use it whenever there is a feeling or situation that you want to let go of, and you literally wash it away. As you wash your hands, set the intention to let it go and as you rinse your hands, imagine that the feeling or moment you want to release is going down the drain.

Afterward, rub lotion onto your hands and imagine that you are rubbing out any remaining stress and massaging in peace.

You could do that for your children, too, when they've had an upsetting moment. Let them wash it down the drain and then you add the moment of love and peace with lotion.

A variation could be doing the same thing while taking a bath or shower. And you could suggest it to your children during their bath time.

You could lengthen this exercise by making a cup of tea and writing everything out in your journal first. For some, it helps to pause longer, and really think through and feel the moment you want to let go of, so that you take more note of the transition and slow down the process of change.

I have needed that extra processing myself for things that were particularly worrisome or upsetting. You might find that you need that, too.

Gentle Disclaimer

I just want to mention that I am not talking about trauma or major life changes like divorce or losing someone you loved or trying to make a difficult change like to stop smoking.

Moving through big changes like those or others takes time. I certainly care about your healing those issues, too, but they are not what I have in mind here.

It doesn't mean you can't journal about them, too, and do rituals to help them heal. But that is not the kind of shift I am talking about in this post or offering help with here.

These exercises are meant for everyday letting go moments.

Like letting go of the bad dream you had last night, or the argument you had this morning with your spouse. Or helping your child let go of a bad mood.

Or letting go of the stress you feel after worrying about a problem or thinking about this afternoon's traffic jam.

Or the snippy tone someone took with you while you were running an errand. Or the way you felt when your daughter snapped at you because she didn't feel like putting away her toys. Etc.

Even those everyday stresses can build up to become more if you let them hang around, rent-free, so these exercises can help you let go of them before they become bigger problems, like a headache, backache or upset stomach.

Try one of the exercises and let me know how it goes. Go wash something away and notice how it felt to let it go.

Wishing you peace!

Love, Jeanine

8 Comments

Hygge Reading: Week Two

4/15/2018

9 Comments

"The next time you feel like your intuition is eluding you, stop and take a long, deep breath. In fact, take several! The goal here is take a moment to quiet your mind and bring yourself into the present moment. There are many ways of doing this, but one of the easiest is to simply focus on the breath." - IntuitionJournal.com

One of the things that can be powerful about intuitive readings is that they can pick up on things you need to know, but aren't aware of yet.

The tool being used can be oracle cards, a person who does readings, an online app, etc. But when you get right down to it, you are asking your heart to share its wisdom. Or asking the divine to use your chosen resource or tool to pass on the message you need to hear.

Creating a hygge moment before you ask for intuitive guidance may calm you and make it easier to hear or receive the guidance that comes your way. Doing the hygge practices that already make you feel warm and cozy and relaxed may make the whole process an easier one.

What message do you need to hear right now? Take a deep breath or two and then hold that question in your heart as you choose the pic that appeals to you today.

Which one did you choose?

One...

If this is the one you chose, then there is something you need to let go of and although you may have known that, you weren't ready before. You are ready now.

Take a moment to be clear about letting it go. Make the commitment.

Once you are ready, imagine writing it down on a slip of paper and tossing it into the fire. If you have a fireplace, you can actually do it and watch it burn away.

Another letting go practice you can try is to write it down & hold the slip in your hand tightly, letting all the thoughts and feelings you have had about it go into the paper. Then, at the sink, hold it under running water until the ink has run off the paper.

Two...

This second one means that there is a hurt or a heartache that needs to heal.

Write it down on a slip of paper and slide it beneath a tealight candle. Light the candle and sit across from it as it burns.

You can drink a cup of tea, write in your journal about this story you are healing, or just let your mind drift, returning from time to time to the thought that you are ready for this to heal.

When it burns down and goes out by itself, the healing is complete.

Three...

If you chose the third one, then hope is what you need. You have been feeling discouraged about something. Maybe about a problem that has been slow to resolve, or about something you want that has not yet come to you.

The practice that will help you is hygge daydreaming. Settle in to your comfy seat and breathe slowly and deeply until you are relaxed.

Then, you can begin. First, imagine opening the doors of your heart wide to hope and to trust. Then, I want you to imagine standing in front of another door.

When you open the door, you will see your future. Everything will have changed, all the problems have been solved and things are going well for you. Open the door and take a look around. Do you see yourself? What does the expression on your face look like?

Or maybe you don't see yourself but can feel your energy. What does it feel like? Stay there as you take in what has changed & think through what happened to turn things around.

Once you have soaked up how good it feels, take that feeling, place it in your heart and take it with you back into the present. When you know you have it with you now, come back fully and open your eyes if they were closed.

Of the four readings this month, this one seems deepest. How did it feel to you? Did it seems to match what you are needing right now?

See you next time!

love, Jeanine

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Hygge Spiritual Practice: The Centering Prayer Ritual

4/14/2018

8 Comments

This month, we're exploring the connection between hygge & spirituality. Or, in other words, what it would look like or feel like to create a hygge spiritual practice.

Contemplative or meditative practices seem perfect for making hygge moments spiritual.

You could start by heading for your coziest space and getting as comfortable as possible. But bring your cup of hot chocolate & your journal with you.

Once you're settled, you could try a contemplative practice like centering prayer...

"Centering Prayer is a meditative practice. However, it does not focus on words but instead on the places of interior silence and stillness where the divine abides, inviting practitioners toward a deeper connection. Centering Prayer slowly transforms us at our very core in a way that is beyond words, teaching us to not only abide in the presence of the Divine but also cultivating a sense of inner silence and stillness."

~ Read more on how to practice centering prayer

3-Step Hygge Ritual w/ Centering Prayer

Step One: Create the hygge moment ~ make yourself a cup of tea, grab your journal & light a candle, getting settled into comfort.

Step Two: Choose an amount of time to spend in centering prayer & begin. Breathe deeply, and stay open to a deeper experience of the truth of who you are, the presence of the divine and your connection to the divine. Some people focus on a word, like "peace," but it is not necessary if you'd rather not.

Step Three: Write out any insights or important thoughts in your journal & when you feel complete with the experience, blow out the candle.

Find out about other contemplative practices here.

Stay tuned for more later in the month about creating hygge rituals.

See you next time!

Love, Jeanine

8 Comments

Hygge Spiritual Practice: Candle Meditation

4/13/2018

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"Now take your attention to the candle flame…draw in a long, slow breath through your nose… as you slowly breathe out through your nose let the busyness of your day drop away and let go of all worries that may have been troubling you...
Now just allow the breath to come, and to go as it will,…
keeping your focus on the candle flame."

~ Read more of or listen to the free candle meditation ~

Just lighting a candle can be both hygge & spiritual, so can easily become a part of a hygge spiritual practice. A ritual is just a series of steps that have meaning & are connected in some way.

So even for a few minutes, gazing at your candle can give you a moment of spiritual practice even if, right after that moment, you go back to reading a book or watching a movie.

It can be very soothing to breathe deeply and watch the flickering of a candle flame. Want to try it right now? Watch the video below..

See you next time!

love, Jeanine

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Hygge Spiritual Practice: Tea & Contemplation

4/12/2018

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"There is something in the nature of tea
that leads us into a world of
quiet contemplation of life." ~ Lin Yutang

"Has it ever occurred to you when you are drinking your precious cup of tea
that it is a form of meditation? ‘Tis true! And it’s one that stands the test of time
– enjoyed by nearly every culture on the planet." ~ Spirituality & Health

The search I did for that picture led me to several pictures with the word "hygge" on them. I used the words "tea and meditation," and I can see how the combination could create hygge moments.

"With a cup of tea, we are invited to relax into all of ourselves, not letting the busy mind run the show. Keep breathing deeply, savoring your tea and any chosen mindful activity. Receive this gift of sacred ordinary time." - Katy Taylor

A tea moment can be an occasion for slowing life down, breathing deeply & slowly, focusing on your breath, saying a quick prayer or meditating briefly on or sending love energy to what's coming up in your day or what you want to happen in the future. Or it can be a moment that connects you to the divine in a way that is already calming, soothing and comforting.

So that the moment becomes both hyggelig (hygge-like) and spiritual.

Try it today with your next cup of tea?

See you next time!

Love, Jeanine

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Intro to Creating a Hygge Spiritual Practice

4/11/2018

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"...[the answer might be] starting a regular spiritual practice routine that can both enrich your spiritual awareness and strengthen your faith. This practice becomes your religion and in turn, an integral part of your life."
~ Tom Rapsas, Patheos.com

Sometimes, people come to the process of creating a spiritual practice with religion or spirituality in place, already.

But for those who are spiritual but not religious, like me, and are not sure about beliefs or are wanting to avoid dogma, creating a spiritual practice can become a meaningful faith practice all by itself.

"At its heart, hygge is about finding the pockets of light when covered in a blanket of darkness. How often are we challenged to do this within our own souls? How often do we face life and spiritual trials with a sense of dread, instead of looking for the silver lining? I find being intentional about hygge is not only comforting in the temporal sense, but it makes for wonderful spiritual training." ~ Blessed is She

Three Video Questions (25 Seconds)

Will a hygge spiritual practice still be spiritual? Yes.

You won't be taking anything away, you'll be adding warmth, coziness, comfort and anything else that makes for a spiritual practice you can look forward to each day. Adding the feel-good doesn't have to mean that anything gets lost.

"To light a candle by myself is one of my favorite prayers." ~ David Steindl-Rast

At its best, hygge spirituality is or can be a gentle, comforting way to shine light into the dark places.

It can be a doorway for coming back to spirituality. A way to start again before you know what your spiritual practice will become.

A warm and cozy container for all your spiritual explorations, for every moment of connection with the otherworld.

More on that as we continue.

love, Jeanine

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My Ideal Spiritual Practice

4/10/2018

8 Comments

"To the Danes, hygge is less about a particular aesthetic and more about feelings of belonging, conviviality, and contentment, so essential for the soul. In that sense, hygge could almost be considered a spiritual practice: a stance and attunement that helps you return to your true self and pay closer attention to the many blessings and Sacred stirrings that surround you."
-Lacy at A Sacred Journey

Yesterday, I suggested an exercise that would help you explore the idea of creating a spiritual practice that would be perfect for you. If you didn’t get a chance to try it, you can find that post here.

In this post, I’ll be sharing my own thoughts about what an ideal spiritual practice would be like, and you may get some ideas from that, but I have a surprise for you, too, that I .

And it will be much more meaningful if you were there yesterday or you take a moment to try the exercise now. I’ll be right here when you get back.

My Ideal Spiritual Practice (1 min, 20 secs)

When I first did this exercise for myself, I was just waking up & the ideas began to come to me so fast, I stopped to write them down before I did anything else that day.

Then, I went back to them, for tweaking, when I had my cup of tea & could give it a little more time.

This is my dream spiritual practice…

It brings me peace, and creates moments of happiness or contentment. It engenders hope & the sense that everything’s going to be alright.

It connects me with my deepest truths & highest self, and inspires any change I need from a place of safety & comfort. It guides me, helps me let go of what no longer serves me, gives me peace & helps me daydream about & send energy to the life I want most.

Does any of that resonate with you?

Or inspire any other thoughts about what an ideal spiritual practice would be like for you?

What about Winter Blues?

For me, having winter blues means that I probably won’t want to do my spiritual practice in the morning.

Because in the morning, my hygge strategies are designed to do one thing & one thing only: wake me up and get me going in a way that doesn’t annoy me. At first, I don’t even want to ask myself to think coherently. I just want to get myself to my primary source of bright light – my light box – and be there in front of it.

Know what I mean?

The best time to do your spiritual practice is the time that will work for you. Do not believe anything you read that says it must be at this time or that time. Choose the time of day you feel most alive and open and that will be a much easier time commitment to maintain. ~ Jeanine

During the winter blues part of my year, my state of being before I spend extended time with my light box reminds me a little of that Dolly Parton song. It’s not a time for deep thoughts or holy reckonings.

So for me, a hygge spiritual practice would need to happen in the afternoon. Perhaps, an afternoon tea occasion.

And by then, my light box time is over, my son and I will probably be done with homeschooling most days, and I’ll even have gotten some work done.

So I can settle myself into coziness, with tea, a candle, my journal and something to read nearby and I’ll be ready to begin.

What about you? How would you plan your hygge spiritual practice in light of your winter blues experience?

Surprise!

Thanks, again, for doing that exercise yesterday and for anything you may have added to it today.

And, surprise! It was a hygge spiritual practice exercise.

And tomorrow, I’ll share more about how to choose your hygge spiritual practice.

Love to you!

Jeanine

8 Comments

Try this Ideal Exercise

4/9/2018

16 Comments

"For me, there’s no better time to contemplate the world and my place in it than in the early morning. When the house is dark and quiet, with my family still sleeping, I sit for a few minutes in a comfortable chair with a warm cup of coffee, breathe, and just be."-Tom Rapsas, Wake Up Call, Patheos.com

Last week, I mentioned that before we dive into what a hygge spiritual practice is, I had an exercise I’d like for you to try first.

The hygge exercise: make yourself a cup of your favorite tea and grab your journal or a piece of paper and a pen or pencil. I have questions for you to answer…

If you could create an ideal spiritual practice, what would it be like?

What would you do each time?

How would it feel?

What would be the best thing about it, for you?

How to Do the Exercise Step by Step

Step One: Relax into Peace

Take a few minutes to relax, breathe deeply and slowly in between sips of tea and let yourself release any stress you brought with you to this moment.

Step Two: A Moment’s Meditation

Close your eyes for a moment as you consider those questions. Ask your mind & heart to offer up possibilities while you watch on your inner movie screen.

Your mind may be sneaky and offer up “wouldn’t likes” along with the “this would be goods,” so expect you might have to do a little sorting.

Step Three: Journaling

Open your eyes and continue the process by asking yourself which ideas you liked most and writing those down. Is there anything you are doing already and could tweak to make it into one of those possibilities?

Write that down, too, and choose something you could try in the next day or two as an experiment.

How Did it Go?

Were you able to come up with any ideas you might try or current practices you might tweak?

Let me know in a comment, okay? I’m hoping it went well for you.

But if you’re feeling like there might have been more & you can’t quite think of them, tomorrow, I’ll tell you what I came up with for my own ideal spiritual practice and you can see if it inspires any other ideas. I also have a surprise for you I can’t wait to share.

See you tomorrow!

Love, Jeanine

16 Comments

Hygge Reading: Week One

4/8/2018

12 Comments

Each week, on Sunday, I'll offer you a hygge self-care reading. It may give you an idea to try that you hadn't yet considered, or connect you with the practice you need most. Ready to give it a try this week? ...

Which spiritual practice do you need most this week?

What's on your mind or heart today? When you think of the week ahead, is there wisdom or insight you need? Or, maybe there's a problem that doesn't yet have a solution. Hold space for getting an answer today, and then choose one of the numbers below.

One

Two

Three

Which one did you choose?

One...

If you picked the first one, it's all about the tea! Or whatever your favorite beverage is.
Pour a cup or glass and take time both to savor and to sip. Make it a quiet moment, no distractions from your phone, TV or computer, and what you need will come to you. The guidance you need, the insight, or that creative idea you've been waiting for - whatever it is, your quiet tea moment will provide it. The third choice represents taking a dance break, for a few moments, or for longer, if time permits. Dancing may cheer you up, energize you, give you a few moments' break from stress, or help you connect more deeply to the truest parts of yourself. it.

Two...

If you chose the second one, daydreaming is your best self-care resource right now. You haven't had enough alone time lately, just to relax and think things through. Give yourself at least ten minutes. Daydreaming, about nothing in particular, about an imagined solution to a problem that's been bothering you, or about the next great thing you want to create in your life, will give you a moment's peace. And if you do it often enough, will help return you to your best self.

Three...

The third choice represents taking a dance break, for a few moments, or for longer, if time permits. Dancing may cheer you up, energize you, give you a few moments' break from stress, or help you connect more deeply to the truest parts of yourself. Whether you choose slow music or fast, you may find that dancing for a few minutes leaves you different than you were before you began, if only because it breaks the spell of whatever moment you were in before.

How do you feel about the reading? Was it a match for what you need today?

See you next time!

love, Jeanine

12 Comments

Finding My Way Back to the Spiritual Path

4/7/2018

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"The experience of a crisis immobilizes us for a long period of time. Our mind is focused on the disaster aspects of the situation, and we are unable to function effectively. We are unable to sleep or eat, and do not know how we are going to get past the terrible set of circumstances. We use our minds to focus on what is wrong, how painful it is, and how terrible it is going to be in the future." -Wayne Dyer

What Wayne Dyer says in that quote describes perfectly how I got stuck. And he goes on to say that when we're in it, we have no idea that what happened could be the beginning of a transformation. That one day we might even be glad for it, in some way. Raising my hand here about that, for sure.

Have you ever looked back on a time like that and realized that, awful as it was, it led to a positive transformation in your life? Maybe even to a deeper faith or spiritual practice?

That is what I am hoping for from this experience I am having. But what do you do when you want to find your way back to a spiritual practice, or take the next step in the journey of transformation, but you're not sure where or how to start?

"Perhaps you spend your time in centering prayer or meditation, practicing yoga, journaling, creating, or reading poetry. Simply choose a practice that helps you connect to the Divine and enables you to feel like your true self, whether the practice is traditional or unique to you. Do one or many, or perhaps consider changing them monthly or seasonally" ~ ASacredJourney

I like what she says here, and I agree. There are many ways to be spiritual, to connect to the truth of who you are, and choosing a spiritual practice you enjoy, whether it is traditional or not, is the best way to honor your desire for spirituality.

It reminds me of a woman I met right before I graduated from high school. She told me she wasn't much for going to church, but she felt close to God whenever she was out in nature.

Did you ever watch The Waltons? Much to Olivia's consternation, she could rarely get her husband, John, inside a church. But he'd say that he believed; he just didn't want to practice his faith by going to church.

When I was younger, I thought that was the main reason for deciding what you believed - then, you'd know which church (or synagogue or mosque) to go to when it was time to worship. Now that I am older, I know that faith and spirituality can be practiced in any number of ways.

And it's personal. So you can get lots of ideas that might feel right to you, but you can't know for sure, until you try it.

So finding your way back or moving toward a deeper expression of spirituality or faith may look and sound and feel different to you than it does to your family or your best friend or your next-door neighbor.

And what has become important to me, in this weirdness where I kinda believe this, but may no longer believe that, and sometimes have a tuned-in moment but mostly only wish I did, is to let it be whatever it is right now. And to know that it just doesn't matter how it compares to what others are experiencing.

Even if they are people I love and admire.

33-Second Takeaway

"Someone or something forces us to look beyond the veil ... now, we know there is more to the story than we had previously thought."
~ Dr. Kelly Brogan, KellyBroganMD.com

My Own Way Forward

I am still waiting to see what comes to me in the way of faith or beliefs. But meanwhile, I decided I wanted to find a way to be deeply spiritual even if I don't yet know what I believe.

And I used to be very active with an online spiritual group, and I decided it could be a guide to what might be a good way to start finding my way back.

In the middle of an online spiritual practice, we often would be told to go find a candle to light, ostensibly one that matches what we we're focusing on that night. But I'd go get my favorite one that smells like cookies every time.

Or, knowing of an online spiritual ritual I was about to do, I'd make a cup of tea and pray while sipping it.

So even before I fully understood what hygge was, I was taking these moments of spiritual practice with a group and making my own participation more hygge.

So I decided to choose hygge practices partly because I already love it & it is familiar. But also because I was doing it instinctively already.

More on hygge spiritual practices in the next few days.

See you next time!

Love, Jeanine

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Spiritual Practice & Coming Back to Yourself

4/6/2018

14 Comments

"Spiritual practices help us discover our deepest values, address our longing to connect with the divine, and propel us on the journey to wholeness — all aspects of spirituality. Spiritual practices are specific activities you do to deepen your relationships with the sacred and the world around you. They enable you to become actively engaged with your inner or 'true' selves— the depth of your being." ~ Spirituality and Practice

And making that spiritual practice hygge could mean personalizing it so that it fits you like a glove that was custom-made for your hand. One the path back to spirituality, or when you are wanting a path that is deeper, hygge can help. But more on that in future posts.

The quote above really captures my reasons for beginning again to create a spiritual practice.

In wandering away from my spiritual practice, I left parts of myself behind. And even if I still wasn't sure I knew what the heck I believed, I knew I needed to walk back in to the process.

Slowly and gradually. Stay tuned.

Have you ever wandered away from yourself? How did you bring yourself back?

Love, Jeanine

57 Seconds of Inspiration

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The Coming Back Prayer

4/5/2018

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"Just as you became almost content treading the sensible path of human improvement inch by inch, it started- the mysterious process of real transformation, which takes you by storm and throws all the spiritual rules you learned out of the window. It’s chaotic, explosive, confusing, yet at the same time the most intelligent and elegant process ever. If you know what I’m talking about, good for you. If you suspect you know what I’m talking about because it is happening to you right now, then read on..." -Natasha Che, HuffingtonPost.com

49-Second Video: My Hygge Coming Back Prayer

Being Spiritual Doesn't Go Away

"You feel like you’re living in the middle of a desert, alone."
~Natasha Che, same article

One of the hardest things about being spiritually adrift is being at sea, alone.

I had lost that sense of connection to something beyond my physical reality. And I lost it at a time when I needed for there to be something other than the world I faced at that moment.

I didn't stop being spiritual. But I sure did stop doing anything about it.

As time passed, it was easier just to give up on trying. And I wondered if I would have that sense of lonely disconnection forever.

"This stage [of transformation] is characterized by uncomfortable growth/shedding/self-reflection and an ambivalence about proceeding forward, almost a longing for the comfort that was, and a new kind of relationship to uncertainty." ~ KellyBroganMD.com

Right. It's not just lonely, there is this uncertainty that can be very frustrating. Will I ever believe anything again? Have a sense of connection that I trust?

Hence my question, yesterday, about giving up on spirituality.

It was starting to feel like it wasn't worth the hassle. But I really missed having a spiritual practice. And I started to winder if there might be some way to have one even in the middle of all the uncertainty.

Because at its best, having a spiritual practice can...

(1) help you stay true to yourself & continue discovering the richness of who you are

(2) help you feel less alone & give you ways to feel a sense of connection

(3) add moments of enchantment to a day-to-day experience that is sometimes mundane & sometimes painful

(4) give you ways to process about the questions, about the unknown

(5) helps you hold space for the spiritual transformation that might be happening behind the scenes (way behind the scenes.)

Which of those reasons would mean the most to you?

For me, it is the possibility of spiritual transformation.

I have come to hope that, somehow, without my knowing it, this is what is happening to me. I've been calling it an agnostic phase or a dark night of the soul, and defining it by my uncertainty about what I believe & my lack of motivation to do spiritual things.

But sometimes, oddly, it has felt like something has been happening in the background & I am hoping that this hygge exploration will center me on its path.

Have you ever had a spiritual "come back" moment in your own life?

More, tomorrow. See you then!

Love, Jeanine

18 Comments

Why Bother Creating a Spiritual Practice?

4/4/2018

18 Comments

"Sometimes I have to take a break from being spiritual.
Tune out instead of always tuning in.
A chance to relax and actually be still.
Not trying to fix anything or look for deeper meaning."
-Jessica Cartwright, Elephant Journal

Why Bother Doing Spiritual Things?

If you read my post about my spiritual practice story, you know I have been in what I have thought of as an extended agnostic phase, and that there have been times in the past year and a half that I didn't bother with a spiritual practice.

It felt old and outdated, no longer useful, and it felt weird to do spiritual things when I had no idea if they would have any impact on anything at all.

And if, like me, you are spiritual but not religious, you may not have a compelling reason either to carefully craft a spiritual practice. And actually, even deeply religious people have dry spells. So if you are reading this and are a person of deep religious faith, you may be able to relate to this question, too.

So then, why not just leave it alone for a while? Maybe even a long while. Maybe just decide not to worry about it and live unspiritually? (I know, I made that word up)

Well, one answer is that you may not like the way that feels.

I did that. I took some time off.

I was grieving the loss of my favorite aunt and I was not in the mood to connect with the divine, who I suspected might not really be there.

My focus became very narrow. I became concerned with the wellbeing of myself and my family and that was it.

And I am still in the middle of this story, as I have mentioned before.

But I am not in the same place I was all those many months ago. Mind you, I still have all the doubts, and the big question marks.

Yet it's not the same experience. Even things like doubt and grief change form, I suppose.

And believe it or not, I am beginning to get some answers now to this question of why I should bother. Even though nothing has been resolved. I'll tell you more about what I mean in the next couple of posts.

How do you feel about it? If you have ever been in dark night territory, did you avoid your spiritual practice? Did you feel like giving up on it?

If you landed on the side of giving up on being spiritual, I completely understand.

By the way, I want to take a moment to thank you for reading these blog posts. It's not fun to listen to someone talk about being in pain. About loss. And doubt.

I really appreciate your willingness to do so.

Love, Jeanine

18 Comments

Creating Spirituality

4/3/2018

16 Comments

"...[the answer might be] starting a regular spiritual practice routine that can both enrich your spiritual awareness and strengthen your faith. This practice becomes your religion and in turn, an integral part of your life."
~ Tom Rapsas, Patheos.com

Exactly What I Want it to Be?
(31-second video)

"Remember that your spiritual practice is completely unique to you. It doesn’t need to look or sound or act like anyone else's. Make your spiritual practice exactly what you want and need for it to be." ~ Jenna Arak, The Girl Who Knows

About 7 or 8 years ago, I found out about a course offered at one of the local churches in my city. It was called “Create Your Own Theology.”

Though I didn’t take that class, years later, in our homeschooling, my son & I did a world religions unit & one of the suggestions was to create your own. I decided to do it, too, and came up with The Kindness Religion.

I loved the idea of making up the truth you want to believe!

And it reminded me of other things I have heard that suggest that we are dreaming life, and making it up as we go, so we can change the story if it’s not one we like. That feels empowering.

But whether or not you intend to dream up a theology, you certainly get the adventure of designing or choosing your spiritual practice. And if you want it to be a hygge one, you can certainly make it so. In fact, this month, I’ll tell you how.

Because this month’s focus is to learn what a hygge spirituality is or what a hygge spiritual practice would be like. And I’ll also share how to try it yourself if you’re interested.

But before we get to that, there's more to think through about spirituality & spiritual practice.

Plus, there's an exercise I’d like you to try. Once you try it, you'll be able to keep it in mind as we continue the conversation on hygge spiritual practices.

See you tomorrow!

Love, Jeanine

16 Comments

Why Create a Hygge Spiritual Practice? My Story

4/2/2018

26 Comments

Welcome! Watch this 26-Second Intro Video...

This month, all of my posts will be about hygge spirituality & creating a hygge spiritual practice.

If you're reading this and wondering why anyone would combine those words & what it could possibly mean, I promise that all will be revealed.

But first, I want to share a little of my spiritual story. It may help you understand why the idea of a hygge spiritual practice would appeal to me.

Disclaimer: It's not about Changing Beliefs

I know many of you have a faith that informs your spiritual practice, and I do not wish to persuade you to change anything you are doing that you love.

But you may get interested in adding hygge practices to what you do, already. And you might decide that everything goes better with hygge. ;)

So, grab a cup of tea and let's dive in...

"Try to listen to the deeper voice inside you. Be gentle on yourself. Be loving. Don’t beat yourself up when you are not acting the way you 'think' you should. This is the best time to practice self love. Your inner knowing is now stronger than ever. It just taking a while for your mind to catch up and start trusting it."
~ Natasha Che, HuffingtonPost.com

My Spiritual Practice? What Spiritual Practice?

In that quote, she speaks to anyone having what is often called a dark night of the soul. That is what I have been experiencing and I find those words deeply encouraging!

Have you ever had a dark night of the soul? I have been having this experience for well over a year now.

As a result, my spiritual practice has been, at times, almost nonexistent, and I am hoping that this process of exploration will rekindle some kind of spiritual connection in me. I have let go of the reach for certainty, and am going to try to make peace with doubt.

But I still want & need to refashion some kind of spiritual practice.

Because at the moment, I am an interfaith spiritual director who doesn't have much going on in the way of a spiritual practice. Sheesh!

So I am hoping that finding a way to create a sustainable spiritual practice will begin to change things. And as we talk this month about applying hygge to spirituality, I have committed to doing it in my own life. We'll see what happens...

Losing Spiritual Connection

It started in the fall, year before last. First, my favorite aunt died right before Halloween.

And soon after that happened, things continued to go south...

Something happened to me when Hillary did not become president. I turned my focus inward, but not in a spiritual way.

Actually, those first few days, I felt afraid to leave my home because of the violence I kept hearing about, but I made myself go to the store, and the fear began to subside. I also had just lost my favorite aunt and I am sure that grief was part of the process as that year came to an end.

The strong spiritual practice I had began to dissolve, I became depressed and I stopped trying to connect. I thought I was just having a spiritual tantrum that would go away when I felt better.

And eventually, I began to resolve my anger and fear. I did feel better.

But nothing much changed spiritually. Or not that I could tell. I began to question everything I thought I believed. And I lost all motivation to re-create what I had before.

Also, it was winter for a good part of this dissolution process, and as many of you know, I have winter blues, but when spring passed & summer came, I still didn't feel very spiritual.

One after another, each change or shift that I thought would fix things let me down.

And that brings us to the present. I want back the spirituality I had before, but from everything I have read, this dark night if the soul does not walk backwards. It takes you to a new place and leaves you there, newly-hatched.

I am hoping to make hygge my vehicle of choice, but I acknowledge that it might not be time yet. There might be more wandering. So we'll see.

"[You may feel] a sense of helplessness, incompleteness. A burning desire for something just beyond your reach. This is nothing other than a longing for the Divine. Sooner or later, the spiritual path will take you beyond where 'you' can go by your own effort, past what an individual can accomplish within the domain of relativity. Don’t be surprised or worried if you find yourself questioning what you always believed in. Don’t try to force yourself back into a life that no longer fits. There is a quiet place inside you where all the answers are waiting."

- Natasha Friedman, Four Signs Your Spiritual Practice is Going Deep
Even When You Feel Stuck

She says to keep going, in that article that I highly recommend, and I have been, to some extent. I still pray, for example, but it often feels like I am yelling at a closed door. And no one's home.

I'm a healer & I still send healing when someone needs it. That's one good thing - I still believe in healing.

My mother died recently, and I am still mad that I wasn't able to help her heal the cancer. But I know she was at peace, because we healed everything emotional that needed healing.

So the healing part of my spirituality is still intact. And often, I still feel guided.

So I know it hasn't all completely gone to hell.

However, I don’t really know what I believe in anymore about what is true. And this agnostic phase is lasting a heck of a lot longer than I expected.

I love hygge, though! So, we’ll see if it becomes a portal into anything else.

I can’t lose if it doesn’t, because I’ll only end up where I started, but more cozy. 😉

Want to take this journey with me? I’d love the company!

See you next time!

Love, Jeanine

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<<Previous

Daydream Journal

Here's a 9-Minute Loving Kindness Meditation

Hygge Heart-Opening Peace Practice

A Hygge Moment that Will Calm You Quickly

Hygge Letting Go Tealight Exercise

Hygge Letting Go Exercise with Water

Gentle Disclaimer

Which one did you choose?

3-Step Hygge Ritual w/ Centering Prayer

Three Video Questions (25 Seconds)

My Ideal Spiritual Practice (1 min, 20 secs)

What about Winter Blues?

Surprise!

How to Do the Exercise Step by Step

How Did it Go?

Which spiritual practice do you need most this week?

One

Two

Three

Which one did you choose?

33-Second Takeaway

My Own Way Forward

57 Seconds of Inspiration

49-Second Video: My Hygge Coming Back Prayer

Being Spiritual Doesn't Go Away

Why Bother Doing Spiritual Things?

Exactly What I Want it to Be? (31-second video)

Welcome! Watch this 26-Second Intro Video...

Disclaimer: It's not about Changing Beliefs

My Spiritual Practice? What Spiritual Practice?

Losing Spiritual Connection

I'm Jeanine

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Exactly What I Want it to Be?
(31-second video)