"A journal can help one cultivate the ability to live in the present, to become deeply aware and appreciative of life. A journal records the movement of one’s inner experience. The more mindful the writer becomes, the more likely it is that he will capture the essence of each day." ~ Journaling, ContemplativeMind.org As part of your hygge ritual, during this step, you take note of any guidance that has come your way, and you make sure to write something down so you don't forget it. Hygge practices offer an opportunity to relax deeply and slow down your experience so that you're likely to be more open to the wisdom that comes your way. This step creates space for that to happen and places your journal nearby so you can capture it when it comes. But if you are seeking guidance during your hygge ritual, and nothing seems to be coming to you, there are ways to prime the pump, so to speak. The exercise below is one of them... Journaling Exercise for Intuitive Guidance (One-Minute Video) Free writing: "It is a method of inner inquiry: you never know what you will learn until you start writing; then you discover truths that you did not know existed." ~ same source  Do you have a question or concern on your mind or heart today? This exercise may help If you have been reading along this week, you know that this intuitive guidance exercise would take place within a hygge ritual. And the first few steps would create a familiar container of comfort and safety, so that by the time you get to the wisdom portion of this ritual, you're relaxed, and things are cozy. To review, start by going to the most comfortable place in your home. Take your journal, and a cup or glass of tea with you and light your favorite candle. Get cozy in all the ways that you love. Spend a few minutes imagining your wishes coming true, meditating/daydreaming about whatever is most on your mind at the moment. Then, hold in your mind for a moment, whatever it is that you're wanting guidance about and then, start the writing exercise. Write for 5 minutes or so without lifting your pen from the paper. If you get stuck, just write "I have no idea what to write right now," etc. But keep writing and you are likely to surprise yourself with the wisdom and insight that shows up on those pages. Tomorrow, step five. See you then! Love, Jeanine
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"Reflective practices are a way for us to become aware of our own state of being. Mindful reflection brings us back to ourselves, allowing us to come closer to our own body, emotions, thoughts, and spirit. In reflection and contemplation we find an openness to seeing things as they are, not how we think they should be. We find we can let go of our usual self-imposed boundaries and hierarchies, along with our many doubts, anxieties, plans, regrets, ambitions, and other distracting thoughts." - Reflective Practices, Whole Systems Healing Guided Meditations  This week, we're looking at suggested practices for a hygge ritual. Today's step is meditation and it can be a brief one or a longer one, whenever you have more time. And the possibilities for what to focus on are endless. If you're just getting started with meditation, it might be easier to start by just focusing on your breathing, noticing that you begin to relax as you breathe more slowly & deeply. You also could try a recorded guided meditation, and all you'll have to do is listen and let it bring you peace. And right now, you can try this brief, virtual meditation below... Give Yourself this 1 1/2-Minute Experience
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Which hygge spiritual practice do you need most?
One...
Did you pick the first one?
The first practice is journaling. And in fact, writing in your journal is always a good way to get to the heart of how you feel and think. But one way to do it that may uncover deeper thoughts & feelings (the ones hiding beneath the surface) is to write without stopping.
Set a timer or decide on an amount of time to write and stop when the time is up. Choose something you want to explore, like what you really think or feel about a situation or person in your life.
Begin by writing the first thoughts that come to mind but then, keep going, without stopping. You may find that there are other thoughts and feelings you weren't completely aware of or didn't know about at all.
You also may get insights or wisdom that you haven't had before.
And here's what I suggest doing next. Nothing. Make yourself some tea, have a seat and stare out the window for a while, letting it all sink in.
Keep your journal open, but don't hold your pen. After some time to process, you may have even more realizations come to light.
Two...
The second one is taking a nature walk. Not for exercise, so make it more of a stroll.
I suggest not thinking about anything in particular. Feel the sun on your face, notice the breeze dancing along your arms or lifting your hair. Notice the leaves on the trees, watch the birds fly from one tree to another.
Listen to the sounds you hear. Glance at the clouds. And from time to time, check in on how you feel.
Notice the thoughts that pop in on you. And each time something comes to mind, or you notice a negative feeling, ask yourself, "what do i wish were different?"
"What bothers me about it?" And then, keep walking and go back to noticing everything around you.
What's likely to happen is insights about things you hardly pay attention to or that you have been trying to ignore. When you get back home, write down what you've learned so you don't forget it.
Three...
If you picked this one, then your practice is to sing your heart out. So, not just to sing a song, but to sing with complete abandon.
Since this one chose you, I am guessing that you love to sing! And that you love it so much, you can sometimes get lost in the experience.
If so, then singing is a great way to find and connect with your deepest parts of yourself. Try it today and notice how it feels, in general, and how you feel about the connection with yourself.
So what did you think of this reading? Was the one you chose, the one you needed?
Let me know in a comment.
See you next time!
love, Jeanine
"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
"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.
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
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
"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
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
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
"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
"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
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
"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.
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.
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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
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
"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
"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
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
"...[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
"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
"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
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
"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
I'm Jeanine
Thanks for dropping by. Hope you'll put your feet up, have a cup of tea & stay for a while.
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