With the break of spring, some of us are getting the urge to realign with goals we had set for ourselves at the beginning of the year.
It is the Spring New Year after all.
With that being said, back in January, we made a post on how to create a simple spiritual routine for yourself. This is going to be a breakdown of that guide as well as a reminder of why having such a routine is important.
Why should you create a spiritual routine?
No matter if you are a part of a particular religion, practice, or neither, setting aside a daily routine to align yourself with something Greater can drastically change your life.
Whether it’s through meditation, prayer, journaling, or simply just contemplating, having this time for yourself can create a calming experience, lowering your stress levels to enhance mindfulness, relaxation, and critical thinking.
By also setting aside time for a daily routine, you are creating space in your life for self-care and self-love. You are putting yourself first by making sure you have this time to calm yourself and focus on your goals, intentions, and values.
From a religious or devotional standpoint, this is a time to celebrate and be thankful to God, Spirit, and Whomever Else you may pray towards.
How do you create a spiritual routine?
So, to begin creating this routine for ourselves, how do we start?
Time
Check your schedule and see what time works best for you. Is it the daytime or night? This usually depends on if we are either morning people or night owls.
If you are a student during the day, a 9-5 worker or a parent, a morning practice may be best for you. Kids usually don’t wake up until it’s time to get ready for school (unless they’re early morning risers) and fitting this in with your morning workout before class is a great way to get your day started.
If you are a late riser and all of your plans happen to be during the evening and night, an evening routine may be best for your schedule.
The time you choose for your routine is up to you however it is best to pick a time during your day that can remain consistent. So if you choose 7AM or 7PM, make sure that is something you can stay regularly with.
Depending on how much time you have for this routine will set the table for your practices and how long you will be engaging in them.
For example, you may only have 30 mins for a routine like this. That is alright, just make sure you plan accordingly and set your practices to time limits. In this case, maybe it’s reading scripture for 10 mins, meditating for 10 mins, and journaling for another 10. If you want to fit more practices into this routine, simply adjust the timing to your availability.
Also, if this isn’t something you can do every day, that’s also alright! Work out which days of the week you can and stick with it.
Space
Picking a space within your home or outside is a very important part of your routine.
This place must be a space you feel safe and comfortable in. One that you will not be disturbed and can come back to as often as you can.
This space also doesn’t have to be indoors or out, but can be created by you simply with items, photos, plants, and anything else you desire, like a travel altar. Travel altars can be made out of a small box, filled with incense, candles, and a photo of your Diety, Guru or God of choice.
This created space ideally is one no one will bother or reach. It is your home to get grounded and realigned—your connection to the Spiritual.
Practice
What practices will you be including in your routine?
If you come from a religious background, you may already have practices that you will incorporate into your routine. You may also find some inspiration from the provided list of possible additions.
You may add as many practices as you’d like into your routine, from one to ten. Just remember, if you are new to having a daily spiritual routine, you may want to start off small; at most 3 or 4 practices.
Also, keep in mind your timing. How long would you like to spend on each practice? How many practices do you really have time for in your day? There are all important aspects to keep in mind.
Will these practices include Deities? The Elements (Earth, Water, Fire, Air)? Sigils (symbols)? Angels, Saints, or Spirits?
If you are involving any of the such, it can be nice to do some research on the appropriate offerings for these elements and beings.
For example, to honor the elements, you may have a candle lit, some crystals, and a bowl of water.
For specific deities or saints, they may require certain colored candles or food offerings.
Objects
The objects you choose for your routine can be from offerings to tools used in your practices.
Some tools you may use can be a magick wand, a pendulum, runes, herbs, or potions.
In devotional practices, these tools may include mala beads, a rosary, a bible, any religious text, murtis, or edible offerings such as food.
The objects you choose do not have to go according to already made practices. Remember, this is your practice and you are free to use anything your intuition calls you to.
Intention
What is the reason you wanted to start this practice? Is it to create more stillness or mindfulness in your life? Is it to create more time and space for prayer? Is it to enhance your intuition and connect more with your spiritual insights?
This question is one you must ask yourself above all. Knowing the reasoning for creating this spiritual routine for yourself will help you understand what practices and objects you will need to involve in order to realize this intention. If it is mindfulness you are looking to aim for, maybe meditation will be your primary focus. If it is to create a more devotional life, maybe reading scripture and praying is the practice involved.
Find out why it is that you want this time and space for yourself and create your routine around that.
Surrender
The point of even having a Spiritual Routine is to help you create a more spiritual life for yourself. One that you can easily move through and feel good about.
This isn’t about restrictions, do’s or don’ts, or regulations. This is about you and your connection to your faith.
Follow what feels right for you. Do what feels good, makes you feel aligned, and makes your day even better.
Remember, this is your routine. No one else’s. Go with the flow and have fun with it!
