You don’t even have to say om.
In this crazy-hectic world, it’s not weird to want to tap into a connection with something bigger than yourself — which is an excellent reason to be more spiritual.
Jaime Martínez / Via fuckyoudraculas.tumblr.com
Obviously, there’s no one definition of spirituality. It could be about bringing creativity, curiosity, and wisdom into your life. It could be about strengthening your relationship with yourself or the world around you. It could even be about finding some higher guiding path to make existing a little easier. (To be clear, we’re not talking about any particular religious beliefs here — or even religion in general).
How you personalize it and make it a part of your life is up to you. To give you some ideas for being spiritual no matter your belief system, we talked to these two super-knowledgeable experts in the field: Lisa Miller, Ph.D., founder and executive director of the Spirituality and Mind-Body Institute at Columbia University and author of The Spiritual Child: The New Science on Parenting for Health and Lifelong Thriving; and spiritual counselor Kelsey Avalon.
TL;DR: Being ~spiritual~ can mean whatever you want it to, but these things can help get you in touch with yourself, others, and the world around you on a new level.
And obviously, feel free to be skeptical and just do some of this stuff for shits and giggles because… why not?
Pick someone you admire and let them be your guide.
MagicCityDesigns on Etsy / Via etsy.com
You’ve probably jokingly/drunkenly proclaimed your spirit animal, but Avalon suggests actually putting that into practice when you need guidance. “Tap into people who have inspired you and use their energy in a healing or guiding way,” she says. So whether that’s a historical figure, a fictional one, a celebrity, a family member, channel them.
Mug via Etsy, $13.75
Pay attention to the things you’d normally brush off as coincidences.
Coincidences happen all the time, so you may as well be open to them as possible guiding moments. You never know, a freaky coincidence could help you make sense of something going in your life. “That’s the deep oneness that runs through all the apparent separateness of the world,” says Miller.
Let the phases of the moon ~guide you~ — or at least help you plan.
The full moon is the best time to deal with emotional issues and things you’ve been dreading, says Avalon. Stay in and nurture yourself during the dark moon when it is least visible. And if you’re a skeptic, just think about it: “Our bodies are water, why would they not be affected by the moon cycles as well?” says Avalon.
Incorporate color therapy into your wardrobe.
Color can evoke feelings and energy, says Avalon, and one of the easiest ways to take advantage of that is to work certain colors into your wardrobe. Wear red to stay grounded, orange to stimulate creativity, yellow and gold for strength and joy, green for personal growth, blue for increased communication and logic, and purple for mysticism (like when you want to do some of the stuff on this list). Who knows if it’ll really work, but it could just set up a self-fulfilling prophecy that helps you channel a certain feeling.
Burn some sage to cleanse your space (or at least make it smell incredible).
CrystalGrids on Etsy / Via etsy.com
Smudging is an ancient practice used for healing and energy clearing that involves burning dried herbs, says Avalon. Try it next time your space needs some positive vibes.
Complete Smudge and Clearing Set via Etsy, $42.
Pay attention to your dreams.
Tuning into your dreams is an easy way to tap into your ~unconscious mind~ and get in touch with what’s going on with you. You don’t have to run out and buy a dream dictionary either — if you have a gut feeling that a dream means something, you’re probably right, Miller says. Try keeping a dream journal if that’ll help you dive in.
Make a habit of actually telling people why you like them and how they make your life better.
elentori-art.tumblr.com / Via okiepokey.tumblr.com
Human relationships are spiritual events, says Miller, so if you appreciate someone and they’ve made a contribution to your life, make sure they know.
Forgive someone you’ve been holding a grudge against.
Letting go of anger doesn’t have to mean accepting what someone did to you or saying that they were right, says Miller — it’s just about getting those negative feelings out of your body so they don’t weigh so heavily on you.
Do regular gut checks and get comfortable acting on intuition instead of logic.
Via weheartit.com
“We all have in our heart a natural spiritual compass that will point us in the right direction if we tune into it,” says Miller. “The way we cultivate that compass is by answering the nagging questions of the head with the wisdom and the sensitivity of the heart.” AKA trust trust your instincts.
Write down negative thoughts and burn them.
Briography / Creative Commons / Via Flickr: photosbybrionna
Things people have said to you that you want to let go of, negative self talk and insecurities, thoughts that won’t leave you alone… write it all down, says Avalon. Then burn it all up. Blow away the ashes and let your problems go with it.
Take a cleansing natural sea salt bath.
The ocean has a long history of being used for its healing powers, but since we can’t all go hop in the ocean whenever we need some soothing, Avalon suggests making a ritual out of taking relaxing baths with natural sea salts. Something like this should do the trick.
Start every day by thinking of three things you’re grateful for.
Write them down or just go over them before you even get out of bed — whatever works for you as long as you’re channeling gratitude, which is one of the most spiritual things you can do, according to Avalon.
Take up journaling to spend some one-on-one time with yourself and your thoughts.
http://euo.tumblr.com/post/81334725831/pages-from-my-diary-in-december-2013
If you’re not usually the journaling type, these 50 questions that will free your mind are a great place to start.
Connect to the world through nature.
youtube.com / Via fuckyeahnaturegifs.tumblr.com
Go for a walk and make an effort to be fully aware of everything around you, says Miller. Sounds, smells, sensations, colors — take it all in.
Get a tarot reading over Twitter with the help of BuzzFeed Coven on #TarotTuesday to ask questions, look inward, and gain perspective.
Tweet at @BuzzFeedCoven every Tuesday between 11:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. EST (the earlier you tweet, the better your chances) and you could get a five-card reading over a few tweets from our resident Head Witches In Charge. You can ask for a general reading or for something more specific.
Choose a mantra that will empower and inspire you when you repeat it.
dannybrito on Etsy / Via etsy.com
Chanting om over and over again might not do anything for you, but a mantra you actually believe in will.
Inspirational Print via Etsy, $10.
Get daily guidance from spiritual guru Deepak Chopra with apps Daily Gift or Deepak Chopra Daily.
If he’s good enough for Oprah, he’s good enough for you.
Go on a technology fast for a day or even a few hours.
No need to forsake technology and go live in a cave to become one with yourself, but disconnecting for a set amount of time will help you reconnect with the world.
Meditate to learn how to turn off the part of your brain that is critical and overly logical.
It may even help you tap into your psychic mind, says Avalon. This 2-minute meditation on self-love and acceptance is a good place to start:
https://youtube.com/watch?v=jRQHl3fJqBs
Try a visualization exercise when you need guidance.
Elle Muliarchyk / Via fashiongifs.com
Miller suggests this exercise whenever you feel like you might need some spiritual intervention: Clear out your inner space and take a few breaths. Visualize someone you love who has your best interest in mind, your “higher self” (AKA a version of you who has reached next-level badassness), and whatever higher power you believe in (whether its a deity, an energy, or a value). Then, ask them what they want you to know and imagine what they would tell you.
Check out your palm and look at it like it holds the secrets to your universe.
plaisanter~ / Creative Commons / Via Flickr: plaisanter
If you’re lazy to read up on what your lines mean,
Do breathing exercises to become more perceptive to the world around you.
Avalon suggests breathing in for 4 seconds, holding it for 2 seconds, and breathing out for 6 seconds. Easy peasy.
Maybe see a therapist to really get in touch with who you are as a person.
Chris Ritter / BuzzFeed / Via
So much of spirituality is about knowing yourself and your body — and your mental health is a huge part of that. Therapy is just one way to check up on what’s going on with you. If you’re interested,
Get a spiritual reading at least once in your life (if you’re into it).
David Sifry / Creative Commons / Via Flickr: dsifry
Modern psychics and energists aren’t there to tell you your future or anything like that, says Avalon. “The modern belief is giving you options and showing you what opportunities you have in your life so you can leave feeling empowered,” she says. And you never know, it might be the perfect place to get a little clarity in your hectic life.
Read your horoscope, even if you think it’s BS.
Because, be honest, you’re a little open to the possibility that it’s not, since
Feng Shui up your space.
Daryl Alexsy / Via darylalexsy.net
The idea of Feng Shui is to arrange the things in your spaces so the energy can flow through it and you can use it for your highest benefit, says Avalon.
Brew a mug of tea and take your time.
Sian Butcher for BuzzFeed / Via
We’re so used to grabbing our drinks on the run and downing them at our desks, so drinking a cup of tea (or wine if that’s more your style) can be a great excuse to sit with your thoughts. “It’s about making the small things in your life meaningful,” says Avalon.
Go stargazing.
Via iananmorssettdesckhaoserebo.tumblr.com
Ponder the universe. Hunt for constellations. Or just think, “Holy shit, I’m tiny.”
