Daily Question, August 7 What rituals or practices help me come home to myself? 35 Reflections Share Click here to cancel reply.Please log in or Create a Profile to post a comment. Notify me when someone replies to my comment via e-mail. coastmoor6 months agocoastmoorToday, whilst writing a short eighteen line poem about distraction, I had moments of transcendence, which was quite beautiful. 0 Reply Present Moment6 months agoPresent MomentThe simplest remembering of who I am comes from gazing into the sky and saying out loud “Thank you, thank you, thank you” 0 Reply Malag6 months agoMalagAmongst other things looking at a fire burning in the grate, watching the dance of flame, noticing how it spreads, grows and ebbs, tuning into the rhythm of its crackle, letting the heat soak into me. That brings me to stillness, to home, to whomever I am. 5 Reply devy6 months agodevyYes… memories of camping and just sitting around the ?. Isn’t it amazing how one can be entranced by the sights and sounds. I could just there for hours. 2 Reply Dusty Su6 months agoDusty SuA lot of what everyone has shared so far has so many elements similar to each other and to my practices too. I appreciate so much how alike we are while being uniquely diverse. Each morning I do a “Calling My Heart” practice: it is based on the following song used as my wake-up alarm. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xrEsJKYw2ok&list=PLT2BEd1-MondDzYWVv_bI63ScpDtKDMy9&index=75 As it plays, I grind and brew fresh coffee. Before I sit to drink it and journal and read, I do a 7 directi...A lot of what everyone has shared so far has so many elements similar to each other and to my practices too. I appreciate so much how alike we are while being uniquely diverse. Each morning I do a “Calling My Heart” practice: it is based on the following song used as my wake-up alarm. As it plays, I grind and brew fresh coffee. Before I sit to drink it and journal and read, I do a 7 directions prayer. To the East, I offer thanks for the rising of a new day; to the North I off thanks to and ask my teachers, life experiences, and values to guide me; to the South, I give thanks for all that has served me to date, and release anything that does not, old stories, thoughts, ways of beings; to the East I give thanks for the day, and a life well lived wherein I face my death with grace, and ask for the wherewithal to live fully until the setting of the sun on my life. I then thank God/dess and the spirits above, the ancestors below whose shoulders I humbly stand on, then I go within and thank my heart and ask her to manifest what is good and true this day. In between the rising and setting of the sun. I do some yoga or other exercises, go for walks, have a glass of wine or herbal tea to mark the end of the day, and seek out those who may need love and care. On days that I am in sync with what nourishes, I cook, clean, eat well, and create. Before sleep, I lay down in bed for a series of breathing exercises. I give thanks for the day and others. I recount three highlights from the day. I then choose one and break it down into detailed points. This practice trains my brain to seek out the good, a life purpose, and meaning throughout the day. I rarely get to break anything down as I fall asleep quickly with gratitude. Sometimes, I do laughter and yawning exercises too. Which are thoughts to be shared on another day. Read More9 Reply devy6 months agodevyM’y daily medications, checking on gratefulness.org, Watching and listening to certain YouTube videos for self help ,lighting a candle with a prayer. All help start off my day on the right foot and rejoice in what I have and fend off my past depression and anxiety that tries to creep back by means of my inner child with whom I’m trying to console and protect. 4 Reply Don Jones6 months agoDon JonesAnything at all really, that helps me remember who I really am. 2 Reply Nancy Walton-House6 months agoNancy Walton-HouseMy daily practice of prayer, meditation, reflection, spiritual reading and writing help me come home to myself. I also benefit from deep conversation, spiritual companioning and occasional retreats. I frequently visit websites that spiritually nourish me. I am grateful for abundant resources and wonderful people that encourage consciousness, authenticity and being a person for others. Because of these generous gifts, I have purpose, meaning and rewarding relationships at 77 year of age. 5 Reply Margaret Allison6 months agoMargaret AllisonWhen I am on top of my nightly ritual to meditate and read for at least an hour before bed, I not only get better sleep, but I also feel that I've arrived at my highest self. Another ritual that I have just started practicing is gratitude. Every morning, when I wake, I think of one thing to be grateful for, even if I don't feel it in the moment. This practice helps me pause and reflect throughout my day to make sure I am giving thanks in the little things that I normally dismiss and take for...When I am on top of my nightly ritual to meditate and read for at least an hour before bed, I not only get better sleep, but I also feel that I’ve arrived at my highest self. Another ritual that I have just started practicing is gratitude. Every morning, when I wake, I think of one thing to be grateful for, even if I don’t feel it in the moment. This practice helps me pause and reflect throughout my day to make sure I am giving thanks in the little things that I normally dismiss and take for granted. And of course, being in nature always brings me home to myself. Read More4 Reply Hot Sauce6 months agoHot SauceDaily prayer, this website, running, my online mental health support group, reading, practicing environmental sustainability, channeling my personal desires to the good of others, mindful eating, wu-wei, singing, studying scriptures from different religions, following the Golden Rule, studying science, researching UFO encounters/alien abductions, performing in plays and musicals, watching funny shows like South Park, creative visualization, vision quests, cleaning up my workspace, philosophy, ex...Daily prayer, this website, running, my online mental health support group, reading, practicing environmental sustainability, channeling my personal desires to the good of others, mindful eating, wu-wei, singing, studying scriptures from different religions, following the Golden Rule, studying science, researching UFO encounters/alien abductions, performing in plays and musicals, watching funny shows like South Park, creative visualization, vision quests, cleaning up my workspace, philosophy, experimenting with the Law of Attraction, and meditating on the process of flow in creation are all practices that help me come home to myself. Read More8 Reply Michele6 months agoMicheleI freakin love South Park! especially the older episodes. 1 Reply Hot Sauce6 months agoHot SauceI seriously can’t wait for the Covid-19 episode!!! LOL. 0 Reply Javier Visionquest6 months agoJavier VisionquestYou and I ought to hang out 3 Reply Hot Sauce6 months agoHot SauceIf you’re serious about this, maybe we can. Are you anywhere near Greeley, Colorado? 0 Reply Linda6 months agoLindaHelping others always brings me home to myself. It is my essence and my true nature. 7 Reply Mica6 months agoMicavisiting the gratefulness site, most days 6 Reply Maeve6 months agoMaeveHaving a good night’s sleep, always. Being listened to deeply. Stretching, doing yoga. Taking a walk in the woods. Reading a satisfying book. Lighting a candle while I eat, or meditate or write. 9 Reply Pilgrim6 months agoPilgrimSort of a morning ritual … with coffee, sit at my kitchen table with a west window, enjoy neighbors’ gardens, squirrels and various birds snacking, grooming, catching up with their friends on my deck rail, check email, read – usually from 2 books, one a bit spiritual and a novel, work on my planner including inspiring quotes, check this site, and have some breakfast. It is more ritual than at any other time of the day, which is quite random in the days of Covid. 8 Reply Michele6 months agoMicheleLove this question – I love this site and being able to light a candle is one way I practice prayer. I enjoy following the seasons and Wheel of the Year so my rituals/practices are seasonal – meals, decorations etc. I also love my nighttime rituals of meditation using ASMR for relaxation. Also being out in nature helps me. Happy International Beer day everyone:) 7 Reply Javier Visionquest6 months agoJavier VisionquestThanks for the pointer to ASMR. You’re aces, Michele 4 Reply Michele6 months agoMicheleawww, you’re welcome! 0 Reply Zenith6 months agoZenithWhat I tried to say below and the editor doesn’t work on my phone, is that I do Wim Hof breathing. It is a practice that is supposed to strengthen the immune system. I need that right now. 4 Reply Zenith6 months agoZenithI start the day with Him How breathing. Then go outside to watch sunrise. There I meditate. Then I come here. Then I do my grateful list and my activity from The Magic book by Rhonda Byrne. I play piano and do Tai Chi. This sounds like alot, but in reality it only takes a couple of hours. But each of these activities serves to set the tone of the day to gratefulness which is very necessary because of where I live. 4 Reply Javier Visionquest6 months agoJavier VisionquestOnce or twice a year I retreat to my place of power near the southern most summit of Massanutten, perched above the abrupt 300 ft drop to Elizabeth Furnace on a small ledge of rock for an over-night camp out, bringing nothing with me but a canteen of water, a wool blanket and a handful of tapers to keep the dobsonflies busy – no food, no flashlight, no cell phone. Here in the dead of night and surrounded by miles of treacherous forest terrain and darkness I am alone with my mind, no distractio...Once or twice a year I retreat to my place of power near the southern most summit of Massanutten, perched above the abrupt 300 ft drop to Elizabeth Furnace on a small ledge of rock for an over-night camp out, bringing nothing with me but a canteen of water, a wool blanket and a handful of tapers to keep the dobsonflies busy – no food, no flashlight, no cell phone. Here in the dead of night and surrounded by miles of treacherous forest terrain and darkness I am alone with my mind, no distractions and no escape, at least, until morning. My personal Fait accompli, complete isolation is how I move forward when I find myself stagnant or stuck. Read More8 Reply Ed Schulte6 months agoEd SchulteMany variation of breathing / contemplation / inner light / exercises...but this is one aspect is included in all of them... "Become the master of your home". Breathe rhythmically, consciously, and concentrate on the aesthetic ether of the etheric double of your body. Feel your material body. Feel every part of your body from the feet to the head. Now, spread out your consciousness and Self-awareness everywhere in your material body. Continue to breathe consciously and rhythmical...Many variation of breathing / contemplation / inner light / exercises…but this is one aspect is included in all of them… “Become the master of your home”. Breathe rhythmically, consciously, and concentrate on the aesthetic ether of the etheric double of your body. Feel your material body. Feel every part of your body from the feet to the head. Now, spread out your consciousness and Self-awareness everywhere in your material body. Continue to breathe consciously and rhythmically and wish that complete harmony reign in your material body. Mentally give thanks to the Holy Spirit. Until now the Holy Spirit has taken care of you from the moment you enter in the womb of your mother. It is working in every cell, in every atom, of your material body….. So mentally express your thanks to the “life-giver”. The Holy Spirit will receive it. [4:10] This may be your first contact with the Holy Spirit. Feel your material body intensively and consciously. You know now that the Holy Spirit works in every cell of every atom of your body. Concentrate on the Esthetic ether, the feeling-giving ether of your material body, while simultaneously sensing your Logoic expression. .[ Golden.. Light Logos] . Read More7 Reply Mark Piper6 months agoMark PiperEvening Prayers. Though I used to do regular morning prayers from a psalter pre-pandemic. I should pick that up again. Sitting and silence for a few minutes in the evening helps. To some extent this, focus on gratitude in the morning helps too. I’ll have to keep examining what practices I am doing but not identifying. 6 Reply sunnypatti6 months agosunnypattiMy daily practice goes something like this - make a cup of coffee, take a few sips while I find a nice meditation on my app, meditate, pray, journal, and then come to gratefulness.org to read the quote of the day and the daily question. By then, my dog is ready to go outside, so I get a good dose of fresh air, and listen to the sounds of birds and frogs and whatever else. I also have yoga and surfing that help me come home to myself. Both require my full attention. Both allow me to connect n...My daily practice goes something like this – make a cup of coffee, take a few sips while I find a nice meditation on my app, meditate, pray, journal, and then come to gratefulness.org to read the quote of the day and the daily question. By then, my dog is ready to go outside, so I get a good dose of fresh air, and listen to the sounds of birds and frogs and whatever else. I also have yoga and surfing that help me come home to myself. Both require my full attention. Both allow me to connect not only to myself, but to God, the Universe, and – with surfing – Mother Nature. Actually, just being in the ocean brings me home to myself. I particularly love when there are no waves at all, and I can just swim out and float. Floating is the ultimate ‘letting go’ and there is a definite peace in lying there, relaxing into trust under the big beautiful sky. I always feel like I got a tune up after a good float! Read More11 Reply Cathy6 months agoCathyOh, sunnypatti, I so agree with you about ‘the good float!’ You described it so well. I love to ‘take ten’ and float on my back, too! 5 Reply 1 2 Next » My Private Gratitude Journal Write an entry in your private gratefulness journal Get Started This site is brought to you by A Network for Grateful Living, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. All donations are fully tax deductible in the U.S.A. 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