Top 5 Spiritual Essentials
A spiritual life need not require mantras at dawn and daily yoga on the beach. When I started out on a spiritual path, I found that I had to slot my spiritual in alongside my everyday. I didn’t have time, money or inclination to make a pilgrimage to India. As a working mother of a toddler, I now must find the spiritual in amongst the nappies, tantrums and trips to the park. My spiritual path is not made any the less powerful by the fact I cannot afford, or do not have the time to undertake spiritual journeys, outings or spend hours of my day meditating.
In writing my book The High Heeled Guide to Spiritual Living, I discovered that a spiritual life is one that is very much mixed in with the mundane, everyday events. I am passionate about the fact we are all spiritual, we are all spirit, and that the only spirit we will ever need can be found inside our own hearts and souls.
Your life is as spiritual as it gets, even in all its chaos, perfect moments and in the boredom, too. Every single event can help you to live and learn, better and stronger. So with this in mind and without any requirement, other than a little bit of mindfulness and thinking on your part, here are my top five Spiritual Essentials to getting the most from your spirit and soul.
Without a doubt, the most powerful tool in your spiritual box is the ability to hear and feel your intuition.
Your intuition will be a thousand times more accurate about what is right for you than even your beloved mom or your best friend. Your intuition is a fast track connection to a higher, eternally powerful version of you, a part of you that is connected to the mega-power and wisdom of the universe. Yes, you read that right; you have a hotline to the universe, the angels, god or goddess (whatever you want to call it). The first step to utilizing this is simply to listen. Start to be aware of your gut instinct on things. Respect it, do as it says, and watch how things unfold. Listen to the voice in your head that whispers gentle, loving advice – you know, the one you usually ignore! As you do this, you will soon start to see that your intuition is never wrong, your heart is always right and the more you listen, the louder that voice becomes and the better choices you will make!
Become mindful.
This is more than just about intuition. To really become mindful, we must start to observe the craziness of our own minds. In doing so, we must then actively stop the craziness, simply by stopping unhelpful or unhealthy chains of thoughts and replacing them with positivity. Meditation is key to this, though you don’t necessarily need to meditate like a guru. Rather, take a few seconds to acknowledge your mind and dismiss thoughts. Take time out from worrying to do something that absorbs you, such as art, reading, cooking, walking in nature, gazing off into the sky… Becoming mindful helps you to step out of your own way and get to know the real you, the essence of you. It is a powerful step to transforming your life and getting soulful with yourself.
Prayer is a beautiful tool that is too often dismissed as a formality of a strict religious life.
Prayer need not be formal or strict. Prayer can be danced on a Friday night at the disco. Prayer can be sung aloud as you shower, in the form of one of your favorite, uplifting songs. Prayer is a quiet introspection where you express gratitude, explore love, send out good vibes and set a positive intent for yourself and others. Prayer can take the form of creating a vision board, manifesting a happier life through positive thought, or literally getting on your hands and knees and requesting healing for a sick loved one. When you embrace the idea of prayer, all you are doing is accessing communication between yourself and a higher power. However you choose to do this, it is valid. Say a prayer right now, in whatever way suits, sing it, toot it, whistle it, tweet it or twerk it. The means of praying really doesn’t matter; what is more important is that you open those communications!
Look to the world around you for signs and affirmation.
I believe we are all connected to everything here, and an eternal life beyond what is here (deep, I know). All things are energy and as such we are all alike, we are all one. That includes the computer you read this on and the chair you are sat upon. If we choose to open our eyes to that connection, we can see that the universe has omens, signs and indicators for us at all times. Perhaps you can think of coincidences you have experienced, or times when you were gifted with a little clue from the universe about what might happen next. Choose to believe that these are wondrous happenings that show you are deeply connected to something powerful that totally has your back, no matter what. Team this up with your own intuition and you are flying spiritually high!
The point of a spiritual path, in the beginning, is to empower yourself.
But I believe that the point of empowering yourself is so that you can be a tool of love. Unconditional love. Being spiritual serves no purpose if we choose not to express spiritual love to all people, things, animals, plants, elements, the whole shebang. Allow yourself to feel and access your massive vat of unconditional love. Once you feel it running through your veins, let it escape out into the world, express it in every interaction you have through kindness, smiles, patience and meaningful interactions. You know what… you will get it back. Love and be loved.
Author – Alice Grist is an award-winning spiritual author and tarot expert. Her next book Dirty & Divine, a sacred journey through tarot, is launching in March 2017. She posts free readings daily on her Instagram (@alicegrist) and spiritual guidance via her website and Facebook (@alicebgrist) page regularly.
www.alicegrist.co.uk
