Maintaining a Spiritual Practice While Living a Full and Busy Family Life

Over the last twenty years I have worked with and experienced several different spiritual practices. What I have learned for me personally is that my practice grows, changes and shifts as I do. There have been times when I have been incredibly devoted to my practice and other times when my practice became not much more than a breath and a whisper.. There have been times also of darkness. The dark night of the soul where I wasn’t even sure where to reach or how. In those times of disconnection there is a part of me that is remade; like a rough stone being tumbled, even in that darkness there is beauty- and we come out cleaner and shining. Because even though, in those moments you’re unsure how to become whole again, we don’t give up. And the flame inside steadily grows brighter until we can see our light again.

Some of the most helpful practices for me have been writing and journaling. I felt very aware of myself and my connection to Creator when I would spend my first waking moments hitting the paper with my pen and discovering more about myself as I observed how I existed in the world. Poetry has also been medicine and prayer for me. It allows me to see the surprising interconnectedness of all life and how anything can be remade by our Written or Spoken Word. I also love how Poetry can record the most amazing moments or revelations and speak to you again about them later and they continue to hold magic and awakening.

Dance. I had forgotten how incredibly powerful dance is for my soul. As I answered questions about what feeds my soul and helps me connect to Spirit and to others and what brings my joy, dance came up over and over. There is so much that can get stuck in our physical bodies. And there are so many different things we do to try and release or cover up that pain and trauma. Through dance it just moves. All of that stagnant energy moves and begins to flow. Some of it releases. Some of it just moves around so it is highlighted and we are able to see it and feel it in a new way. Dance can bring the most incredible joy. I used to go to African dance classes religiously and I craved it constantly. It would energize me and keep me going all week long. Any opportunity I had to dance would activate me and bring an abundance of energy. I have now made a commitment to bring this back into my life.

There have been so many practices- yoga, walking, dream journaling, meditation, medicine making, plant harvesting, gardening, tai chi, exercising, visualization, ceremony, singing, drumming, earth art and altars, prayer smokes, and so many more including the writing and dancing. As a young mother of two I struggled finding something I could be consistent with. Especially through our constantly shifting reality and family dynamic. The dancing was the most healing and brought the most energy and connection to Spirit and others. Now that I am in a different relationship and part of a family of eight I continue to struggle to have consistency and discipline with my spiritual practice.

The amount of people and energy and things in my house has been overwhelming and has surprisingly brought me to a new and unexpected spiritual practice. My desire to find peace in the chaos and feel like I’m not drowning has led me to SIMPLIFY. I am determined to create a space and home in an eight person household where we can still feel peaceful and connected to Spirit. While cleaning up the clutter (something that takes constant energy) I began to listen to the book The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up by Marie Kondo. It completely opened me up to letting go of what no longer serves us. Letting go of what doesn’t bring us joy. An amazing realization I had was that there are so many things that I love that don’t actually bring me joy. And this led me to realize that there are also people and situations in my life that I love but don’t actually bring me any joy. I am able to let go of these things easier now and with more grace. So that the world that is reflecting me- my home, my friends and family- will all be loved and also bring Me joy and love. This practice has become something I am aware of everyday. Constantly getting rid of things and creating a more joyful and alive relationship with everything that remains. Two trips to the dump and five trips to goodwill later I feel like I still have a ways to go before I’ll feel satisfied that I’m not holding on to anything that isn’t useful or a beautiful reflection of a joyful life.

So, in my busy and full life it has been challenging to be consistent. Everyday is different, full of activities and children, work and family. My spiritual practice now is something that has woven itself into our constantly fluid and changing daily life. Often times it will begin with the Grandmother song and singing to the four directions… Sometimes the song doesn’t arrive until mid day or not at all. Compassion and patience is also a daily practice. Being present and aware with each individual and cultivating kindness. Love and gratitude is also my practice. Throughout my day I send and receive Love and Gratitude. There is always something to be grateful for and always love to fill my heart and connect me to Creator. I have also very much been enjoying Big Prayers with my daughter who walks with me on this path. And Breath, if there seems to be no time for anything else Nancy Rowe reminded me there is always Breath. A deep breath full of intention or prayer can be enough to connect or center myself during this busy, amazing, and full life journey.

I see myself waking to my journal and writing before singing to welcome the day. Throughout the day I will gain energy from my home and surroundings and call on breath to center me. Each day I am grateful and give and receive love. During the week I will dance, walk and pray in nature, and be open, compassionate and spontaneous with my children. At the end of the day we give thanks and I pray for my family, relations and our Earth. And I am whole.