Do you remember the last time you had an awe-inspiring moment that took your breath away, like witnessing the beauty of the first snow fall and how it blanketed the Earth in stillness, or hearing a song that touched your heart so much it moved you to tears?
Spiritual connection is our ability to intuitively understand something that impacts our soul and gives meaning to our lives. Some people experience spiritual connection by having a relationship to the Creator, their ancestors, Mother Earth, and all living things. Others experience it thru participating in religious or traditional ceremonies, sitting in nature, praying, or thru deep reflection and meditation.
True connectedness is having a relationship with a particular thing, place, environment, or community. These types of connections help us improve ourselves and others around us. They can also help us view life through a different perspective. In this way, being connected to our spiritual nature helps us reflect on our values, principles, health, and relationships. This may help us better understand our purpose in life.
Some of the actions that promote spiritual connection are listed below:
- Listen
Listen to and follow guidance. Expect guidance to come in many forms, including in prayer, dreams, through meditation and quiet reflection, and from Elders, knowledge holders, others who have good intentions and good hearts when sharing teachings with you.
- Meditation, Prayer, and Reflection
Different people feel spiritual connection in different ways, but one common practice is connecting through quiet meditation, prayer, or reflection. During these times some may seek to relax their mind and body in order to be fully present in the moment, as with mindfulness meditation. Others may spend time sitting in nature reflecting on a particular topic, such as ways to improve their wellness. Some may pray to the Creator and their ancestors seeking guidance.
If you do not usually practice spirituality in these ways but are curious, try meditation, prayer, or reflection and see what clarity arises.
- Gratitude
Take time to appreciate the sacredness of the things around you. For many of us, practicing gratitude and appreciation for the good things in our lives is important. Plus, focusing on the things we appreciate trains our mind to see the positive beautiful things in the world, rather than focusing on the negative.
To learn more, visit Native American Legends about Gratitude or check out:
- Gratitude – App for Gratitude Journaling
- Day One Journal – Options to take pic, record voice or written notes.
- Acceptance
Many traditional teachings stress the importance of accepting and receiving others from various walks of life and abilities with an open heart.
To learn more, visit Native American Stories About Acceptance.
- Self-Love
Treating ourselves with compassion and love has a huge impact on the quality of our lives, how we deal with life’s challenges, and how connected we feel.
Try Meditation for Self-Compassion or consider using an app, like Healthyminds Innovations to grow your self-love and feelings of connection.
- Honoring Your Culture
Honoring our cultural practices, such as speaking our languages, eating sacred foods, performing traditional movements, and participating in our ceremonial and spiritual practices can connect us with our ancestors, the earth, and all living things. These practices are ways to reclaim the pride and power of who we are as Indigenous people. These practices can also help us understand how to live good healthy lives and how to be resilient in the face of challenges.
