10 Authentic Spiritual Practices that are NOT Meditation

So many of us, no matter how hard we’ve tried, have failed miserably at sitting still to meditate. The usual complaints are – my thoughts are all over the place, I can’t concentrate, I just can’t sit still, etcetera, etcetera. So, we are constantly wishing for a way to be more spiritual, with spiritual practices that are not meditation.

Or you might be on the other end of the spectrum where you do meditate, but are looking for more ways to enhance your day-to-day spiritual routine.

The good news is, our journey back to self is attainable in unlimited ways! Meditation is just one of several paths to Enlightenment. Remember – the purpose of meditation is to attain higher levels of consciousness.

Here are just 10 things you can do in your daily life to experience peace and operate from higher frequencies, even if you can’t sit still or don’t have enough time to meditate.

#1 – Chanting

You don’t need to close your eyes to experience peace. Listening or following spiritual chants is not just therapeutic, it can open up another dimension of healing for us.

And even if you can’t understand the chants due to a language barrier, try to listen to them while driving, or before bed. Or at any time of the day when you need to get back into the flow and rhythm of life.

I often used to listen to these while at work, before I quit my job at the corporate. It helped me stay calm and focused. Here are my top 5 recommendations for spiritual chants :

1) Buddhist Monks Chanting
2) Ancient Sun Mantra
3) Lotus Sutra (Namyoho Renge Kyo)
4) Om Chanting
5) Peace Mantra

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#2 – Learning Mindfulness (Not Meditation)

While meditation is associated with sitting still, mindfulness asks you to focus on your reality, whilst engaging in other activities.

It isn’t as challenging as it sounds! Start small, as small as 1 minute every day, and let your mindfulness expand in duration, as well as the activities you do.

How to be mindful?

To summarize the practice, it’s when you’re involved in any mundane task, in which you are so good you no longer pay attention and your mind begins to wander. Tasks as mundane as brushing, eating, or walking don’t require our concentration anymore, and therefore permit our mind to keep running at infinite thoughts an hour!

So, to overcome this mental race, become fully aware of doing this simple activity. Feel yourself being involved in the task at hand. Appreciate the effortlessness you have developed in doing something – enjoy it. And as you do that, you not only become more relaxed, you lose less mental energy being elsewhere all the time!

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#3 – Practising Minimalism

Minimalism has been quite the ‘trend’ lately. It not only appears tidy and overcomes the psychological problem of hoarding, minimalism is another way of saying “I am a MINDFUL consumer”.

How is minimalism spiritual? It’s what the monks have always been doing! Having less of the outside, and tapping more into your internal abundance and resourcefulness. Chasing less of the external and finding contentment in the non-material.

And as Jack puts it, “minimalism is the basis for freedom”.

While there are multiple philosophies on how to practice minimalism, I think we should all start with the basics.

• All future purchases should be what you immediately need.
  When you purchase less, you can still upgrade your wardrobe and appear stylish by spending more on the quality of what you’re buying. This allows you to maximize the use of what you have, and thus a NO-WASTE policy.

• Scan your existing purchases and remove items you haven’t used in 6 months or more.
  If you keep stocking up, or refuse to let go of old possessions, you’re basically a hoarder. That word is not to be taken lightly, simply because it’s a psychological problem, a fear of ‘lack and insufficiency’ that as a conscious being, you MUST overcome.

• For every new item you buy, try to remove an old pair.
  The effective consumption stays constant, and you are able to recycle your wardrobe. Preferably by giving away your used items to charity.

When we evaluate how many gallons of water are wasted in making a simple piece of cloth, or how our natural resources are outrageously being depleted, minimalism is the LEAST we can do to start curbing the explosive consumption and lack of appreciation.

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#4 – Grounding

It’s simply reconnecting with nature and allowing your excess energy to balance into the Earth.

Dance in the rain.
Walk barefoot in the grass.
Take a hike in nature.
Play with your pets outdoors (keyword is outdoors).
Hug a tree.
Walk in the sand and let the ocean waves crash against your feet.

These are all just some examples, and just 5 minutes a day can make all the difference! Here are other ways to ground your energy.

#5 – Absorbing Wisdom from Around

Surround yourself with spirituality. But, how? Keep reading.

• Since we spend an awful lot of time on social media, the quickest trick is to follow pages and channels that keep reminding you of soulful messages. Slowly and steadily, these thoughts will penetrate into your way of living.
  
  Speaking from personal experience – on the days when you don’t have enough inner light, it is these messages that will lift you, NOT the images of people getting married or going on a Euro-trip.

• Second, listen to spiritual teachers. Here are some of my personal favourites :

1. Sadhguru
2. Caroline Myss
3. Eckhart Tolle
4. Oprah Winfrey’s Soulful Sunday series
5. Hay House podcasts

• Also, to nurture your Soul straight from the wise horse’s mouth, read more intriguing books. If you haven’t picked up a book from this genre yet, you can check out my recommendations for 5 spiritual books everyone should read.

Psst….let me light up your inbox with some spiritual insights too! Sign up for the monthly newsletter and get spiritual goodies, highlights from my blog and other inspiring spiritual content.

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#6 – Writing Morning Pages

A suggestion that has been around for a few decades, but I only got to this year myself. Morning Pages is like a mindless rant, it’s venting everything on your mind, onto a piece of paper (or typing it in Word, if you’d like).

This is the brainchild of Julia Cameron, found in her book The Artist’s Way. I will come forward and say that what meditation sometimes does not do for me, morning pages do. How?

Because you are taking a few minutes to actually channelize your thoughts, you are able to finish the thought and move on. Sometimes in meditation, the mind will jump from one unfinished thought to another like a kid high on sugar, so writing slows down the process and really lets you vent.

Of course, journaling isn’t just limited to Morning Pages. I’ve created a list of several journaling ideas in this article.

#7 – Reliving and releasing your pain through therapy.

Anything that brings you back to the present moment is a good thing. And what is more effective than a bad memory reminding you that you’re safe now, in this moment? Counter-intuitive, I know.

As someone said, “in the exact moment, we are all, always alright”.

When we actively pursue our pain, or ‘darkness’, we are able to realise the lessons behind our suffering, and appreciate our ‘now’.

On to the ‘how‘, three suggestions –

1. Regularly talk to somebody you trust and feel safe opening your wounds around.
2. Write about it for yourself or for a bigger audience (this is how my page on Instagram began). You’ll be surprised how liberating it is to speak your truth. The world is really a much more receptive place today, and vulnerability is welcomed.
3. Attend therapy sessions. Though this isn’t the path for everybody, if you feel like you might benefit from it, trust me, you will!

Therapy works with the psychological side of your wellbeing, often focusing on mindset healing. These help us come to terms with ourselves, and walk into the path of self-awareness through questioning our thoughts and behavioural patterns.

That is also the end goal of our spiritual journey, to have high quality thoughts, lower in quantity, and all serving us to be more accepting of every facet of life.

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#8 – Doing What You’re Meant To : LIVE a Little (or a LOT) !

Not everyone is made for the same 9-6 job or other stereotypes like getting married and having kids, but there’s no doubt that every creative cell in your body deserves to be fueled. No matter who you are!

Remember from the Trolls movie, how the characters withered away when they weren’t allowed to dance or sing? That’s precisely how we humans are, too. Just not as cute.

Surprised this even makes it to the list? It’s true. The more spiritual you become, the more creative and in touch with your ‘inner child‘ you will be. And vice versa.

No matter how busy you are, notice if you can find even 10 minute pockets of time, to do more of what you love. So for instance, instead of creating a giant canvas, just make a small napkin-size artwork with watercolors.

Or instead of dancing for an hour straight, just play a fun dance video and move your body to the beats, 5-minutes at a time.

And if like me, one of your hobbies is napping, then just do more of that, multiple times a day! I’m not kidding, I actually consider a day fully productive if I can get in two twenty-minute naps between work. You have no idea how refreshing it is, and how much creativity pours out into my work, after rest.

Also, here’s a handy guide on how to find your life purpose, if you’re searching. Also, as the analogy goes – as food is to the body, creativity is to the soul. You need to feed your soul regularly, generously!

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#9 – Trying Energy Healing

There are a number of wondrous healing techniques – using crystals, practicing Reiki, Pranic healing, etc. Though not meditation, these can also ‘up’ your spiritual game and might even become a profession for some. Explore them, give the practices a chance, you might be surprised!

The difference between using energy healing is that therapy and other psychology-based healing focus on growth for those that are more in their minds. But if you’re open and willing, you can also step into more of the abstract and unexplainable elements of your growth.

NOTE: The Reiki Healing Foundation offers free Reiki Level 1 classes every month, for the masses in Delhi, India. I have personally attended the session too, and learned a lot! Would definitely encourage those who’re in the area and can attend, should.

#10 – Doing A Deep Spiritual Cleanse

This is an abundant and magnificent topic on its own. Given how exhaustive this list has already become, my post on my favorite cleansing practices will have to find its own space and time! Stay tuned.

Until then, you can also read about 10 Religious Rituals and their Spiritual Significance. These will also add great value to your journey inwards.

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