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It is not the man in Rome that is the source of my problems; it is the Pope in myself that needs to be excommunicated!
— Martin Luther quoted in Shadow Dance by David Richo
To Practice This Thought: Identify the single worst trait of your enemy and acknowledge it as one of your most grievous flaws.
See More Spiritual Practices of the Day
The Spirituality & Practice E-Newsletter is a regular update from Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat with a teaching story and links to new content on the site. It's free and a great way to keep up with practices for your journey.Sign up here.
Spiritual Practices
Spiritual Literacy
in Wartime
Our collection of articles, meditations, excerpts, and spiritual practices for this time of heightened separation among nations, peoples, races, and classes. See the Project Index.
Latest: The Spiritual Practice of Hospitality — Now Part of the U.S. Religious Landscape
Holy Ground
Acknowledging that the place where you live is holy ground through the spiritual practices of connections, gratitude, meaning, and attention.
Read about our holy ground
Acknowledging that the place where you live is holy ground through the spiritual practices of connections, gratitude, meaning, and attention. Read about our holy ground
Watching the Olympics as a Spiritual Practice
Based on the Alphabet of Spiritual Literacy, here are ways to honor dimensions of the Olympics beyond the competition.
Read about spiritual practices for watching the Olympics
Based on the Alphabet of Spiritual Literacy, here are ways to honor dimensions of the Olympics beyond the competition. Read about spiritual practices for watching the Olympics
Travel Presence
Whether you are doing a "staycation" this year in your backyard or going on a trip to a distant place, you can turn your journey into a pilgrimage with a few simple spiritual practices.
Read about being present on vacation
Whether you are doing a "staycation" this year in your backyard or going on a trip to a distant place, you can turn your journey into a pilgrimage with a few simple spiritual practices. Read about being present on vacation
Making Space
Here's a simple practice for making space — whether in a drawer or your work calendar — and the value of a weekly Sabbath of uncluttered time.
Read about making space in your life
Here's a simple practice for making space — whether in a drawer or your work calendar — and the value of a weekly Sabbath of uncluttered time. Read about making space in your life
Spiritual Practices for Nature-Deficit Disorder
Many of today's children have little or no direct contact with nature. Here are three practices plus an e-course to help your family go against this cultural trend.
Read about nature deficit disorder
Many of today's children have little or no direct contact with nature. Here are three practices plus an e-course to help your family go against this cultural trend. Read about nature deficit disorder
Coping with Disappointment
Disappointments are inevitable in daily life. Here are some strategies for using them as a starting point for regular spiritual practices. Plus: a 21-day program for dealing with disappointment.
Read about coping with disappointment
Disappointments are inevitable in daily life. Here are some strategies for using them as a starting point for regular spiritual practices. Plus: a 21-day program for dealing with disappointment. Read about coping with disappointment
All in a Day's Work
Our work can be our spiritual practice, whether we are a taxi driver, an office worker, or a salesperson. The first step in reframing your job: look for the connections you make.
Read about practicing spirituality at work
Our work can be our spiritual practice, whether we are a taxi driver, an office worker, or a salesperson. The first step in reframing your job: look for the connections you make. Read about practicing spirituality at work
Be Like the Mountain
Equanimity is the state of inner balance that enables you to remain calm in the midst of turmoil. It's known as an Eastern practice but also has roots in Christianity.
Read about how to practice equanimity
Equanimity is the state of inner balance that enables you to remain calm in the midst of turmoil. It's known as an Eastern practice but also has roots in Christianity. Read about how to practice equanimity
Wear Hope Like a Skin
Making hope into your spiritual practice can be your antidote to despair and inertia.
Read hope practices
Making hope into your spiritual practice can be your antidote to despair and inertia.
Read hope practices
Embracing Mystery
Acceptance of mystery is a key spiritual practice. The first step: Let God be God.
Read about embracing mystery
Acceptance of mystery is a key spiritual practice. The first step: Let God be God.
Read about embracing mystery
Winter Wonder
Winter can be a wonderland for those with eyes to see and ears to hear, and consciously noticing what arouses our wonder is a spiritual practice.
Read about practicing wonder
Winter can be a wonderland for those with eyes to see and ears to hear, and consciously noticing what arouses our wonder is a spiritual practice.
Read about practicing wonder
Spiritually Literate Holiday Gifts
We have some suggestions for how you can wed spiritual practice with gift-giving. Make your gifts symbolic of God's presence in daily life, reflections of your connections with others, and catalysts to play, wonder, and hope.
See our gift ideas
We have some suggestions for how you can wed spiritual practice with gift-giving. Make your gifts symbolic of God's presence in daily life, reflections of your connections with others, and catalysts to play, wonder, and hope. See our gift ideas
13 Tips for De-Stressing Your Holidays
The holidays are a time to nurture mind, body, and spirit. Here are some concrete ways to take care of yourself from Belleruth Naparstek of HealthJourneys.com.
Read the de-stressing tips
The holidays are a time to nurture mind, body, and spirit. Here are some concrete ways to take care of yourself from Belleruth Naparstek of HealthJourneys.com.
Read the de-stressing tips
Harvesting Memories
God has given us days overflowing with significance, but forgetfulness comes easy to most of us. Here are ways to feast on your memories and therebyby give glory to God.
Read about harvesting memories
God has given us days overflowing with significance, but forgetfulness comes easy to most of us. Here are ways to feast on your memories and therebyby give glory to God.
Read about harvesting memories
Encouraging Children's Spirituality
Children come naturally to some spiritual practices — being present, enthusiasm, imagination, play, and wonder. Here are eight ways to engage children in others.
Read about encouraging children's spirituality
Children come naturally to some spiritual practices — being present, enthusiasm, imagination, play, and wonder. Here are eight ways to engage children in others. Read about encouraging children's spirituality
On the Value of Emptying Your Cup
To be open to God's grace, new teachings, new experiences, and new people in our lives, first we need to empty our cup of preconceptions and judgments.
Read how to empty your cup
To be open to God's grace, new teachings, new experiences, and new people in our lives, first we need to empty our cup of preconceptions and judgments. Read how to empty your cup
Ending Envy
A consumer culture contributes to our tendency to envy what others have. Here's how to end it: stop comparing yourself to others and practice gratitude.
Read how to end envy
A consumer culture contributes to our tendency to envy what others have. Here's how to end it: stop comparing yourself to others and practice gratitude. Read how to end envy
Transition Times and Spaces
What do you do when you find yourself in one of those between spaces and times? Try the practice of statio, a way to use those moments to be present to God and prepare for what's next.
Read about the spiritual practice of statio
What do you do when you find yourself in one of those between spaces and times? Try the practice of statio, a way to use those moments to be present to God and prepare for what's next. Read about the spiritual practice of statio
Difficult People Practices
You know who they are. Here are some ways to help you regard them as teachers and pray: "Here comes another one. God, you have sent this person to me for a reason. Help me to know what it is, and help me to cope successfully."
Read about practices for difficult people
You know who they are. Here are some ways to help you regard them as teachers and pray: "Here comes another one. God, you have sent this person to me for a reason. Help me to know what it is, and help me to cope successfully." Read about practices for difficult people
Dealing with Hurry Sickness
People these days seem to be addicted to speed, hurrying through every activity of their lives. Here are some spiritual practices to help you slow down.
Read about practices for dealing with hurry sickness
People these days seem to be addicted to speed, hurrying through every activity of their lives. Here are some spiritual practices to help you slow down. Read about practices for dealing with hurry sickness
Mustard Seed Vision
Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat spend a day discovering what it means to "live in the little" while cleaning the cat litter and the refrigerator grate.
Read about mustard seed vision
Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat spend a day discovering what it means to "live in the little" while cleaning the cat litter and the refrigerator grate. Read about mustard seed vision
Hold Your Tongue
A simple but not always easy practice from the Benedictine monastic tradition is useful in these days when winter drags on and irritability levels rise.
Read about keeping custody of your tongue
A simple but not always easy practice from the Benedictine monastic tradition is useful in these days when winter drags on and irritability levels rise. Read about keeping custody of your tongue
Into the Far Country of Surgery
Frederic Brussat shares practices calling upon the power of prayer, imagination, and community during surgery and hospitalization — plus a mystical vision.
Read about Frederic's journey into the far country of surgery
Frederic Brussat shares practices calling upon the power of prayer, imagination, and community during surgery and hospitalization — plus a mystical vision. Read about Frederic's journey into the far country of surgery
Good Flesh
Frederic Brussat reflects on the lessons of the miracle of a cut healing quickly and suggests some simple practices to honor the body as a temple of God.
Read about honoring the body
Frederic Brussat reflects on the lessons of the miracle of a cut healing quickly and suggests some simple practices to honor the body as a temple of God. Read about honoring the body
Practicing Diversity
Inspired by the movie Freedom Writers, we've found two prayers, three thoughts to contemplate, and a Buddhist practice to honor the dignity of differences and pave the way to a genuine feeling of unity with others.
Read how to practice diversity
Inspired by the movie Freedom Writers, we've found two prayers, three thoughts to contemplate, and a Buddhist practice to honor the dignity of differences and pave the way to a genuine feeling of unity with others. Read how to practice diversity
26 Ways to Practice Thanks-giving
G. K. Chesterton had the right idea when he said we need to get in the habit of "taking things with gratitude and not taking things for granted." Here are a gratitude practice for every day from November 1 - Thanksgiving.
See the practices
G. K. Chesterton had the right idea when he said we need to get in the habit of "taking things with gratitude and not taking things for granted." Here are a gratitude practice for every day from November 1 - Thanksgiving. See the practices
The Challenges of Humility
Humility comes naturally to some people but usually it needs to be learned. We become humble by being around humble people and by consciously acknowledging that we are not #1. Here are some ways to practice.
Read more about humility
Humility comes naturally to some people but usually it needs to be learned. We become humble by being around humble people and by consciously acknowledging that we are not #1. Here are some ways to practice. Read more about humility
How Not to Worry
Is the worry machine chugging along in your life? Have you forgotten Mark Twain's sage comment that most of the things we worry about will never happen? Here are some spiritual practices to help you turn your worries into meaningful experiences.
Read more about how not to worry
Is the worry machine chugging along in your life? Have you forgotten Mark Twain's sage comment that most of the things we worry about will never happen? Here are some spiritual practices to help you turn your worries into meaningful experiences. Read more about how not to worry
Practices and Reflections for
the Anniversary of 9/11
For the fifth anniversary of 9/11, some of our Living Spiritual Teachers have suggested ways to work with the primal emotions that surface in our precarious global situation. Their practices and reflections help us develop the spiritual impulses of compassion, forgiveness, hospitality, hope, peace, and unity.
Meditate on Frederick Franck's Pieta
See spiritual practices from Rami Shapiro, Megan McKenna, Roger Housden, Thich Nhat Hanh, Brother David Steindl-Rast, Wendy M. Wright, Ezra Bayda, Robert Thurman, Sam Keen, and Andrew Harvey
Read reflections by John Dear, Parker Palmer, and Jacob Needleman
the Anniversary of 9/11
For the fifth anniversary of 9/11, some of our Living Spiritual Teachers have suggested ways to work with the primal emotions that surface in our precarious global situation. Their practices and reflections help us develop the spiritual impulses of compassion, forgiveness, hospitality, hope, peace, and unity.
Meditate on Frederick Franck's Pieta
See spiritual practices from Rami Shapiro, Megan McKenna, Roger Housden, Thich Nhat Hanh, Brother David Steindl-Rast, Wendy M. Wright, Ezra Bayda, Robert Thurman, Sam Keen, and Andrew Harvey
Read reflections by John Dear, Parker Palmer, and Jacob Needleman
I Am Prayers
Since September 11, 2001, we have had a spiritual practice of writing "I am" prayer/poems. We experience them as affirmations of unity, ways of practicing empathy and reverence, and opportunities to expand the circle of our compassion. They also help us do shadow work as we own up to the very human tendency to project what we don't like about ourselves onto other people. Here are three of our "I Am Prayers":
Rest in Peace - September 11, 2001
Rest in Peace - September 11, 2002
We Are One with Each Other - May 19, 2004
Since September 11, 2001, we have had a spiritual practice of writing "I am" prayer/poems. We experience them as affirmations of unity, ways of practicing empathy and reverence, and opportunities to expand the circle of our compassion. They also help us do shadow work as we own up to the very human tendency to project what we don't like about ourselves onto other people. Here are three of our "I Am Prayers": Rest in Peace - September 11, 2001 Rest in Peace - September 11, 2002 We Are One with Each Other - May 19, 2004
Keeping Silent
Creating quiet takes effort in our noisy world. Here are some simple practices to heed the call: "The Lord is in his temple; let all the earth keep silent before him."
Read more about keeping silent
Creating quiet takes effort in our noisy world. Here are some simple practices to heed the call: "The Lord is in his temple; let all the earth keep silent before him." Read more about keeping silent
Dealing with the Dog Days
It's in the dog days of August that we are stricken with the feeling that there's nothing new under the sun. Things begin to be boring. We suffer from what the fourth-century Christian monks called accedie. Here are some practices for coping with draggy days.
Read more about ways to handle boredom
It's in the dog days of August that we are stricken with the feeling that there's nothing new under the sun. Things begin to be boring. We suffer from what the fourth-century Christian monks called accedie. Here are some practices for coping with draggy days. Read more about ways to handle boredom
The Spiritual Practice of Generosity
Inspired by Warren Buffett's gift of $31 billion to the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, we searched our quotes database to see what spiritual teachers of our times and earlier say about the value of generosity.
Read inspirational quotes about generosity
Inspired by Warren Buffett's gift of $31 billion to the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, we searched our quotes database to see what spiritual teachers of our times and earlier say about the value of generosity. Read inspirational quotes about generosity
Summertime and Living Takes Practice
There is something about the changed pace of our lives in the summer that makes it a little easier to dedicate time to spiritual practices. To encourage you, we have designed a month's worth of activities. We've looked for ideas from the world's wisdom traditions as well as in books we've read.
Read practices for summer days 1 - 7
Read practices for summer days 8 - 14
Read practices for summer days 15 - 21
Read practices for summer days 22 - 31
There is something about the changed pace of our lives in the summer that makes it a little easier to dedicate time to spiritual practices. To encourage you, we have designed a month's worth of activities. We've looked for ideas from the world's wisdom traditions as well as in books we've read. Read practices for summer days 1 - 7
Read practices for summer days 8 - 14
Read practices for summer days 15 - 21
Read practices for summer days 22 - 31
Learning to Be Content
Our consumer culture is designed to make us always want something more, better, or different. But religious leaders have long advised just the opposite. Here are three ways to learn contentment: Want what you have. Don't make comparisons. Accept your imperfections and the "lacks" in your life.
Read more about contentment
Our consumer culture is designed to make us always want something more, better, or different. But religious leaders have long advised just the opposite. Here are three ways to learn contentment: Want what you have. Don't make comparisons. Accept your imperfections and the "lacks" in your life. Read more about contentment
Great Expectations
Abba Nilus, one of the Desert Fathers, advised: "Do not be always wanting everything to turn out as you think it should, but rather as God pleases, then you will be undisturbed and thankful in your prayer." Expectations can be a stumbling block on the spiritual path, both personally and communally. Here are some simple practices to help you break free from them.
Read more about cutting expectations
Abba Nilus, one of the Desert Fathers, advised: "Do not be always wanting everything to turn out as you think it should, but rather as God pleases, then you will be undisturbed and thankful in your prayer." Expectations can be a stumbling block on the spiritual path, both personally and communally. Here are some simple practices to help you break free from them. Read more about cutting expectations
Deep Listening
We spend about 45 percent of our time listening, but we are distracted, preoccupied, or forgetful about 75 percent of that time. Immediately after listening to someone talk, we usually recall only about half of what we've heard. Clearly, we all need to get better at listening. Here's what we learned in a small group that practiced listening without comments, plans, judgments, or the need to respond.
Read more about really listening
We spend about 45 percent of our time listening, but we are distracted, preoccupied, or forgetful about 75 percent of that time. Immediately after listening to someone talk, we usually recall only about half of what we've heard. Clearly, we all need to get better at listening. Here's what we learned in a small group that practiced listening without comments, plans, judgments, or the need to respond. Read more about really listening
The Indiana Jones School of Spirituality
There's a scene in the first Indiana Jones movie, Raiders of the Lost Ark, when Indy and Marion are hiding from the Nazis, and she says, "Do you have a plan?" And he replies, "No, I'm just making it up as I go along." There are some spiritual practices that have been passed down through the centuries — and others just occur to you in the moment.
Read more about making it up as you go along
There's a scene in the first Indiana Jones movie, Raiders of the Lost Ark, when Indy and Marion are hiding from the Nazis, and she says, "Do you have a plan?" And he replies, "No, I'm just making it up as I go along." There are some spiritual practices that have been passed down through the centuries — and others just occur to you in the moment. Read more about making it up as you go along
Doing What's Hard
We resist change, so when the mood hits us to make a change — explore some different subjects, shift our daily routine, and make new commitments — we're encouraged by the slogan "You can do hard." Next we need a spiritual practice to reinforce our intention.
Read about making and witnessing vows
We resist change, so when the mood hits us to make a change — explore some different subjects, shift our daily routine, and make new commitments — we're encouraged by the slogan "You can do hard." Next we need a spiritual practice to reinforce our intention. Read about making and witnessing vows
There's Always Time to Pray
If you have trouble finding time for prayer, meditation, or spiritual reading every day, try an ancient practice that can be integrated into the daily rounds of your life: reciting a simple prayer phrase or mantra. Mantra suggestions appear on all the practice homepages at Spirituality & Practice.
How, when, and where to use a mantra
If you have trouble finding time for prayer, meditation, or spiritual reading every day, try an ancient practice that can be integrated into the daily rounds of your life: reciting a simple prayer phrase or mantra. Mantra suggestions appear on all the practice homepages at Spirituality & Practice. How, when, and where to use a mantra
An Altar for Your Practice
Personal altars in our homes or workplaces enable us to affirm the presence of the sacred in the midst of our everyday activities. These places of prayer, ritual, or meditation can be oases of silence, centering. and creativity. Check out these books for ideas on how to turn a corner into a sacred space.
Personal altars in our homes or workplaces enable us to affirm the presence of the sacred in the midst of our everyday activities. These places of prayer, ritual, or meditation can be oases of silence, centering. and creativity. Check out these books for ideas on how to turn a corner into a sacred space.• Altars Made Easy: A Complete Guide to Creating Your Own Sacred Space by Peg Streep contains good, basic information on designing your special altar.
• Altars and Icons: Sacred Spaces in Everyday Life by Jean McMann has pictures of altars with accompanying essays; it conveys how every altar reflects the personality of the person who created it.
• Altars: Bringing Sacred Shrines into Your Everyday Life by Denise Linn is filled with many ideas on altar objects; its cross-cultural perspective is invigorating.
• Tibetan Buddhist Altars: A Pop-Up Gallery of Traditional Art and Wisdom by Robert Beer, Tad Wise and David A Carter is a beautiful and unusual devotional resource.
These 37 practices are markers of the spiritual life. Recognized by all the world's religions, they help us connect with the Divine, our true selves, our neighbors, and the whole Creation.
• Read a summary of the Alphabet
• To find the best books, movies, excerpts, exercises, prayers, music, art, and much more for your spiritual journey, visit these practice homepages:
Listen to Bryan Field McFarland's song, set to a familiar Christian tune, about what it takes to live a spiritual life every day.
Most of us, frankly, are drawn to a particular spiritual practice because, as a doctor might say, certain "symptoms are presenting." You might feel something is missing in your life. You could be feeling incredibly grateful. You could be facing a crisis. You could be concerned about the problems in the world. Take heart! Real-life feelings, challenges, and experiences are just what spiritual practices are for.
• How to choose a spiritual practice
• Find your "Spiritual Rx." Take our self-test
• Spiritual Rx Prescriptions Chart
You don't step on the path of practice for a few minutes a day, then jump off to go about the rest of your life. If you want to see how you are doing, look at how you behave during a breakfast disagreement with your partner, in a traffic jam on the way to the office, in your reaction to a homeless person begging for money.
• Read more about the challenges and joys of practice
• 22 Ways to Feel Welcome on the Path of Practice
