What are some of the symbols or rituals that make you feel more connected spiritually?
I was inspired by this comment by @rogue_cricket in another discussion on spirituality. I was going to simply reply, but I think it could be a fun, new topic for recommendations and it didn't seem to fit the overall conversation over there. Since I'm brand new, let me know if I'm doing this wrong and if I should just reply instead.
So what are everyone's symbols or rituals? Whether you are Christian, Buddhist, Athiest, Agnostic, Muslim, etc., what are some things that make you feel more connected?
Here's my contribution:
A little context: I call myself agnostic. I believe there might be something bigger out there, but that it doesn't make much sense to put a face to it or try to figure out what it wants from us. Since I don't prescribe to any particular religion, I have come up with my own ways to feel the serenity of connecting with whatever it is (The Universe, God, Nature, etc.):
Tibetan Singing Bowls:
My friend bought a big, expensive, crystal bowl that I used several times while meditating. The vibrations are supposed to resonate with and activate the chakras in your body. I found a smaller, more affordable set on Amazon. While they don't have the same gut-vibrating power as the large, crystal bowl, they still help my meditation sessions immensely by giving me something to focus on.
Character Asset Stones:
As a member of a 12-Step program, we are supposed to constantly work on weakening our character defects by strengthening our character assets, but I always seem to have trouble remembering them in the moment. My sponsor suggested painting words such as "kindness," "generosity," "honesty," and "forgiveness" on small river stones. I will randomly pick one out of a fish bowl before I leave the house every day, and carry it in my pocket, reminding me all day to work on that one particular character asset. I feel that little spark of connection and a sense of satisfaction every time I get to practice my asset for the day.
Sitting Quiety and Observing:
This one is very hard for me, as my brain always defaults to wanting to scroll something or do something. I've found that it works best if I have something interesting to focus on. I'm fortunate enough to live near the beach, so sometimes I will just go watch the waves for a while. Sometimes I people watch on the patio of Starbucks. It's important for me to leave my phone elsewhere, or I'll want to pull it out and check texts-emails-reddit-grindr-blah-blah-blah. But sitting quietly and just being for a little while, enjoying the sights and sounds, "stopping to smell the roses," makes me feel connected to the Universe.
I'm looking forward to some more ideas...
Music is the only thing that’s ever given me chills. The right song at the right time with the right mood can be the most powerful thing. For me it’s led to some of the most intense emotional experiences of my life. Sometimes it’s led me to extreme motivation to get up and change my world. Other times it has deeply saddened me and allowed me to heal from trauma. It’s the closest thing I have ever felt to a spiritual experience.
Good call...I definitely should have included music! I can put something on when I'm sad, lonely, happy, anxious. I jam out when I'm driving or doing laundry. I have playlists for different types of get-togethers I host. It has such a powerful way of controlling my mood, and even the vibe of a whole room full of people. It's almost like magic: sometimes it makes me feel like a bard.
I practice a little Wicca. While I know that "casting a spell" doesn't really do anything, physically, I find that it helps me to center myself and chill a bit. Like, yeah, "casting" a good fortune spell for a friend doesn't do anything to them, but it makes me feel better. It gets me thinking about my friend and my relationship for me. "Spellcasting" is a ritual that puts me in the right mindset to think.
Additionally, I do feel a connection to nature, I love going into the woods and just sitting; listening to the birds, watching the squirrels, and just shutting the rest of the world out. That's a ritual to me in its own right, even if it's just taking a stroll into some woods. It just grounds me when I can watch a bird, one of billions, ultimately a speck in this grand universe, and yet I'm completely enthralled watching it go about its day with zero cares in the world.
I like the idea of spellcasting as something that helps you, even if if doesn't affect the other person.
For the longest time, I had an aversion to prayer. I thought, "This isn't doing anything, so why do it?" I felt silly. Those prayers were usually directed at myself. "I wish I could find a better job," "I wish I would get over this cold," etc. Then someone suggested praying for other people instead. I do that sometimes now, because the act of directing positive energy toward someone else actually makes me happier. It can negate some of the negative thoughts that inevitably make it into my brain throughout the day. I don't even know who/what I'm praying to. I just wish the person positivity, love, healing, etc. Similar to the spells, I think.
That's the same way I feel. When I wish for good fortune for myself, I just feel desperate, but when I think of others, it makes me warm and fuzzy, instead :)
I go to a Zen Buddhist center—I'm not going to say which one in the SF Bay Area so you Tildes folks can't track me down 😉—for sitting meditation. Zen centers here have beautiful, serene meditation halls and gardens that pull me out of our hyper-digitally-mediated reality. There are rules and customs on how to respect the spaces, which help me be more mindful of how I inhabit the spaces.
I'm also agnostic.
There is one of these centers in my area. I've been curious about it, but I've never visited. It is now on my to-do list. Thank you!
The simplicity and profundity of the Ensō is a deeply inspiring spiritual symbol to me.
I love the idea of creating something that's meant to be an imperfect and permanent reflection of ourselves. Good read; thanks!
I'd consider myself an Atheist, but I'm big on silent reflection / observation per the final point in your post. I've found the most success when I tie it to a physical ritual - walking especially helps, but it can be hard to get away from the bustle of the neighborhood / folks around me (we live near a decently busy area). Because of this, I'm a huge fan of seeking out local walking labyrinths, especially if I can find one in a secluded park, spiritual center or cemetery. It is immensely helpful to add a physical element to the idea of slowly shedding away the outside world as you make your way to the center of the labyrinth, where you are fully centered and in the moment and can take the time for silent reflection and meditation. Then, slowly and at your own pace, work your way back out and pick up the pieces of the "real world" again.
It looks like, according to labyrinthlocator.com, there are several in my area. I'll check one out soon. I'd love to find one of the large, hedge labyrinths. Maybe I'll take a road trip sometime. Thanks for the suggestion!
We're pretty big on symbols and feeling connected :) the entire Liturgy connects us to all creation of the universe, both visible and insivible, past and present, and to members of the human race who have gone before us, especially folks who have also sung these same songs and prayed these same prayers for nearly 2000 years.
There's a part where we sing/chant this (YouTube, Serbian chant style, many others exist):
On the home side, pictures of the saints are like windows to a living person. There's a story where one saint asked a monk to please stop bringing a particular kind of candle into the area where the icon is hung on the wall because the animal fat soot covers them :)
I have a tiny icon fridge magnet of St Euphrosynos, a lowly and ignored mere cook living in a monastery, who unbeknownst to anyone, hangs out in paradise every night while the others sleep. One night the abbot's prayers to visit paradise was finally granted, and he was astonished to find St Euphrosymos just hanging out there like it's the most usual thing. He asked for permission to take some of the apples, St Euphrosymos said help yourself. The abbot wakes up with actual apples that smell heavenly, and they wanted to ask St Euphrosymos questions, but he just fled the monastery altogether because he didn't want to stop being just a regular cook in their eyes.
I also make prayer ropes. They're sort of like, meditation counters, where say you have one with 50 knots, then you begin with knot-0 with a special bead or knot or cross, and each time you do a prayer repetition you increment the counter by one until you hit 50, your hands would know you've hit the special place again. Takes your mind off of having to count, and it's nice to have something tactile in your hand as a grounding technique. I think Buddhists have the little bamboo beaded bracelets for counting sutras as well?
The physical method of tying of the knots is very similar to 如意結 chinese decorative knots.
The story about where the knot came from is that a monk was trying to concentrate on prayer and finding it hard, so he took a rope and tied regular knots to keep count. But he always falls asleep mid prayer and the demons come and unty his knots, and that makes him sad. So an angel comes and teaches him how to make these knots that have seven crosses in each, and the demons can't unty them.
We have a lot of stories. You're not required to believe in any of them except what's in the creed. :)