3 Creative Ways to Bring Comfort & Connect to Your Spirituality

According to interfaith minister and author Rev. Maggie Oman Shannon, when we immerse ourselves in creative acts, we can quiet the noises around us from our “wild and wired world,” and truly calm ourselves. With these creative acts, we also can cultivate a spiritual practice. In her book Crafting Calm: Projects and Practices for Creativity and Contemplation, Oman Shannon quotes the 20th-century Catholic priest Henri Nouwen, who said, “Through the spiritual life we gradually move from the house of fear to the house of love.” Oman Shannon believes the same can be said about the creative life. Through creating, she writes, “we can enter the stillness that characterizes prayer and the ‘house of love.’ We can open ourselves and experience spaciousness.” In Crafting Calm, Oman Shannon shares a variety of creative activities, stories and resources that help readers relax, comfort ourselves, get clarity and connect with others. Ultimately, connecting to our creativity can help us connect to our spirituality. In other words, crafting can become a spiritual practice. Here are three exercises from her book to bring you calm and comfort and help you connect to your spirituality. Prayer Garden “Gardening is a wonderful practice for bringing one back to the present moment,” Oman Shannon writes. She suggests creating a prayer garden with plants that are meaningful to you. If you follow a specific religion, you might pick the plants that are mentioned in your favorit...
Source: World of Psychology - Category: Psychiatrists and Psychologists Authors: Tags: Books Creativity General Mental Health and Wellness Mindfulness Motivation and Inspiration Self-Help Spirituality Calm Projects Catholic Priest Contemplation Creative Activities Creative Acts Creative Life Henri Nouwen House Source Type: blogs