_________ as a spiritual practice: a new series
from gardening. to dreaming to research, exploring what connects us to the Divine
For a long time, I’ve been hesitant to talk about my spirituality on public platforms. Though I’ve been having conversations with a presence I personally call God since I was five or six years old, I also built my identity around being smart, because that’s where I got the most validation; even though I grew up in an observant Hindu home and attended an Episcopal school, I managed to internalize some broader messaging along the way that smart people didn’t believe in God. So, because I wanted to be respected and taken seriously, I kept that part of myself largely private, sharing only with those I discerned as “safe,” who would not scoff at or look down upon my spiritual expression.
There was a cost to this attempted compartmentalization, because it’s not as if I can actually disentangle my spiritual self, which feels like the deepest part of me, from the rest of who I am. When I neglect my spirituality, I neglect myself. And so, I made a promise to myself in 2022—when I was making some other very big promises to myself, ones that changed my life quite dramatically—that I would no longer hide the parts of me that some people (including me, in the past!) might call “woo-woo” or dismiss. Instead, I have sought to explore and nurture these aspects of my self and connect with others who feels deeply connected to the universe and are willing to talk about it.
Which brings us to the series I’m introducing today! I’m so excited to share with you this lineup of thoughtful, interesting humans who have generously agreed to write about their own spiritual practices, ones that might not be immediately recognizable as such in present day American culture, which tends to split sacred and secular into distinct camps. Most religious traditions have a history of acknowledging all kinds of practices as being in service of the Divine—think of monks brewing beer or illustrating elaborate manuscripts. My religion, Hinduism, says that there are many paths up the mountain and that doing one’s dharma includes taking the path that best suits you & your gifts, not trying to wedge yourself into some pious mold. I have always loved this idea and, in this series, hope to bring it into the present day: what are juicy, meaningful ways we plug into God/the Universe/reality?
Starting next week and continuing to the end of April, you can look forward to beautiful, honest reflections from these fine humans—I will link each post as it is published!
Week of March 11: Rebecca Claren—Research as a Spiritual Practice
Week of March 18: Laura Stephens—End of Life Care as a Spiritual Practice
Week of March 25: Katie Vhay—Acts of Service as a Spiritual Practice
Week of April 1: Burke Butler—Sewing as a Spiritual Practice
Week of April 8: Shelly Taylor—Horseback Riding as a Spiritual Practice
Week of April 15: Amber Ambrose—Dreaming as a Spiritual Practice
Week of April 22: Preetha Narayanan—Music as a Spiritual Practice
Week of April 28: Vanessa Nickerson—Gardening as a Spiritual Practice
I hope you’ll enjoy, share, and comment on these reflections as I post them! If you’re not already subscribed, please do so in order to make sure you receive each installment in your inbox.
To my paid subscribers: many of you have recently renewed your annual subscriptions, and I can’t tell you how grateful I am. Your willingness to renew tells me that you find value in my work, and that means so much. Your generous financial gifts also make a big difference to me and my family—thank you 💜
xoxo
Nishta