Spiritual Self-Care

Spiritual Self-Care to maintain inner and outer balance

Adapted from Practical Midwifery for Shifting Paradigms by Sibyl Dana Reynolds

https://sibylsjournal.com/blog/practical-midwifery-for-shifting-paradigms

Here is the Zoom link:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83406410238

Meeting ID: 834 0641 0238

Opening Song: Namaste

https://youtu.be/Hxf8QFTkYY8 

Sibyl: I must be fully conscious to ensure that each day I tend my body, mind, and spirit as God given instruments for the work of midwifery. I will be gentle with myself in the process. I know there will be days when I won’t follow this prescribed outline completely. There is no shame in this, but rather the knowledge that tomorrow I will begin again as best I can. The following outline is my personal prescription.

Extreme Self-Care

Care for my body

I commit to conscious daily care for my physical body in the following ways:

• Life-giving hydration (water nourishes my cells, neurons, and internal organs)
• A daily walk in communion with nature
• Healthy eating as much as possible (occasional chocolate is also good medicine)
• Morning stretches and body movement for my circulatory system
• Imagine my daily bath/shower as an energetic cleansing for negative thoughts
• Incorporate essential oils for stress relief (lavender, frankincense, peppermint)
• Choose an item of symbolic apparel (scarf, linen apron, piece of jewelry) each day to remind me I am shielded with God’s Love and Protection.
• Sleep for renewal and enriched dream life.

Care for my mind 

I commit to conscious daily care for my mind and emotional well-being in the following ways:

• Limit social media interaction and intake of news, television, etc. My absorption of too much information has the similar result of overeating…it creates indigestion and overwhelm in for my mind and emotions.
• A Sabbath rest from technology: One day each week I choose to fast from all technological devices.
• Selective reading for upliftment including: poetry, Scripture, literature.
• Take an occasional ten-minute break during the day to color in one of my adult coloring books.
• Stop what I’m doing when emotions arise and take time to journal about my feelings.
• Ongoing, loving conversations with my husband for clarification, support, and varying points of view.
• Support and wisdom from my Belle Coeur Sisters and beloved friends.
• Support and guidance from my therapist and spiritual director.

Care for my creative heart and spirit

I commit to the daily tending of my creative heart and spirit as a living prayer through the following practices…

• Prayer woven into daily tasks, as well as, morning devotion and meditation.
• Slow stitching (embroidery in free form)
• Weaving
• Mandala making
• Frequent periods of silence and re-centering.
• The prayerful dedication of my daily work to a global prayer need (such as: world hunger, world peace, protection for children, etc.).
• Pray the Rosary.
• Sacred reading (lectio divina).
• Listen to uplifting music for spiritual enrichment/insight (audio divina).
• Peruse artwork, images, photographs for creative inspiration (visio divina).
• Sacred art-making and craft as a prayer form (knit a prayer shawl, craft prayer beads/Rosaries, create a visual prayer collage, prepare a meal with prayer and sacred intention).
• Light candles with prayer.
• Sacramental observances.