One of the big things that the YAGM South Africa group has been focusing on and discussing this year is spiritual practices. Ones that we already carried with us before our time in South Africa, ones that we wanted to try and develop throughout our time here, and maybe even practices that we found to be in effect for ourselves.
Before my time here I carried a few practices that I liked to exercise on a pretty regular basis. Centering prayer, journaling, and light mediation probably being the three core basis for myself. Throughout my time here though those practices have developed, changed, and i've even added a few new practices. The centering prayer when I arrived was basically a simple quiet time. A time each day that I could have to myself with my thoughts and prayers. In my early months here I have to admit that I neglected this practice more than I was use to, and probably should have. I was still doing a lot of reflecting of coarse, almost non stop, but it was more on the spot as things were happening. The sensory overload of being in a new country, culture and home made it more difficult for me to slow myself down and truly reflect deeply about what was going on all around me. Journaling actually increased. Before arriving I would journal maybe two or three times a week. In my first 6 months here though I found myself journaling on a daily basis. I had a lot of things to write about and a lot of different things running through my mind, as would be expected. In recent months though it has returned to about two or three times a week. The meditation/quiet time before my time here was more of a stress outlet when I was feeling overwhelmed. I found it hard to slow myself down in the speed of the American culture and really take the time to be with my deeper thoughts and prayers. In my time here in South Africa though I would have the tendency to say that practice has increased greatly, especially in recent months.
There have been practices though that I have only developed since being here. Yoga, has very much become part of my spiritual and life practices. Now if you would have told me 12 months ago that I would be practicing yoga, let alone enjoying it, I very well may have laughed at you. Since starting the practice roughly six weeks ago though, I have found it to be a vital part of my daily routine. It allows me a bit of introverted time (which I need), meditation time, and centering prayer all in one. It has also made me much more aware of my own body. Posture, breathing, and all around self awareness, opening a completely new lens to view my surrounds with on a daily basis. "Note Taking", has also become a major part of my daily life. Since the first of the year i've been carrying a small pocket notebook with me everywhere I go. I don't write long journal type entries in it, but just small little tidbits that are at my mind at the time. It's created a space for me to allow wonder to be a part of my daily life rather than judgement. While sitting waiting for a taxi, watching kids at the creche, attending church services, or simply being in new atmospheres it has become a tool for me. The biggest of all new practices though would have to be my choice to become vegetarian, which in a sense is much more a life choice than a practice. I've tried vegetarianism before, but never had a real solid reason or foundation behind the choice to keep me true to it. Being in South Africa has given me a real life face to my reasons for this life choice though, from moral treatment of animals, developed capital based corporations taking advantage of the developing world, as well as personal health.
As my time here is very quickly coming to an end, it's made me realize how important these new practices have become to me. How important it's going to be for me to keep these practices alive when I return to a place of comfort back home and head into the next chapter of my life. I encourage anyone reading this to try starting a new practice they've always considered, but never taken the time to fully commit to. Whether it be spiritual, religious, or simply a new life practice. Find something that feeds you and brings you to life inside. When you're fed and nourished, everything else around you has this incredible way of working itself out and falling into place, exactly as it is meant to for the time at hand.
" Do not ask yourself what the world needs, ask yourself what makes you come alive, and then go do that. Because what the world needs is more people who are alive."
Peace
*written May 18th
