sacred moments
Rediscovering Prayer As A Personal Practice
“Prayer” can be a complicated concept for some people, especially when it carries associations with dogma or specific religious traditions.
On a spiritual path, not everyone relates to a higher power in the same way, and we all experience the sacred or the divine through diverse and deeply personal lenses.
However, no matter how we personally view it, prayer can hold a very meaningful place in any spiritual practice.
As my own spiritual awareness deepened, I came to see God not as a distant figure watching over the world, but as a vast creative presence, an energy that flows through all life. Some connect with this presence as “the universe,” others as their higher self, their guides, or a field of eternal love and light.
I have moved through many of these perspectives myself, and each has offered me unique insights. Over time, returning to the broader concept of God reopened a space of comfort and peace within me, especially through the practice of prayer.
When I was a child, prayer felt natural. It brought reassurance and warmth. Reconnecting with it later in life has brought that same sense of grounding and clarity.
Prayer can be understood as a conversation with God, Source, Spirit, the Divine, with one’s soul, or with the deeper wisdom that resides within and around us. Continue reading
Reflections On Time…And The Timeless
During my morning walk with the dogs, I found myself nostalgically reflecting on a time in my life when “there was a place for everything, and everything in its place.”
As comforting as that kind of order once felt, I’ve shifted considerably in how I relate to time constraints in recent years.
Over the years, I’ve gathered a menagerie of many rescue dogs and cats who’ve taught me to prioritize what truly needs my attention and focus, and to stop “sweating the small stuff.”
A neighbor also recently reminded me, “Hay tiempo para todo.” There is time for everything.
The general approach to life in the Spanish town where I live is (sometimes annoyingly so!) very easygoing, with a shared belief that what doesn’t get done today will simply get done tomorrow.
You often hear the locals say, “Mañana,” with a smile, which seldom means “tomorrow.” It means, “Tomorrow is another day, so don’t stress, don’t rush, it’ll all get sorted in time.”
I’ve reflected on this often, and the quality of life enjoyed by most Spaniards is a testament to the fact that perhaps they’re doing something right? It is especially evident in family life still being a priority for people living here.
In our little town of around 8,000 souls, people still pause to smile and greet one another. I’m lucky to be able to converse with the locals in their own language, but I’ve also seen how warmly they respond to foreigners, especially those who are still finding their way with Spanish. There’s no judgment, just appreciation for the effort.