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I don’t know about you, but the economic mess in which we find ourselves today troubles me. When times are tough where do you turn for comfort? Author Christine Phoenix-Green offers some thoughts.

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Acts of Devotion

It is not unusual in times of upheaval and stress, that people are often forced, in their sense of instability and fear, to turn towards a sense of Mystery or Spirituality for answers and comfort in the face of the shock of the unknown. For some, it could mean going to church for community, prayer and petition, for others  visiting  a psychic for a reading, an astrologer for an update, or a  therapy group for peer support. (Some people go shopping, but that is another category entirely.)

These are all practices that may help us to make sense of, or give us perspective on, interpreting the  experiences and signs of the times that rather unpleasantly surprise and jar us almost on a daily basis, especially at this insistent moment of social and cultural upheaval. Yet, there is another practice that can emerge from the heart, from the Soul, that grounds us in the Eternal, and connects us to the sacred , mysterious,  and eternal rhythms of time and place. It is a smaller, and more intimately personal practice, and very very quiet or private. In each life and in each day, there can be a practice or stopping point to acknowledge the moment, the Now, and the Presence of Life, Beauty and Sanity through personal “Acts of Devotion.”

Each morning for as long as I can remember, pulling up the shades to greet and savor the rising of the sun  has been my first Act of Devotion upon awakening. Welcoming the beams of the early radiant light to dispel the darkness of the night has been a wordless prayer for the start of each day. 

Early morning meditation in silence and stillness, connecting to the Beneficent Force of the Universe  and inviting that love into my Life, has been another Act of Devotion that never fails to start me out with a feeling of possibility and hope even when the night I might have  emerged from may have been the emotional night of sadness, worry or concern.

Spraying a mist of refreshing spring water over my rosemary plant each morning, pays respect and homage to that herb which is the caretaker and purifier of memories, encouraging me to cherish the bright ones and release those that no longer serve.

Personal altars are no strange activity for women and especially mothers or grandmothers, with pictures of loved ones who are always remembered and prayed for, as well as flowers, sea shells, rocks, or a variety small personal treasures that connect us, through memory and association, to the Earth, to the Elements and Seasons, and to those Helpers and Saints who though unseen to the eye, are honoured, emulated or a called upon for support in time of need.

An Act of Devotion which brings light and guidance into my life each morning is the lighting of the candle on this beloved altar that brings a living, flickering presence into my home. Though it may sound like an ordinary  practice, it is interesting to note that in ancient Rome, there was always an altar alcove built into the villa wall with a perpetual flame to symbolize the presence of the Divine in the family abode. When a young woman would marry, she would light a candle from her mother’s home fire and bring that flame into her own new home for familial connection and continuity… and Mexican women today traditionally keep a tall 6-day candle burning at all times to protect children and loved ones, or to keep the memory of ancestors or newly departed loved ones alive and present….an Act of Devotion that keeps us connected to our own story and those who are a part of it.

Soupmaking is, for me, another Act of Devotion, the mindful preparation of which symbolizes the Community of the cooking pot, the mix of ingredients that blend and become one delicious thing as well as the neighborhood of friends and family who will be nourished by the sharing of this creation, especially in times of need.

Indeed the practice of Acts of Devotion are limitless….playing music, dancing, loving, tending, savouring, planting, sharing, writing, playing, creating etc.

What is important and definitive here is that it is an act of love and dedication, performed with care and conscious, mindful intent to honour and connect with something Loving and Larger than just ourselves and our Ego presence. It is a divine practice of connection and relationship, bringing all things into a state of right relationship and balance.

About the Author: 

Christine Phoenix-Green is gathering stories of Acts of Devotion. If you would like to share your experience of personal Acts of Devotion, email Christine at: cphoenixrising@earthlink.net