One consistent thing I’ve noticed in these past few months of exploring sacred practices is that attention and intention are really what makes a practice sacred. This works both ways. On the one hand, doing most things with attention and intention can turn them into sacred practices — anything from close reading of fiction to … Continue reading Listening
We live in anxious times — politically, socially, economically, and increasingly environmentally. More and more it seems that more and more is in turmoil. All this has been weighing heavily on me lately and, to be honest, I’ve been finding it difficult to have much hope for the future. But, considering hope is one of … Continue reading Three Hopeful Things
I recently noticed that one area that has been underrepresented in my explorations of sacred practices has been creativity. And so, in the hopes of beginning to rectify this gap, this week I explored the making of and meditating on mandalas. Background The word ‘mandala’ originates in Sanskrit and refers to a circle representing wholeness, … Continue reading Mandalas
This week, I returned to a Scripture reading practice. What sets this practice apart from the other Scripture-related practices I’ve explored in this space is that the primary focus is on the reading of the text, rather than on interpreting it or experiencing it. This week, I read from the lectionary, a set list of … Continue reading The Lectionary
This week’s practice is probably the most popular sacred practice in the West right now that many of its practitioners don’t think of as a sacred practice. It has ancient roots but is often treated like the next big thing. This week, I rolled out the mat and engaged with a yoga practice. BackgroundWhen we … Continue reading Yoga
Matthew Root 