How to Practice Spiritual Self-Care

Understanding your existence in a spiritual sense is a crucial component of self-care that is easily overlooked. Learn more about incorporating spiritual self-care into your daily life.

Spiritual self-care is another critical dimension – other than physical and emotional – to any well-rounded self-care practice. Just as it is essential to communicate our needs, or nourish our body with nutritious food, taking care of our spiritual self is crucial to living a grounded and happy life.

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What is spiritual self-care?

The definition of spiritual self-care is any ritual or practice that we do to further our connection with our higher self. Your higher self is who you truly are as an individual, the real you. Your higher self is you that is disassociated from, and not influenced by, the ego or fear. Rather, this self operates from a soul-centered place that is aligned with your deepest desires.

Spiritual self-care is any ritual of practice to further your connection to your higher self, the real you, who you are as an individual without any ego or pretense.

Carley Schweet, on spiritual self-care

Although they might seem similar, the practice of spiritual self-care differs from emotional self-care in that spiritual self-care is solely based on you and your connection to your higher self.

On the other hand, emotional self-care includes people other than yourself, especially as you learn how to communicate your needs and desires, express emotion, and set boundaries with others.

When you begin to practice consistent spiritual self-care, you can expect to nurture your connection to yourself and a higher power to create spiritual practices that fuel both your body and soul.

Why is spiritual self-care important?

Aside from furthering a connection with yourself, there are some powerful benefits to practicing spiritual self-care, making it an essential part of a holistic self-care practice.

For example, if you’re searching for inner peace, fortunately, that peaceful state of being is a happy side-effect of regularly committing to your spiritual self-care. The benefit alone certainly makes practicing spiritual self-care seem important.

Other important benefits of a spiritual self-care practice:

• A renewed sense of purpose or belonging
• An increased connection with your intuition
• An improved sense of peace and calm
• A greater feeling of groundedness
• A deeper connection with others

If you’re interested in getting started with your spiritual self-care practice but unsure where to begin, the below tips can help. Pick one or two activities to start and begin to connect to the inner calm you’ve been craving.

Spiritual self-care activities

Getting started with spiritual self-care doesn’t have to be complicated or time-consuming. Also, your spiritual self-care practice doesn’t necessarily have to be focused on religion or include religion in any way – the choice is entirely up to you. Below are tips for creating a spiritual self-care practice that nurtures your soul.

1. Practice meditation

Meditation is a powerful practice that can bring you closer to your higher self. There are many benefits of meditation, including improving your concentration and reducing your stress.

For many, the thought of starting a mediation practice can feel overwhelming. I can’t tell you how many people have told me, “I don’t meditate because I’m not good at it, and it feels too difficult.”

Honestly, there’s no competition when it comes to your meditation practice, and no one is perfect at meditating because that’s not the goal of the practice.

What’s essential is that no matter how muddled and crazy your mind may feel, you choose to meditate solely for yourself, your spiritual self-care practice, and the benefits that come along with sitting in silence for a few minutes a day.

Not sure how to start? Check out my two favorite meditation apps – Headspace and Calm. I also suggest having a meditation cushion (I love this one), some essential oils or palo santo, and finding a quiet corner in your home.

2. Reconnect with nature

Simply immersing yourself in nature can help you connect with your higher self. I always find that a walk in the woods or a long hike can help me disconnect from my day and tune into what I’m feeling. It’s like everything melts away, and I get a chance to focus on myself and become more grounded. This helps me connect with my spiritual self.

Nature can be so healing because it allows us to experience a moment with all five senses. In nature, we are truly in the moment and involved in something greater than ourselves, beyond our wildest beliefs. It’s incredible what a positive impact a few hours in nature can have on your overall wellbeing.

3. Cleanse your space

Removing negative energy from your space is a powerful spiritual self-care practice. When we cleanse out the bad energy and invite in the positive, we create an environment to connect to our higher self with more ease. Think about it like you’re creating space to usher in the best version of yourself.

Using Palo Santo – an ancient holy wood used mainly by Peruvian shamans – is a grounding practice that can help you cleanse out the stale or negative energy. Light one end and allow the smoke to fill the area you wish to cleanse. I like to keep sticks at my desk, in our bedroom, and the kitchen so I can cleanse as needed.

In addition to Palo Santo, a sage smudging ritual is another way to cleanse your space. Using a bundle of dried sage is an ancient tradition, dating back 2,000 years, used by ancient shamans to clear negative energy from a person or an area. This is a potent spiritual self-care practice, backed by a couple of thousand years of use.

Whichever method you choose, know that getting rid of negative, stale energy is a great way to tap into inner peace and nurture your spiritual self-care practice mind, body, and soul.

4. Cleanse your energy

Certified pure therapeutic grade essential oils can play a huge role in your spiritual self-care practice and assist you in cleansing your mental and emotional energy. You can also use essential oils to help cleanse your physical space, as well.

A note about essential oils: not all oils are created equally, and it’s important to use a third-party tested and approved brand. Learn more about the essential oil brand I trust.

You can start to cleanse your energy by simply adding essential oils to your meditation practice or morning routine. Then, apply the oil of your choice (your wrists, neck, and heart area are powerful spots) and envision your energy shifting and releasing with every application.

Visualization is a powerful tool and can help you release stagnant energy trapped inside your physical body.

Essential oils for your spiritual self-care practice:

• Frankincense
• Cedarwood
• Jasmine
• Rose

5. Connect with a spiritual community

Immersing yourself in a community with similar values as you is another way to create a spiritual self-care practice. When you surround yourself with like-minded individuals you respect and admire, you give yourself a chance to deepen your connection to your highest self.

For me, the yoga community (especially Kundalini) is a great way to connect with myself on a spiritual level in a space that I feel comfortable in. Other spiritual communities could include churches, synagogues, drum circles, sound bowl gatherings, and healing circles.

6. Find a trusted mentor or advisor

Your spiritual self-care practice doesn’t have to be a completely solo journey. Sure, while much of the work is completed personally, it may be beneficial to find a trusted spiritual mentor or advisor to help guide you and answer questions that come up.

If you’re unsure where to find a spiritual advisor, consider those locally in your community or reach out to a life coach who could point you in the right direction.

7. Experiment with crystals, tarot cards, and other spiritual tools

There are many spiritual tools that you can begin to incorporate into your life including crystals, sound bowls, gongs and bells, tarot cards, and essential oils. These tools can help you create a ritual or practice that supports your self-care journey but aren’t absolutely necessary for spiritual self-care.

Helpful books and journals on spiritual self-care

If you’re looking for supportive books on how to start or deepen your spiritual self-care practice, check out the list below. While there are many, many books on the topic, these are some of the best-rated books in their categories and ones I believe will be supportive for you.

1. Chakras and Self-Care

A series of meditative exercises help you get in touch with your seven powerful energy centers – called Chakras – to help encourage deep wellness. Learn more.

2. The Spirit Almanac

This Modern Guide to Ancient Self-Care is an instant companion for anyone looking to live a deeper spiritual life. It’s packed with rituals and practices to help you connect with your spiritual self and create a more powerful self-care practice.

3. A Spiritual Journal for Women

Filled with powerful prompts and journaling exercises, this spiritual journal can help encourage and embrace your spirituality to live a happier and more fulfilled life.

4. Tarot for Change

This book on tarot holds the secrets to harnessing a powerful spiritual practice that helps you better understand yourself and what’s most important in your life. Whether you’re familiar with tarot or it’s a new practice, this book will help you better connect with your spiritual self. Learn more now.

5. After the Rain

Part-memoir and part-journal, After the Rain is a powerful book on self-love and the deep importance of having a connection with yourself throughout your journey. The author shares her struggles, stories, and triumphs to inspire readers to seek courage and self-acceptance in their daily lives.

Creating your spiritual self-care practice

No matter how you choose to nurture your spiritual self-care practice, remember that even being aware of your connection to spirituality is a step in the right direction. Taking the time to create mindfulness and awareness around your relationship with your higher self is something that can change the course of your entire being.

It may take time and steady practice to find a spiritual self-care path that feels the most supportive for you – and that’s perfectly okay! In fact, it’s encouraged.

Also, remember that as your physical and emotional needs grow and change, so do your spiritual ones. Make sure to stay tuned into what you need on a spiritual level and adjust your practice as needed.

More ways to deepen your spiritual self-care practice

Check out my self-care courses — there is something for everyone, no matter where you are on your spiritual self-care journey.