Spirituality

[percival]

Having my daughter has also changed my spirituality. The biggest change is that I have started to attend Mass regularly again. I don't get that much out of it - mostly, it's a feeling of being home, of settling back into the fold of a familiar tradition. The times that I feel closest to God are when I am at Quaker Meeting. On rare occasions, I am alone at Sunday meeting while my husband spends time in the creche with our daughter, but mostly, I go to Wednesday meeting with its blissful silence. Just being quiet and attending to my feelings in the moment has been invaluable. In particular, I've been able to just be with my child without feeling that I had to keep her soothed, balanced, and quiet at all times.

What I miss though is Buddhist meditation. It's been a great help during two of the biggest trials I faced, completing my PhD and waiting to conceive our daughter. I would love to be part of a sangha again, but cannot attend sitting practice: My daughter still needs me in the evenings. Therefore, I am thinking about starting the Vipassana Internet course again. It involves ninety days of guided reading and meditation. Last time, I chickened out because I am very, very bad at regularly setting aside time for something. I will now try to see whether I can sit and pray/meditate for 2x10 minutes and read a theological/spiritual book for 15 minutes every day - if that works, I can register.

Comments

[annearchy.livejournal.com]

Good luck, M. It's important to find a place where you feel you belong spiritually, for you and your daughter.