HOLY THREADS

When everything feels uncertain and unknown, we struggle to find the ground beneath us. We aren’t sure where to put our faith and hope and we feel lost in our fears and worries. Here are some simple practices that can be practiced anywhere and anytime you might find your fears rising to overwhelming.

5, 4, 3, 2, 1

To find your place in the wonder of the world around you, rely on your senses to call your attention back to this moment. Begin with a deep breath, breathing in and out. With this breath filling your being, notice the world around you using your hand to hold count for you, as needed, to notice:

• five things you can see
• four things you can touch
• three things you can hear
• two things you can smell
• and one thing you can taste

Try not to rush as you notice what calls to your senses. You may choose to name those things through a whispered prayer of thanks or just by paying attention to the fact that you are alone in this moment. Let you senses remind you of your place in this world and when you have counted through each sense, breathe in and out again.

Holy Ground

When Moses was aware that he was in the presence of God, he took of his shoes. He recognized that the very ground beneath him was holy. Though your worries might overwhelm so that you cannot feel such holiness, take off your shoes and socks and tread upon the ground beneath you. Connect with the holiness under your feet wherever you might be in the world.

Five Finger Breathing

Stretch one hand out with your palm facing toward you. With your other hand, using your pointer finger, trace the fingers of the outstretched hand starting with your thumb. As your pointer finger goes up each finger, breathe in. When you trace down on each finger, breathe out. When you have reached your pinky, retrace your fingers until you have returned to the outside part of your thumb. This can be repeated as many times as you need to find the grounding in your breath.

A visual guide for this practice might help to lead you through this practice.