Five of my favorite things

A mini-gift guide for folks who want to slow down, simplify, and find the Sacred in their everyday lives

The holiday season is upon us.

I mostly love it. I love time with family. I love shopping for gifts. I love holiday cheer. Now for those of you thinking that I’ve skipped Thanksgiving by creating this list, please forgive me. I am just trying to be practical in sharing this sooner rather than later for those of you who buy your Christmas gifts early.

Below is a list of five of my favorite things, each of which has been helpful in my journey towards a slower, simpler life attuned to the Sacred nature of things. If you’re looking for a gift for a budding contemplative in your life, or if you’re looking for tools to cultivate a more beautiful way of your own, I hope this list points you in a supportive direction.

The List

1. Notebooks from Appointed Co

Journaling is, in my opinion, one of the cornerstones of a contemplative, slow life. Writing by hand slows down the brain, it helps with integrating new ideas, and it’s an amazing practice for self-exploration. My favorite paper goods company is Appointed Co, based in Washington DC. I’ve never been to their flagship store, but I have ordered their products religiously over the years. I’m obsessed. This is my favorite notebook which I use for daily journaling, but I’ve tried almost every product they have so you can’t go wrong.

2. Beeswax Candles

Beeswax candles are the the best. They clean the air instead of filling it with toxins, they burn for hours on end, and their natural scent is an earthy one. Alex put me on to beeswax candles many years ago, and I’ve never gone back. While you can purchase them from natural food stores, and can of course find them online, my favorite place to buy them is from Etsy. I love supporting small businesses when I can, and this Georgia candle maker creates beautiful, large, and lasting options for the candle lover in your life. I also have an almost daily practice of lighting a candle to mark sacred time when working, praying, or sitting with a spiritual directee. A simple flame is a beautiful reminder of Creator’s presence in the mundanity of our days.

3. Thai Floor Cushions

Sitting on the floor, if you are able, is a grounding practice. There’s just something healing about being closer to the earth. It helps the nervous systems to settle. Years ago, I came across these Thai folding cushions. They are cozy and versatile. I bought one for Alex first, and then saved up to buy myself one. I’ve tried to find a non-Amazon source for these, but haven’t been successful. In any case, these cushions are comfortable and make it easy to write, read, work, and play while sitting on the floor.

4. Various Card Decks

Working with card decks has been a deeply restorative practice for me. The tactile nature of shuffling a deck of cards, holding the artwork in my hands, and meditating on the words, images, or archetypes represented is a healing practice. This is especially true for those of us who are recovering from a disembodied, hyper-intellectual experience of faith. One of my favorite decks is called the Inner Compass Card Deck which features a series of words and illustrations you can meditate on during contemplative moments. I’m also loving the Field Tarot Deck. Tarot has a bit of a steep learning curve, so my go-to teacher is Lindsay Mack, creator of Tarot for the Wild Soul. Her courses are trauma informed, non-predictive, and beautifully nuanced . Ultimately, working with the tactile nature and creative expression of these decks has not only been a grounding practice, but it’s been a profound act of spiritual empowerment and reclamation following years of deconstruction.

5. To Bless the Space Between Us by John O’Donahue

This book is a life saver. If you’re looking for a series of gentle, gracious, soul-opening prayers to restore your sense of connection in the world, I couldn’t recommend a book more. John O’Donahue was an Irish poet, author, priest, and philosopher. To Bless the Space Between Us: A Book of Blessings is a collection of artful blessings, prayers, and affirmations. What I love most about this book is that you can pick it up, flip through the table of contents, and find a word or encouragement to speak to exactly where you are in any given moment. I use this book devotionally in my own prayer time, as well as with spiritual directees. You can purchase the book here.

This concludes my list of a few favorite things! Feel free to share your own favorite things in the comments below. Whatever your plans are for the upcoming holiday, I hope you are safe, supported, and well fed.

Catch you here next week for our December Conversation featuring the incredible homesteader, writer, and all around inspiration, Hillarie Maddox.

Much love,

Bethaney