Spiritual Bucket List
Human beings have long searched for more than what they can just see or hear. The quest for meaning, for a higher power or some sort of enlightenment, has been embarked upon by many over the millennia.
No matter what you believe in at the end of the day, partaking in spiritual rituals are good for the soul in that they allow you to centre yourself and think deeply about what you’re thankful for, what you might need help with, and what your purpose is here on this earth.
Any sort of reflection and adherence to something greater than yourself is ultimately a good thing, so go and learn more about why people believe what they do – you never know what might work for you.
Pray everyday
Setting time aside to pray every day makes you take a step back and appreciate what you are thankful for, and what you need help with in your life. Whether you are praying directly to God or to just any sort of higher power, the practice will provide you with perspective for the small things, and hopefully faith that you’ll get through the bigger things.
Become a missionary
If you have been blessed with the privilege and ability to go out and help people less fortunate than yourself, then going and doing so is so important. They say that the best way to spread the good word is through the works that you do, so go forth and help others find their faith.
Join the church choir
The best part about joining a choir is that you don’t have to be an amazing singer, just good enough to sing on key. Then you become an instrument in a vocal orchestra, singing heavenly praises on high! Check out Sister Act (and the equally classic Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit) if you’re unsure how much fun you can have in a church choir. In fact, check them out anyway – great movies.
Meditate with a monk in Tibet
Meditation is the act of not holding onto or following thoughts you have, but simply letting them pass you by. Buddhist monks spend hours each day deep in meditation, so it would be safe to say if anyone is an expert in sitting still with their eyes closed, it’s them. While Tibet is quite hard to get to, it is absolutely worth the journey.
Get my chakras aligned
If you’re feeling depressed, unhealthy, lethargic, or run down, it may be a sign your chakras are out of alignment. According to Buddhist Tantra teachings, chakras are the seven points where your spirit and physical body meet, and each relate to different energies within your body. Once your chakras are aligned, you will feel more fully yourself – energized, organized, and ready to take on the world!
Practice yoga in Bali
Yoga is both a spiritual and physical practice which originated in ancient India. Bali has many yoga retreats, where you can spend days on end practicing your yoga on the beach, in idyllic tropical surroundings. You’ll come out feeling refreshed and stronger than before, both mentally and physically.
Finish reading the Bible
Whether you take the Bible literally or not, one must admit that it is an incredibly important historical text from which much can be learned. Interpretations of the stories have changed over time and indeed, what you take from it may also change with time. At any rate, it’s also just a really big book, so think of it as a challenge from that perspective!
Become a priest
Read the whole Bible in a year
Whether you take the Bible literally or not, one must admit that it is an incredibly important historical text from which much can be learned. Interpretations of the stories have changed over time and indeed, what you take from it may also change with time. At any rate, it’s also just a really big book, so think of it as a challenge from that perspective!
Meditate with Buddhist monks
Buddhism is practiced throughout the world, though it is most common in Asian countries. Buddhist monks devote their lives to spiritual pursuits and forgo material possessions, hoping to discover enlightenment through their meditation. By meditating with a Buddhist monk, you can learn their techniques and hopefully let some of their zen rub off on you.
Conduct a church service
Whether you prefer quiet, solemn worship or more vocal, joyous praise, leading a church service requires preparation, sensitivity to the needs of the congregation, and teamwork. Perform a sermon that requires people to think, without offending or scandalising them, and listen to the rest of the team – the music leaders, the other ministers etc – as to what they think works best. Leading a service can be very rewarding, as you’re leading the faithful through their prayers.
Go to a meditation retreat
Meditation retreats have popped up everywhere lately as the modern world tries desperately to slow down for a minute. Recent research has shown that effective meditation techniques can actually alter the activity of genes linked to stress and depression, thereby limiting the negative effects of stress on the body. So sign up for a retreat and dive inside your own head for a little while.
Become a Reiki master
Reiki is a form of Japanese alternative medicine which uses a technique called palm healing to transfer ‘universal energy’ from practitioner to patient. It works on physical, mental, emotional and spiritual levels to enhance one’s overall wellbeing. It can help reduce pain, speed healing and enable relaxation, the core idea being that the body has the innate ability to heal any ailment.
Help build a mosque
A mosque is a place of worship for Muslims, and they can be found all over the world where Muslims practice their faith. It’s said that “Whoever builds a mosque for the sake of Allah, like a sparrow’s nest or even smaller, Allah will build for him a house in Paradise.” A mosque is the heart of any Muslim community, a place for prayer and congregation.
Pray at the Wailing Wall in Jerusalem
Also known as the Western Wall, the Wailing Wall is an ancient limestone wall in the Old City of Jerusalem, and is one of the holiest places to visit for people of the Jewish faith due to its connection to the Temple Mount. It’s thought to be the last remnant of the Holy Temple, which was destroyed by Romans in 70CE. As the wall remained intact, many Jews believe that the wall has been blessed and protected by God.
Pray in Mecca
Mecca is the holiest city in the Islamic religion, located in Saudi Arabia. The birthplace of the prophet Muhammad and the site of the Masjid al-Haram, or Sacred Mosque, each year hundreds of thousands of Muslims make the pilgrimage to Mecca to pray, as it is considered obligatory for all able Muslims at least once.
Be baptized into the church
Baptism is the Christian rite of using water to symbolically purify and cleanse of sins in the eyes of God. To be baptized into the Church is to fully commit yourself publicly to following God. As the first of the Seven Sacraments, baptisms are usually performed on babies – though you can also do it as an adult when converting to Christianity.
Put a letter into Western Wall
The Western Wall in Jerusalem is the most sacred site for people of the Jewish site to pray, though it is visited by people from all religions as a place of spiritual and historical significance. For those who are not sure how to pray, writing it down and putting the note into the cracks of the wall is just as good as performing the full prayer ritual.
Read the Quran every day
The Muslim Holy Book, the Quran was revealed to the prophet Muhammad over a period of 23 years. It tells of similar events to the Christian Bible, often presenting a different interpretation or alternative account of events. If you consider yourself a scholar of historical or religious texts, or even if you just have a casual interest in Islam, the Quran must be at the top of your reading list.
Take part in the Ramadan
Ramadan is observed by Muslims worldwide as a month of fasting to commemorate the first revelation of the Quran to the prophet Muhammad. During the Ramadan period, Muslims must refrain from eating, drinking, smoking, and any kind of sex during daylight hours. The fast is a cleansing period, and at the post-sunset feasts you may finally break the fast.
Attend mass at St Peter Basilica in Rome
When it comes to attending Mass, you can’t do much better than hearing a sermon from the Pope himself. While it will probably be delivered in Latin so you may not be able to understand it, the cathedral of St Peter’s Basilica is so beautiful that you won’t worry too much about knowing what he’s actually saying.
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