Taking time for a daily spiritual practice, even one that includes room for experimentation, can deepen your spiritual life. Spiritual practices can be as simple as touching an anchoring stone during a busy day; they can be transformative; they can also be quite ordinary. Different practices work for different people. Some Friends prefer to set aside time in the morning to start their day out right, while other Friends feel sharpest at the close of day. Read below to learn more about different spiritual practices and steps to deepen your spiritual life.

A spiritual practice is something you start doing because it’s good for you, and keep doing because it feels good.”

–Chris DeRoller, Friend from New York Yearly Meeting

There is a Quaker pamphlet Four Doors to Meeting for Worship (Pendle Hill Pamphlet #306), that guides Friends on how to prepare themselves for Meeting for Worship. It includes advice on strengthening one’s. The pamphlet, written by William Taber, describes four different thresholds that a person may cross as they deepen into worship. Below is one interpretation of the Taber’s essay, with a description of each of the four “doors.”

1. Take Time for Retirement

A daily spiritual practice may seem to add work to your day, but it brings a sense of retirement and rest. Choose a simple and regular spiritual practice that you can commit to.

It could be reading Scripture out loud and slowly, doodling the letters of a psalm, or moving your body in a way that is restful and mindful. Speaking a prayer out loud, holding people on a prayer list, or greeting the sunrise each morning are other examples. Experiment and find what works for you! Some people attend 12-step groups as part of their spiritual practice.

As you choose a spiritual practice, consider sharing it with a friend.

2. Let Your Body Settle

As you do your spiritual practice, pay attention to any loosening in your body. Give your body time to settle. Some Friends find that a sense of rhythm and repetition helps their bodies to anchor, perhaps because it calms the mind.

Remember to breathe. Being aware of your breath, in and out, can be one of the most powerful ways to connect with your body.

Be persistent. Like running, spiritual workouts work best when people persist. Continue with your spiritual practice, even if you do not see immediate results. 

3. Be Open to Grace

As you continue working with your spiritual practice, keep your heart and eyes open for small moments of grace. In worship, Friends may step into unity or communion with each other.

if you are worshiping on your own, you are still connected to your community — longtime Friends, family members, neighbors, coworkers, children. Let your spiritual practice work on you. Be open to surprising moments with the people in your orbit.

If you have spiritual friends in your life, share with them about your spiritual journey. Peers and fellow travelers can help you stay on the faithful path.

4. Be Willing to Be Changed

In time, there may be moments when your heart is opened more fully. Maybe you find a quiet peace or a persistent movement to act. Spiritual practices prepare us for communal worship together, and communal worship involves transformation.

Some Friends find that the normal/regular world seems more beautiful to them after worship. You may find beauty in response to nature, music, sculpture, machinery, or the faces of people you meet.

Keep track of these moments when they arrive. Noticing beauty can help you develop a sense of satisfaction, appreciation, and wonder.

Additional Resources

For more on worship and cultivating a spiritual practice, see the following:

Last updated December 18, 2025.

✕
Translate »