If we want to live happy and healthy lives then taking care of ourselves is an absolute must.
Most of us now acknowledge the importance of taking care of our physical health and mental health (though we may not always do it effectively), but I feel like our spiritual self is something that is often overlooked completely.
Spiritual self care is just as important as all other domains of self care in my opinion. And ensuring you add spiritual self care to your lifestyle means that you’ll be taking care of yourself on a mind, body, and soul level.
But since I know that spiritual self care doesn’t come naturally to everyone, I know that you might need a little guidance when it comes to taking care of yourself on this level.
So in this post I’m going to talk to you a little bit more about what it actually means to have an effective spiritual self care routine.
And you’re also going to leave with some kickass spiritual self care ideas to nourish your soul on a regular basis! So let’s dig in…
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What is spiritual self care?
I feel like nailing your spiritual self care practice requires first having an understanding on what spiritual self care actually is.
While physical self care is directed at taking care of the body and mental self care is directed at taking care of the mind, spiritual self care is focused on taking care of the soul.
This means that in simple terms spiritual self care activities are ones with the aim of caring for and replenishing our soul self to make sure this part of us is healthy and well.
Spiritual self care activities can also be understood as activities that help you find fulfilment on a level that extends beyond the self (or ego) by connecting to the Universe or another higher power that you believe in.
But if you’re new to spirituality and struggle to believe in souls or a higher power then that’s okay too.
You may instead choose to see spiritual self care as caring for our inner self and caring for ourselves on a deeper level, rather than some of the surface level self care ideas you might see across the internet (face masks, I’m looking at you).
The truth is, spiritual self care can mean whatever it needs to mean for you. More on this in just a moment.
Related:16 Simple Ways to Practice Emotional Self Care
How to take care of yourself spiritually
So now that you have a basic understanding of what spiritual self care is, how do you actually take care of yourself spiritually?
Well… it’s all about tuning into your inner being or “higher self” to know what its needs are. By listening to your intuition.
Once you start to develop your intuition, you develop an inner knowing about what it is that your soul needs in order to be healthy and happy. You know what it’s craving and spiritual self care becomes about honoring that.
That’s why I say that spiritual self care can mean whatever it needs to mean for you, because only you have an inner knowing about what it is that your highest self needs.
However, if we’re being honest, most of us don’t have this level of intuition, at least not when we’re first exploring our spiritual side!
We can blame society, our disconnect, and the noise of this world for clouding our ability to tune into these inner desires.
But fear not, because before you reach this level of intuition (you’ll get there with practice), there are some universal spiritual self care ideas that can definitely help you to take care of your soul self.
And the beauty is that these spiritual self care activities themselves will allow you to develop your intuition the more that you practice them.
Which means that over time listening to the needs of your highest self will become second nature to you, as will spiritual self care.
12 Spiritual self care ideas for a healthy soul
So, with that being said, here are some of my favourite spiritual self care ideas to take care of yourself on a soul level.
Now, remember, your spiritual self care journey is your own. So you might not vibe with every self care activity on this list and that’s okay.
Take and leave whatever does or doesn’t work for you, but I’d encourage you to at least try and explore each of the different activities on the list to see what lights you up – some of them might surprise you!
1. Practice meditation
Before we pretend to be surprised, we all knew meditation was going to be on this list.
But I promise I’m not saying it to be generic, meditation genuinely is one of the most important practices for taking care of the soul.
Meditation allows us to slow down the cognitive mind and access our more intuitive self, which in turn allows us to tune into our soul’s wants and needs.
And a solid meditation practice also raises our vibration and helps us to live more in alignment with our soul self.
Many people immediately discount meditation because they misunderstand it – but meditation doesn’t have to be about completely quietening the mind. It can simply be bringing more mindfulness and attention to the present moment.
In fact, there are tons of different meditation styles that exist and it’s worth exploring a different style if one of them doesn’t suit you.
So if you’re not already meditating regularly, I highly encourage you to start a daily meditation practice, or at least give it a real good go.
You’ll be surprised at just how much more at peace you can feel from taking as little as 5 minutes out of your day to meditate/be mindful!
You can easily get started with my free beginners meditation eBook to learn the basics of meditation.
I’d also recommend exploring my favourite app Insight Timer to access thousands of free meditations from teachers across the globe!
Sign up to get your free beginner’s meditation handbook!
2. Practice yoga or tai chi
Yoga is another firm favorite of mine for taking care of the soul.
If you’ve read about my story then you’ll know that yoga was actually the catalyst for my spiritual journey, and I fell in love with it so much that I went on to complete my yoga teacher training after a couple of years of dedicated practice.
So trust me when I say that yoga isn’t just about fancy IG photos and poses that look hella uncomfortable, it’s a journey into the soul which incorporates mindful movement with other tools such as pranayama (breathwork) to go within.
This practice is an amazing spiritual self care practice and one that I also encourage you to practice regularly.
And if you need help getting started, these 30 day yoga challenges are amazing for exploring the practice and helping you stay committed!
But if yoga isn’t your vibe, that’s okay too. Because Tai Chi is another mindful movement based practice that’s also amazing for spiritual self care.
Tai Chi is a gentle form of martial arts that is about balancing yin and yang energy in the body and creating harmony on a mind, body and soul level.
So if this is something that interests you then see if there are any local classes in the area to explore the benefits of this practice for yourself!
3. Spend time in nature
Have you ever spent time in nature and just noticed how much more at peace you feel?
That’s because nature is a high vibrational environment that quite literally nourishes our soul and recharges us on an energetic level.
And it can also be a potent reminder of the synchronicities of the Universe and of life beyond our own experience.
We are meant to be amongst nature after all!
Before the rise of industrialisation we were much more “at one” with nature, and now we’re feeling the difference of being so far disconnected from our roots.
The truth is, we could all benefit from spending more time in nature, and getting outside at least once a day should be something that you aim for to keep your soul healthy and energised!
So whether it’s going for a mindful walk, doing a spot of gardening, or sitting by a lake, try to prioritise a form of nature that fills up your cup.
4. Cleanse your space
Sometimes our environments can get pretty stagnant and filled with old energies, particularly if you don’t regularly make an effort to cleanse them.
When your soul is in a stagnant place like this, you might feel a bit groggy or even overwhelmed.
To ensure our soul is cared for we need to ensure that our environment is at the optimal vibrational level.
This means that it’s important to regularly tidy away any clutter and keep your space in order.
Not only this, but you may also wish to use other tools to cleanse your space such as smudging sticks and crystals.
When you’re in a high vibrational space, your soul will feel much more at ease!
5. Connect with a community
Connection is so important for the health of our soul, and connecting with like minded people can make our inner self feel seen and heard.
For the wellbeing of your soul, it’s a good idea to find a community with whom you connect with on a soul level.
A great way to find communities like these is to attend classes that involve your hobbies and passions, or by attending powerful spiritual gatherings like “sister circles” or “moon circles”, which are designed to foster deeper spiritual connections with other open minded humans.
You can also connect with likeminded people online if you struggle to find soul connections in your area, but know that in person connections are often going to be stronger and more fulfilling.
But also know that it’s okay if you struggle to make deeper connections like this or feel a sense of belonging in community. Many of us have wounds in these areas and fostering healthy connections can take time.
I know that for me personally this is an area that I am still very much working on and that’s okay.
As you work on building up this area of your life you can also prioritise anything else that may make you feel a sense of connection in the meantime (time in nature is the perfect example!)
6. Practice silence
Solitude is equally as important for soul health as community is, and it is for this reason that practicing intentional silence is one of my favorite spiritual self care ideas.
Silence allows us to filter out all the excess noise and dive within. This can help us to get to know ourselves on a soul level and uncover our unconscious feelings and desires.
I first started exploring a conscious silence practice at my yoga teacher training in 2018 and I was instantly amazed by how many intense emotions came up for me during periods of silence.
When you first start this practice, it becomes apparent how little we actually allow ourselves to be in silence.
And you might notice this even more so if you’re someone who considers themselves more on the extroverted side – silence could be a real challenge!
But when you begin utilizing this tool, you will access things within that you never knew existed.
Try scheduling in a period of your day or week that you will practice intentional silence, and let the people around you know that you will be doing so. Your soul will thank you for it!
7. Explore chanting and mantra
Chanting and mantras are amazing tools for spiritual self care and they are often viewed as tools to connect with higher consciousness or a higher power.
But whether or not you believe in a higher power, chanting is also an amazing tool to help you enter a trance like state which is ultimately a deep form of meditation (which is why this technique is used in transcendental meditation).
And it can also stimulate the vagus nerve, resulting in reduced stress levels and more resiliency in everyday life.
Chanting can therefore help you to filter out the external world and allow your soul the time and space to just be. To feel calmer and more at one with the Universe.
So if these benefits sound enticing to you, check out some chanting meditations on Insight Timer to get started.
Related post: 50 Powerful Manifestation Mantras to Attract Any Desire
8. Journal
My favorite practice – ever.
If you’re a frequent subscriber to this blog then you’ll probably know that I don’t shut up about the benefits of journaling, and that’s because there are so so many!
The reason why journaling is so amazing for spiritual self care is that it allows you to process your emotions and release energies that may be holding you back. Allowing you to set your soul free.
When you journal, you are allowing your soul self to express itself in a way that it may be unable to through communicating vocally.
And not only this, but free-writing in particular (when you allow yourself to write continually without pausing) can help you to access your unconscious mind and connect to your intuition more deeply.
Which then allows you to hear your soul’s needs and honour them more readily.
I recommend journaling as part of your morning routine for its full effectiveness because this is when your subconscious is most accessible, but honestly journaling at any time of day is just fine!
9. Learn
While you may think that learning and expanding your knowledge is an act of mental self care (which it can be), I also believe that this is one of the key aspects of caring for the soul.
Why? Because expanding your knowledge ultimately results in growth. When you’re continually learning and growing then you’re facilitating your growth on all levels, including on a spiritual level.
One of my favorite methods of learning is by reading books.
I’ve read a ton of books on spirituality (here are some awesome ones to check out) and with every book I read I feel like I’m nourishing my soul with new knowledge and room to expand!
But there are also plenty of other ways to foster learning like reading blogs (hey!), following spiritual creators on social media, enrolling in courses or talking to leaders and elders.
As long as you set out to continually learn and grow then you can’t go wrong. Because every mistake will become a lesson and an opportunity to meet your soul self even more deeply.
10. Unplug from technology
Unplugging from technology, or engaging in what I like to call a digital detox, is one of the best ways to care for your soul.
I’m not going to bash technology – in fact, I think technology is a wonderful thing when used mindfully and in moderation.
But the problem is, many of us don’t use technology in this way at all.
When you engage in unhealthy habits with technology, such as checking your phone as soon as you wake up or using it right before bed, you’re not giving your soul room to breathe and just be.
You’re constantly exposing yourself to new information and overwhelm, and not allowing for integration and expansion.
So I encourage you to avoid checking your phone in the morning and adopt healthy morning habits instead.
I also think that it’s a good idea to give yourself a social media detox every once in a while, whether that’s one day a week or for an extended period of time.
This can give you a chance to evaluate your relationship with social media and allow your soul room to express itself without so much distraction.
11. Use tarot or oracle cards
Tarot and, more recently, oracle card reading have been a part of my spiritual self care practice for quite some time now.
While people often assume that tarot/oracle are just for divination purposes, in my experience they’re primarily a powerful introspective tool to deepen your intuition.
For this reason they’re one of my essentials when it comes to spiritual self care, and a practice that I always return to when I feel like I’m lacking connection to my soul purpose.
You don’t have to be a pro at reading divination cards to reap the benefits either – most decks come with a guidebook to help you gain wisdom from the cards, or my tarot cheat sheets are a powerful tool if you do want to familiarise yourself with tarot card meanings.
One of my favourite ways to use tarot or oracle for spiritual self care is to pull one card a day to see what my soul needs to hear.
You can explore this self care practice for yourself by getting your hands on one of my favourite tarot decks or oracle decks!
12. Celebrate seasonal changes and cycles
Ironically, my connection to myself blossomed when I started connecting to things outside of myself.
In my opinion, one of the greatest forms of spiritual self care is deepening your connection to the Universe by honouring and celebrating its changes and cycles.
For me this includes honouring the New Moon and Full Moon with rituals and moon journaling.
But it can also include other events like equinoxes and important dates on the Wiccan Wheel of the Year that celebrate nature and her cycles.
Explore what celebrations and rituals light your soul up and make it a part of your practice to take time to honour these.
And there you have it, those are some of my favourite spiritual self care activities to deepen your connection to your soul self and fill up your cup.
I hope that these spiritual self care ideas give you somewhere to start when it comes to taking care of yourself spiritually.
Let me know which is these spiritual self care practices you find most valuable and any you might like to try!
Enjoyed this post on spiritual self care ideas? Check out some of these related posts:
- 16 Simple Ways to Practice Emotional Self Care
- 52 Inclusive Self Care Ideas for Mental Health
- 59 Self Care Quotes to Inspire You to Prioritize Yourself
- What Is Spiritual Bypassing? And How to Avoid It
And don’t forget to pin this post to spread the message with other souls!
Esther is the founder of Through the Phases, a wellbeing and healthy lifestyle blog dedicated to sharing mind/body/soul practices for self-exploration, healing, and fulfilment. She has a degree in Psychology, is yoga teacher trained (200hr), and is currently pursuing a Neuroscience MSc to further study the mind-body connection. Read more about her story here.