Spirituality & Practice

09/03/2026

Rest In Peace Wendell Berry
(1934 - 2026)

When despair for the world grows in me
and I wake in the night at the least sound
in fear of what my life and my children's lives may be,
I go and lie down where the wood drake
rests in his beauty on the water, and the great heron feeds.
I come into the peace of wild things
who do not tax their lives with forethought
of grief. I come into the presence of still water.
And I feel above me the day-blind stars
waiting with their light. For a time
I rest in the grace of the world, and am free.

— Wendell Berry in "Openings: Poems by Wendell Berry"


To Practice This Thought:
Remember the times in your life when nature has given you solace. How do you account for nature's healing powers?

https://www.spiritualityandpractice.com/practices/practices/view-day/607/wendell-berry-in-openings

08/26/2026

A Tiny Prayer for Dolly Parton
By Micah Bucey on August 26, 2026

Dolly Parton, singer, songwriter, philanthropist, and beloved music icon died on August 25, 2026, at the age of 80. This is a "Tiny Prayer" from the Rev. Micah Bucey's ongoing series of tributes and remembrances.

And so we pray this news . . .

A Tiny Prayer for Dolly Parton

Thank you for your gigantically generous life of lyricism and love, for teaching us to remember our humble roots and to grow from there into the fabulous, glittery, gumption-fueled icons we are all born to be, and as we uplift your boundless giftedness and your endless gift-giving, may we all learn to confidently sing your constant song, calling us all to do more, to dream more, to dare more, to make a joy-filled, justice-juiced noise with the time we have, to sweetly balance the seriously silly with the seriously substantial, and to constantly care so deeply for others that we never take ourselves too seriously.

Amen.

08/25/2026

Mawlid al-Nabi - Honoring the birthday of the Islamic prophet Muhammad.

On or about the evening of Tuesday, August 25 through evening of Wednesday, August 26 (Dates may vary as the months of the Islamic calendar begin and end depending on the movements of the moon.)

Mawlid al-Nabi is celebrated by Sunni Muslims on the 12th day of Rabi al-Awwal, the third month of the Islamic calendar. Mawlid al-Nabi is a major public holiday in many countries and is celebrated with various festivities and devotions, such as salutations upon the Prophet and Qur’an recitation.

We honor the birthday of the Islamic prophet Muhammad with Books, Quotes, Spiritual Practices, E-Courses, and Personal Explorations:
https://www.spiritualityandpractice.com/practices/naming-the-days/view/28967/mawlid-al-nabi

08/24/2026

Around the Circle
Celebrating the Church Year
By Laura Alary


A festive exploration of church seasons for young children.

Read the book review by Patricia Campbell Carlson
https://www.spiritualityandpractice.com/book-reviews/view/29839/around-the-circle

08/14/2026

A Prayer for Children Returning to School

Going back to schoolIt is that time of year as children leave behind their summer pleasures to return to school. The routines of getting up on time, putting things in order, doing homework, and keeping distractions to a minimum: these are the rhythms of fall for students of all ages. Parents have important roles to play at this time of year as lovers and cheerleaders of their children. Many of the feature stories in the news these days focus on children going back to school.

And so we pray this news:

Dear Creative Spirit,
As the children leave for school
I pray that they might
open their hearts and minds
to their teachers and their text books
and see learning not as a chore
but as an unending adventure.

Keep them from distractions
and help them to focus
their attention on what
is truly important.
Help them to see
homework as a
necessary exercise of mind
and not as a nightmare deadline.

May they discover in school
the special talents and skills
they have to spur them on
into a future of wide possibilities.

Help them to grow in knowledge
that is tempered by wisdom and humility.
May they not be afraid to ask questions
or to honor the great mysteries of life.

May they always be questers
following their inner voices.
Keep them from the idol of certainty
and the arrogance of pride
in intellectual achievement.
May they find friends
who are loyal and cherish them.
And may they always be kind
to all their classmates
in a spirit of love and respect
especially from those
who are very different from them.

Let them be justice seekers
and meaning makers who
are not afraid to stand up
for what they believe in
or to speak out for those
who are in need of hope.

Send your Spirit to watch over
them with peace and protection
that they might nourish and
nurture the best that is in them.

May they use this time in school
to prepare for the future when
they will take our place
in the circle of time
and make their special
contributions to the repair
and replenishment of the world.
So be it.

— Frederic A. Brussat

08/13/2026

Remembering Spiritual Masters Project:
Rachel Naomi Remen

Dr. Rachel Naomi Remen died peacefully at home under hospice care on the morning of August 8, 2026, surrounded by her loving family. The Remen Institute for the Study of Health and Illness, which she founded, said this in a statement: "During this time of grief and loss, we are filled with gratitude for the gift of Rachel and the impact of her work throughout the world. Her message of wholeness, calling, and a need for maintaining meaning and purpose in medicine will leave a lasting legacy."

In remembrance:
*Pioneer in mind/body and holistic health movement
*Educator who sees the practice of medicine as a spiritual path
*Master storyteller and public speaker on how everyone can make a difference in the world

Learn more: https://www.spiritualityandpractice.com/explorations/teachers/view/109/rachel-naomi-remen

08/09/2026

Thomas Merton
Turning to the Mystics
By James Finley


Contemplation, prayer, and love with help from Thomas Merton.

Book Review by Jon M. Sweeney:
https://www.spiritualityandpractice.com/book-reviews/view/29838/thomas-merton

08/05/2026

Back-to-school season brings so many emotions: anticipation, stress, excitement, and letting go. Our Back-to-School Kit offers spiritual practices to help students, parents, and teachers cultivate stillness, listen with heart, stay present in painful moments, and enrich the time they share together. If this season feels tender or overwhelming, may these practices offer grounding, meaning, and care. 📚🍎✨

https://www.spiritualityandpractice.com/practices/features/view/29003/back-to-school-kit

07/29/2026

What does it mean to practice hope?

In The Spirituality of Henry David Thoreau: 30 Ways to Hope, Jon M. Sweeney guides us through 30 days of Thoreau’s wisdom, daily reflection, and practical exercises rooted in nature, patience, and gratitude.

Hope is not simply something we feel. It is a way of living.

Join us August 3 – September 1 for daily emails, a 24/7 Practice Circle, and a live Zoom gathering with Jon M. Sweeney on the wisdom of Thoreau.

For anyone in need of hope just now.
https://www.spiritualityandpractice.com/SpiritualityofThoreau

(Aug 3 - Sept 1, 2026) Exploring what Thoreau has to teach us about building a capacity for hope, and the ways of exercising our hoping muscles.

07/24/2026

At Peace, Filled with Joy
Buddhist Wisdom from the Dhammapada
By Cuong Lu


Happiness only comes with understanding suffering.

Book Review by Jon M. Sweeney
https://www.spiritualityandpractice.com/book-reviews/view/29830/at-peace-filled-with-joy