Tools

This list is not at all the "end-all-be-all" of a spiritual tool list.  It's just a list for you to investigate, take what you like, and leave the rest.  You can use these tools daily, weekly, or occasionally (or never).  It's just a list.  It's what you choose do with it that counts in your life.  If if something on here doesn't speak to you, don't use it.  Never make yourself do something because "everyone else is doing it" (then again, you wouldn't be here if you did things that everyone else did, would you?)  Always do what makes you happy.


Ask yourself in any situation you are in "Does this make me happy?"  If not, ditch it and try something else.  I don't mean instant gratification, we're talking about here being truly happy.  If yoga is a chore and makes you bored, why do it?  Because it's good for you? Find something different that's good for you; something that you love.  Or find a new way to do it to make it more enjoyable.


RUU is very much about having a happy body, mind, and soul.  So always do what makes you happy, and you'll never regret it.


Here are some tools to help you on your path:

Body:

• Yoga
• Tai Chi
• Take up jogging.
• Start playing a sport, such as Frisbee golf or ultimate Frisbee.  Or golf.  Or martial arts.  Whatever you like.  Just get that body moving!
•  Get massages as much as you can, either from a loved one or go pay a massage therapist (massage schools can give out $20 massages for an hour to give their students practice). 
• Eat delicious food. Revel in the flavors.  Living means you have to eat, you might as well enjoy it.
• Dance.  In the rain.  In your kitchen.  In the car.  At the table.  On the table.  Just dance.
• Sing.  In the shower.  In the car.  In a band.  While vacuuming.  While jogging.  In a choir.  Just sing.
• Regularly see your doctor/psych to make sure your meds are all correct (use a datebook or your cell phone's calendar to help you remember).  See your doc to get on any meds you might need to get on.  When everything is working right, you'll feel better.  My allergies got better after I got on antacid meds.  Go figure :)  
• 
  

Mind:

•  Meditation.  Get some CD's or download some from audible (I love their series that I will link later).  Or get some books to read from and create your own. 
•  Mindfulness (I use this for my anxiety, and it works quite well)
• Read all the science books you can.  Follow science pages on Facebook. Educate yourself about this wonderful universe we live in.  See what you can find.
• Take an art class. Explore as many types of art as you can.
• Watch documentaries.  All of them.  As many as you can.  Expand your mind.
• Just.  Say.  No.  No is a powerful word.  More powerful than any other word on earth.  So no to everything that doesn't feed your heart with love.  When you say no, yeses will start to appear everywhere and your life will change.  And you'll be more happy.
• Follow Marie Kondo's advice: throw away anything in your house that doesn't bring you  joy.  You'd be quite surprised how much you'll feel when you do so.  Get her book for instructions how to do this efficiently.  Otherwise, just have at it.  "Does this bring me joy?"  No?  It goes.  Buh-bye.  An organized house brings an organized mind.  Even if only for a day.
• 
  

Soul:

• Explore as many religions as you can, either as a tool to help you in your own spirituality, or as a reference to start your own (although we don't condone starting yet another "religion" here at RUU, as they are full of unbendable rules, but starting your own way of spiritual thinking is certainly good, as long as you stay flexible in your ideas).
•  Shamanistic journeying can be a most mind-altering good time if you keep at it.  My husband can journey to meet his spiritual guides practically any time he wants.  He comes back with the most amazing stories which you can find here (I will link later).
• Guided meditations (also good for your mind).
• Cuddle rescue animals.  Just go to the pound and hug every cat and dog you can.
• Volunteer.  Can be with animals, homeless adults, sick children, whatever you want.  Just give back to those who need you.
• Start your own non-religious non-profit organization to helps the needy, sick, or anyone you want.  We need more of these in the world.
•  Sleep under the stars (in a safe place).  Keep yourself warm bundled in blanket in the back of a pickup truck covered in a futon mattress and lots of pillows.  Gaze up at infinity.  Let that enter your soul.  Look at the stars.  Know you are made of the same things as they are.
• Listen to live music.  Nothing recorded compares to seeing something live.
• Watch a live play.  Nothing on TV or the movie screen compares to seeing it live.
• Write.  Books.  Poems.  Journals.  Screenplays.  Songs.  Short stories.  Just write.
• Rescue a pet from an animal shelter.  Give him/her a new home.  Love it.  And it will love you back.
• Take up an instrument.  Uke?  Violin?  The recorder?  Anything.  Just play.
• Create a safe haven in your home or yard.  Your escape place.  Could be a blanket fort.  Could be a nook in a window.  Just somewhere where all your comfy stuff is and can take a book and some coffee/tea to relax with.  I used to have a hammock for this purpose.  Then it broke.  I was left all summer without my haven...*sigh*  But I am working on getting a new one :)
• Dim lighting at night is wonderful for the soul.  Light some candles, only turn on the lights that cast a warm glow, no harsh lighting.  You'll be amazed as how good you feel when you're in this atmosphere.  Soft music helps too.  This goes for all over your house.  Night time should be for relaxing.  Our ancestors only had fire for light and warmth.  It's the natural way of night.  
• Create some relaxing playlists on Pandora or Spotify.  Just chill.
• Sleep to the sound of a crackling fire on DVD or one of the many relaxing videos on youtube.  Make your bedtime and sleeptime your haven of the soul.