Healing Arts and Pagan Studies - Spiritual Exercises forthe Days of the Week

Adaptedfrom Start Now! A Book of Soul and Spiritual Exercises

byRudolph Steiner

SteinerBooks, 2004

Mostof us would like to live in a more spiritually-conscious way, but

thetask can seem so daunting. Where to begin? The great teacher,

author,and philosopher Rudolph Steiner had a wonderful idea: he

identifiedone gentle spiritual task for each day of the week. After

all,seven is a magical number (think of the seven chakras), and having

sevendays of the week as a container makes deep soul-sense.

Youcan use these simple, meaningful exercises as a basis for

meditation,or simply as touchstones to keep in mind throughout the day. Step by step, wecan gently bring ourselves into greater clarity and

awareness.Breaking the process down into daily tasks makes it so

do-able,and the end result will be greater soul-strength and

consciousness.

SATURDAY:Right Thinking

Beaware of your thoughts. Gradually learn to separate in your thoughts

theessential from the nonessential, the eternal from the transitory,

andtruth from mere opinion. When listening to conversation, try to

becomeinwardly still, renouncing all agreement and, more important, all

negativejudgments (criticism and rejection). Do this in both thought

andfeeling.

SUNDAY:Right Judgment

Decideon even the most insignificant issues only after full,

well-foundeddeliberation and reflection. Abstain from doing anything

thathas no significant reason. Once we are convinced that a decision is

correct,adhere to it with inner steadfastness. This is "right judgment"

becauseit was made independently of attraction or aversion.

 MONDAY:Right Word

Avoidthe usual sort of conversation that involves jumbled, simultaneous

cross-talk.Listen thoughtfully to every statement and answer. Consider

everyapproach. Never speak without a reason. Prefer silence. Try not to

talktoo much or too little. Listen quietly and process what you hear.

 TUESDAY:Right Deed

Ourouter actions should not disturb others. When we are moved inwardly (byconscience) to act, carefully weight how best to employ the occasion for thegood of the whole, and the happiness of others and the eternal. When you actfrom yourself and your own initiative, weigh the

consequencesof your actions in the most fundamental way.

 WEDNESDAY:Right Standpoint

Inordering your life, live in harmony with nature and spirit. Do not

getburied in the external knickknacks of life. Avoid all that brings

restlessnessand haste to your life. Be neither impetuous nor lazy.

Considerlife as a means of inner work and development and act

accordingly.

THURSDAY:Right Striving

Takecare not to do anything beyond your power, but don't leave anything undone thatis within your ability. Pose goals that are connected with the highest of humanresponsibilities. In relation to these exercises, for example, try to developyourself so that later---if not

immediately--youmay be better able to help and advise others. Let the

precedingexercises become a habit!

FRIDAY:Right Memory

Striveto learn as much as possible from life. Nothing happens that does

notgive us the opportunity to gather experiences that are useful for

life.If you have done something incorrectly or incompletely, it becomes

anopportunity to do it correctly or completely later on. When you see

othersact, observe them with the same end in mind (but not without

love).Do nothing without looking at past experiences that may help in

yourdecisions and your actions. If you are attentive, you can learn

muchfrom everyone. including small children.

Copyright: Adapted from Start Now! ABook of Soul and Spiritual Exercises by Rudolph Steiner