5 Ways to Build a Spiritual Connection With Your Partner
It’s all about relationships and connection. Your relationship with the sacred being closest to you is at the center of your spiritual life. Similarly, your partner here on Earth is closest to you and the center of your Earthly life. It makes sense to bridge those centers and expand the rewards of both. How can you build a spiritual connection with your partner? Here are 5 ways to deepen and enrich that bond.
1.Read sacred literature together and have a discussion. Even if you choose one night a week to devote to this, it will be enriching. Choose the Bible (Old or New Testament) or books about it, Koran, Book of Mormon, or current spiritual and religious literature written by living authors. Anything will do, as the richness will come in your discussion with one another. You might begin with a simple format for discussion: What did you agree or resonate with? What hit you as not acceptable? What beliefs or questions might be new for you based on this reading?
2. Pray together. If you like verbal prayers, say them aloud so your partner can hear your prayers. Or write them down and show them to each other and listen to your partner read your prayer. If you prefer choosing an already-written prayer, find a prayer book that you love and read aloud from it. You can read (or sing) words from a hymnal or even find a poem that has sacred meaning to you. Share (discuss) how this experience feels for you.
3. Walk a labyrinth together, or a prayerful silent walk in the woods or meditate in a quiet space together. Reflect and share what the experience was like for you.
4. Attend a spiritual retreat over a weekend together. There is nothing more rewarding than going away for a short time to be focused on an important aspect of life. In addition to going on a weekend vacation-type outing, you can get the expertise of a trained facilitator to guide you in stretching your spiritual life. Doing this with your partner is a wonderful way of sharing new experiences, meeting new people and having some sacred fun as well. To search for a retreat that is suitable, consider searching the web for “spiritual retreats near me,” or ask a trusted friend or religious person if you have that connection. If you have more time to devote to this kind of activity, consider a retreat that is a destination you have always wanted to visit.
5. Attend weekly services together. The gift of attending a weekly service is that there is a constant presence of a worshipful experience near your home and with other people who may eventually become a trusted group of fellow worshipers. You and your partner can explore all the aspects of weekly worship together in an ongoing way.
You and your partner might consider choosing one or more of the suggestions above in a couple of ways. Choose your top three and see where there is agreement on at least one. Choosing the right type of spiritual practice along with the suggestions above will help deepen your connection. Consider setting enough time to really have some substantial results. For example, try going to worship services every week for two months. Try daily prayer for a month. You get to choose the time that seems good for you as a couple. Of course, not everything will be the very best thing for both of you, and a combination of activities has a greater chance for success than choosing just one thing. Yet, even just trying out some of these suggestions can give you a greater sense of unity in searching for and continuing growth with your loved one and your connection with the Divine.