When you sit with the definition of the beauty or think about what it means to walk in beauty, what comes up for you?

I’ve learned that walking in beauty is creating an intimate relationship with the goodness of all creation. I feel deep gratitude and respect for the Native American people who inspired my deeper curiosity about living in a beauty way.

There are nine elements that contribute to the beauty way: awareness, prayer, stewardship for the Earth, creative expression, sacred living, self-love, community, personal responsibility, and gratitude.

In this fast-paced world, we can easily get lost in a sea of responsibilities and become blind to the great and crushing beauty all around us. We become out of balance with the natural rhythms of life when we try to push, control or go against the flow. Many women experience lives of quiet desperation because they believe they are trapped in the roles they play and that these roles define their true feminine nature. They do not.

I walk in beauty by standing in my authentic power and expressing my voice through my teachings, writing, mentoring, podcasting. My personal practice began after my daughter was born and was amplified during an intense Yoga teacher training experience. Practicing Yoga, Joy Spotting® and reading Shambhala Sun (cover to cover). Since then, I’ve been deepening my spiritual practice by circling up with wise women, exploring Shamanic teachings and practicing loving kindness.

Today I will walk you through each of the nine sacred ways you can walk in beauty. Each element comes with several questions for your consideration.

Awareness

Walking in beauty begins with awareness. Practice being mindful of your words, actions, personal energy and the energy of your surroundings. Are you paying attention? Are you noticing sweet miracles like a cat purring, wind chimes tinkling or baby birds poking their head’s out of a nest? Do you change course when you pick up negative vibes? Practicing awareness will help you raise your level of consciousness.

Prayer

To walk in beauty means to communicate with, and give thanks to the great creator, universe, angels, guides, God or Goddess (whatever works for you). I mix things up in my spiritual practice. I love listening to Deva Premal to lift my spirits. Sometimes I recite devotional mantras using my Mala beads. I enjoy reading The Tao de Ching and Bhagavad Gita. Occasionally I still pray the Hail Mary or Lord’s prayer which was part of my Catholic upbringing. You may prefer praying at church or with a rosary. You might enjoy reading the Bible, Torah or Quran.

Stewardship of the Earth

Walking in beauty means caring for mother Earth. Chances are if you are reading this article, you are blessed with clean air to breathe and the availability of clean water to drink and bathe in. We can all make an impact by conserving water, recycling, picking up trash or planting trees and flowers. What will you leave behind for your children and the next seven generations? How are you doing your part to care for this great planet?

Creative Expression

To walk to beauty means to express your creative spirit through dance, music, art, and play time. I love fueling my creativity by getting lost in something wonderful like painting, gardening or listening to music. If you tell yourself you are not creative, this simply is not true. You come from divine creation. So how would it be possible that you could be anything other than the embodiment of a creator? Honor your inner child with some form of creative expression every day.

Sacred Living

Walking in beauty is opening yourself to the exploration of your spiritual and soulful side. If you’ve never given much thought about sacred living, this is your wake-up call. You can experience sacred living by beginning each day with gratitude. You can visit ‘otherly’ places to feed your soul. Where is your hallowed ground? I practice sacred living by honoring the natural rhythms of my body. How about you? Do you rest when your tired or push on? I surround myself with beauty and enjoy creating altars in my home and garden. With practice, your entire life can become a sacred feminine dance.

Self-love

To walk in beauty means practicing compassionate self-care and self-love. Have you learned to tame your inner critic and clean up your negative self talk? Do you carve our time to rest, relax and play after giving so much of yourself to others? Are you practicing being kind to your beautiful body, no matter what physical form you’re in? I often begin the day asking myself, “How will you love yourself up today?”

Community

Walking in beauty means fostering healthy friendships and circling up with your neighbors, friends, and peers in a community. Our technological umbilical cords have contributed to the growth of an enormous and valuable virtual community. What’s lacking, is face-to-face gatherings of friends and companions sharing smiles, laughs and hugs. Are you circling up with your loved ones on a regular basis? Do you know your neighbors? How are you contributing to your community?

Responsibility

To walk in beauty means to take responsibility for your life. Every. Single. Choice. Responsibility also means separating what you are responsible for from what you are not. Are you caught up in a co-dependent relationship? If you feel responsible for another person’s actions, you are. Are you stepping up and being accountable for your life or are you hiding behind excuses? I invite you to journal about what you are responsible for.

Gratitude

To walk in beauty means living with infinite gratitude for the blessings in your life—from the tiniest pleasure to the gifts we take for granted. Give thanks for all of it. Do you have a gratitude practice? How might your life change if you practiced giving thanks every morning and again before bed each night? I love writing in my gratitude journal and often open it on the days I’m feeling blue to remember how much I have to be thankful for.

How do you define walking in beauty? Is there something more you want to add to this list?