Blessing as a Soul Practice

“I wish you’d been able to catch a fish today.”

The expression of sincere regret and empathy came from a young person whom I know only because they are friends with my favourite fishing guide who also happens to be my son. The friend, whom I will refer to as N, had had a relatively successful day, and surprised me with their acknowledgement of my lesser success.

It’s very early in the fishing season here in Manitoba, and fish are both finicky and sluggish. While I would have loved to have caught one, I wasn’t overly disappointed. Yet, N’s words touched a tender place in me.

I felt seen, noticed, valued.

As I am wont to do, I have been mulling over that experience since. I realized N’s comment was a kind of blessing, a wish for my wellbeing and happiness. It was a kindness offered from their heart to mine.

What a contrast to the flavour of much that passes for communication in these times. Outrage, anger and insult carry the day far more frequently than blessing.

The NHL hockey team that plays in my city is having an exceptionally successful year. There have been so many wins, so many franchise records broken, so many notable achievements. Yet, comments in social media would have one believe this team has fluked its way to the top of the division. Sports commentators point out the weaknesses of their play, the missed opportunities in the recent game, the failures in past playoff seasons.

However, our city is known for its support of their hockey team. Other teams comment on the “feel” in the arena when they visit, the outloud, enthusiastic cheering for our players. One of my favourite players recently commented, “I hear how much they believe in us, and it helps us dig a little deeper, and reach for that next level in our play.”

The cheering fans offer their wholehearted support for the team, the players, and the game. The players feel that support and it helps them connect with stamina, endurance and skill.

While the kind of “blessing” offered by a sports fan is notoriously fickle, it does offer insight into the power of blessing. Feeling ourselves to be recipient of another’s heartfelt wish for our welfare and success reminds us of our own light, helps us remember the best of who we are.

Often when I’m leaving the house for a workout or to accomplish a list of errands I’d rather not do, my husband will say in farewell, “You’ve got this.” It never fails to lift my perspective, even giving me just a little bit more energy to accomplish the task. He isn’t consciously thinking about blessing, per se, and yet its effect in me is one of being blessed.

What I wish for another when I extend a blessing is not the same as what is depicted in social media as #blessed. The underlying message of #blessed often seems to be “I’m an exceptional person because all these good things are happening to me.” The spiritual practice of blessing, as something I offer to another, has nothing to do with whether the circumstances are pleasant or otherwise. A blessing can be a desire that the other experience love and support as they journey through extraordinary difficulties. It’s focus is the heart and soul of the other more than visible trappings of material prosperity.

As I’ve been reading about the power of blessing as a soul practice, I’ve noticed two things. First, even if the words are not spoken aloud, my offering a blessing into a situation or on a person has an energetic effect. Putting love and kindness into the world, even in the form of thoughts of compassion, has power. Stories are told of potentially hostile situations being transformed by one person resolutely offering thoughts of love and generosity in the face of aggression or unkindness.

Secondly, intentionally choosing to offer intentions of blessing as one attends to daily life has an impact on the one engaging in the blessing. Even if the outcome of the situation doesn’t change, the one choosing to offer thoughts of blessing rather than retaliation experiences a softening, an enlightening, a gentling, even in the face of harm.

To put it another way, whether I offer or receive a blessing, it connects me with my inner truth, my own light.

Blessings aren’t just our expressions of care and compassion to the “others” in our lives. Blessings are powerful gifts we can give ourselves. They are reflections of light from our souls back into our own hearts. Blessings offered nourish the giver. Blessing received nourish the recipient. Thus, when we intentionally bless ourselves we are doubly nourished.

Do you have any practices for offering blessings as you go about your life? How does it feel in your body when you consider offering a blessing to yourself?