Spiritual gratitude is the deep and expanding love and appreciation we feel when we allow ourselves to soften and to be fully touched by the many, many things, great and small that bless our lives. Spiritual gratitude flows from experiencing a complete connection with the grace and joy of life.
Usually we feel only brief glimpses of true spiritual gratitude because we are so distracted. But on this day of Thanksgiving, we can invite ourselves to sink into the deepest well of gratitude and feel, from our souls, how profoundly we love and appreciate so many things in our world.
And what if we are going through a challenging time and feel more stress, fear, worry, regret, anger or sadness than any gratitude, joy or grace? That is actually the time when spiritual gratitude can act as a power for change. Gratitude is a magnet for positive energy, so even in the midst of our roughest days, if we can feel deep gratitude for anything; a friend, having a good car, the feel of comfortable sheets, the wind, the sun, a shower, music, a piece of chocolate, any deep gratitude can act as a catalyst for healing, renewal and rebirth.
For me the Mourning Dove (pictured above) is a wonderful symbol for spiritual gratitude. I have always loved their beauty, grace, simplicity and sweetness (they must be in my Spiritual Family!). They represent the spiritual energy of peace, of happy contentment, of the care and love of a good family and a good partner, of the joy of summer and easy abundance (Mourning Doves never move too fast or work too hard at anything other than taking care of their young), and also of optimism. They are, I think, a particularly good totem for this time of year.
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