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HYGGE AND PRAYER

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Prayer is about real encounter with the living God, not about nice ambience and warm fuzzy experience, but we're human and our surroundings can help (or hinder us) with prayer. 

'Hygge' has been very popular the last few years, and there are ways that I feel some of the principles and ways of hygge can help our spiritual lives.

Pronounced 'hoo-ga', the Danish concept is somehow about cosiness, slowing down, enjoying the simple things in life, and enjoying the company of those we love. 

How often do we set aside quality time to enjoy God's company? How many of us have a set meeting place where we look forward to encountering God regularly?

A lot of Christians find it helpful to have a certain prayer corner or a certain chair or spot that they pray in. Over the winter you might like to have fun creating a warm inviting prayer spot in a hygge style. Candles are part of the hygge aesthetic and they also help many Christians focus during their prayer time. Even if you can't find a separate area in which to pray, the act of lighting a candle can be symbolic that you are now having your prayer time.

Prayer times don't have to be cold and formal and God likes us to use our five senses. Many Christians love to make a cup of coffee in their favourite mug as part of their Bible study time. Some Christians like to wear a prayer shawl as they pray. If it's cold, you might like to have a blanket at hand for your 'quiet time'.

Fiddling on our phones and surfing the internet aren't really in keeping with hygge. It's more about enjoying non digital activities. There's nothing stopping you listening to Christian music if you find that helpful but have you thought about having some quality time with God in which you put your digital devices out of reach, and pick up a physical Bible or Christian book or write in a journal? 

You might enjoy creating a 'Hygge prayer tray' on which you place the kinds of things you might use in your prayer time, things such as a Bible, a Christian book, a journal and pen, a notebook, and devotionals or Bible reading plans you use, a candle, matches, rosary or prayer beads or holding cross etc. If you enjoy doing things like knitting or crochet they can go on your tray and be part of your time with God too.

Hygge is also about simplicity and enjoying simple pleasures. Not all our prayer needs to be word based. There are forms of prayer where we just quietly sit in God's presence enjoying God's company, listening to God's still small voice, or entering deeply into wordless adoration.

The hygge concept makes me think of wooden chalets where you can be more connected with yourself and God due to the lack of mobile signal or wifi. When I've gone to convents for retreats or quiet days, the room I've been given or the guest house I've stayed in has often had a similar feel or effect to staying in a wooden chalet. If you would find being 'off the grid' for a few hours or a day or two, perhaps you could look into staying in convent or monastery guest accomodation.

Creating a warm and inviting prayer space or creating a hygge style prayer tray might just give you a bit more motivation to spend quality time with God or help in your prayer life, but of course these things are far from necessary. These are just a few ideas for people who find this kind of aesthetic and ambience helpful. Have fun experimenting!