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A Soul Care Meditation: Your One Word, A Sensory Sanctuary, A Spring Blessing - Autism Acceptance Edition (Part One)
- Andrea Angie (GA)
- 6 days ago
- 5 min read
Updated: a few seconds ago
Today, we contemplate one word to ground us into a sensory sanctuary. A word that helps you measure what matters to you, filter decisions, calm emotions + face each day with resolve.
Your Word - A Sensory Sanctuary
Devoted is the word I have embraced for 2025. This annual contemplative practice of selecting a single word can become a sanctuary—a sacred space where meaning blooms + truth takes root. Like an attentive gardener who tends carefully to each plant, we nurture this word through our senses, allowing it to flourish in every corner of our being + doing.
When I speak my word—"devoted"—I feel its texture on my tongue, hear its rhythm in my ears, and envision its letters unfurling like tender shoots reaching toward sunlight. The word becomes not just a concept but a living companion on my journey.
You don’t have to wait for January’s to choose your word. Even though we’re already four months into 2025, it’s never too late to welcome a word that will become your sensory sanctuary for the months ahead.
There's a sacred connection between word + embodiment—inviting us into a deeper understanding of language as more than mere communication—it becomes sanctuary, dwelling place, holy ground.
For those of us who experience the world with heightened awareness—this sensory approach to our one word creates a pathway for deeper understanding. Just as a garden engages all five senses, so too can your chosen word.
Creating Your Sensory Sanctuary
Choosing your word is like preparing a garden bed for planting. It requires prayerful intention, gentle patience, and a willingness to listen to the Holy Spirit (Ruach HaChodesh), to your heart, to the quiet stirrings beneath the surface.
One word that you can study deeply.
One word that will catch your ear + heart whenever it appears.
One word that draws you into the depths of creative, holy communion.
One word that leads you closer to the Beloved, Yeshua.
If you’re still seeking your word, consider these seeds to stir your soul:
whole, abide, bloom, courage, grace, dance, be, flourish, delight, emerge, justice, light, nurture, hope, hospitality, generosity, pause, embody, seek, speak, savor, holy, ground, wonder.
Write down any that resonate. Narrow them gently to your top three. Then, ask yourself: Which word will nurture your spirit most intimately this year?
In the garden of your soul, imagine this word as a single seed—small, yet brimming with the promise of transformation. The soil is not always soft; sometimes it is clumped with yesterday’s worries, sometimes parched by seasons of waiting. Yet, with intention, you press that seed into the earth, trusting the mystery of growth.
Like a trellis supporting climbing vines, may your word provide structure while allowing holy encounter with God, self, and others.
Compassion over Conformity
Where many spiritual practices demand conformity to established patterns, your one word creates a personalized sanctuary tailored to your unique sensory landscape. There is no wrong way to engage with your word—it meets you where you are, honors your processing style, and creates focus in a world that often overwhelms.
Tomorrow, we'll explore the etymology of your word—digging deeper into the soil of its origins to discover hidden treasures beneath the surface.
A Blessing - Your One Word
May your word help you sense the Beloved's presence.
May your word empower you to embrace + embody your distinctive way of perceiving.
May your word be a filter through which the chaotic world passes, retaining only what nourishes your soul.
May you pause. Listen for the word that calls you forth.
May it settle into your senses—taste, touch, sound, sight, scent—until it becomes a meeting place you carry within.
Amen + Asé
Reflection for Your Journey
If your word were a plant in your garden, what would it be? A sturdy oak, a fragrant herb, a delicate flower?
What sensory experiences does your word evoke? How does it taste, smell, feel, sound?
For April's National Autism Acceptance Month, affirm: "In this inclusive collective, I am seen, heard, and valued. Autism is not a limitation but a source of empowerment + self-expression. I will celebrate my so-not-typical self."
A Special Free Gift for You
To deepen your journey into sensory awareness + sensing pleasure, I invite you to download my complimentary PDF guide, Savoring Sensuality with Soul.
This pastoral guide explores the importance of presence, surrender, and gratitude in experiencing life's replete pleasures more fully. It offers pastoral care on how to engage your senses and celebrate your neurology.
Download Your Free PDF Here:
As you explore this resource, remember that your unique journey is a celebration of soulful living. May you find daring shalom + sensual pleasure in every moment.
With soul,
Pastor Angie
SOULjourner, go Deeper on my Autism+ page for more resources.
A Gift Set SOULution
Featuring The So Not Typical Soul Care Kit
A so-not-typical gift set to celebrate neurodivergence. Being typical is not the standard. Acceptance is. It's more than a gift set—a soul care sanctum.
As you embark on this journey with The 'So Not Typical' Collection, remember that Neuro ARTvocacy + empathy matters.
You're investing in a somatic practice of soul care to amplify your peace.
INCLUDED IN THE SOUL CARE KIT GIFT SET: Free Gift Wrapping included
1x - 8oz Non-toxic, Luxury Coconut Soy Wax, Candle (pick your essential oil scent)
1x - Pair of socks
3x - Assorted Greeting Cards: My momma is autistic, So not typical, Infinite spectrum of acceptance - 4.25 x 5.5 tent-style cards with luxe, embossed envelopes, nestled in a satin peach drawstring pouch
1x - College-ruled Journal, Bingo-guided back cover, ridiculously soft covers
1x - Faux Feather Pen
1x - Gold Electric Candle Warmer
Or you can BUILD YOUR OWN GIFT SET >>
Until next time,
Gift from your soul.
✧
Deepen Your Soul Care Journey
Beloved SOULjourner, as you continue to nurture your gift-giving practice, discover sustainable gifts designed to embody intentional gift-giving + connection.
Soulful gifting for social change in the soul care boutique. Be inspired to amplify your ARTvocacy through peace + play vibes.
Disclaimer: This blog post is for informational purposes only as I share my pastoral care, my journey, and bring to you valuable research. It is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. If you are experiencing any medical concerns or symptoms, please seek the guidance of a qualified healthcare professional.
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