4 Spiritual Ways to Celebrate Shabbat Outdoors

Reconnect with nature. Reconnect with yourself. Reimagine Shabbat.

There is no one right way to celebrate Shabbat. A nicely set table, heirloom candle holders, homemade challah—they're all beautiful additions to a Shabbat celebration, but they're not requirements. At its core, Shabbat is an invitation to pause, to notice, to rest. And what better place to do that in the warm summer months than outside?

Whether you’re on a hike, in your backyard, or at your local park, here are four easy and spiritual ways to turn the outdoors into your Shabbat sanctuary.

1. Bless the Sunset
Instead of lighting candles, try blessing the natural light that’s already there. As the sun is going down, head outside. Turn your body toward the setting sun and stand still. Let the last remaining daylight shine over your face, then cover your eyes and speak a prayer. Say the traditional prayer over the candles, or use your own words of gratitude, rest, or hope. Let this small act mark the shift from the business of the week into the sacred time of rest that comes with the weekend.

2. Shabbat Picnic, Anyone?
Pack your favorite foods and find a quiet patch of grass. Before you eat, pause. Say thank you to yourself, to the earth, to whatever inspires you these days. You've made it through the business of the week. You've made it to this moment. A moment of pause. A moment of breath. A moment of quiet, or laughter. This is your Shabbat meal. Make it nourishing in every sense.

3. Hum with the Earth
Tune in to the sounds around you. Listen to the birds chirping, the wind blowing, the leaves rustling. Let nature guide you in composing your own Shabbat niggun, a wordless melody. Hum along. It doesn’t have to be perfect. Just let your spirit sing.

4. Rest Like It’s Holy (Because It Is)
Lie down. Yes, really. On a blanket, under the sky. You’ve done enough this week. Shabbat is your time to rest. Feel your eyes get heavy. Feel your body sink into the ground. Let your mind soften. You made it to the weekend. Now let the rest of it all fall away.

Shabbat can happen wherever you are—even outside. 🌳
Try one of these rituals this week, or make your own. The only rule? Let it feel good, sacred, and yours.

Looking for more Shabbat rituals? Explore our growing library to find something that speaks to you.