There are people in whom the ineffable mysteriousness of life feels palpable. They are like thin places — very little seems to separate the sacred from the ordinary. It’s right. there.

Of course thin people are just as likely to be chubby as lean.

What makes them glow is not body type but a vibrating, adventurous calm combined with something deeply safe. And, oh, do we respond. Eric Weiner’s description of thin places applies equally to luminous, liminal people:  “they transform us — or, more accurately, unmask us… we become our more essential selves.”

Remember my discovery that thin places require tending? I’m finding that radiant people are tended in much the same way. By themselves.

We all can follow their lead by adapting the thin place tending tools directly to our selves:

Cleanse and sweep: The shiny ones regularly bless themselves with sweet grass, holy water, a particular after shave, or a heavenly scent. They smell good. And they stroke their hair or massage their skin (or get others to do it for them!) more often than is strictly necessary.

Recite mantras, prayers, or slogans over yourself:  Savor sacred words. Add new ones often as well as revisiting your favorites.

Align: Good posture turns out to be as important as our mamas said — and not just for physical well-being but for chakras, moods, and the like. Thin people also make sure their environments, jobs, and relationships “line up”with what really matters to them.

Adorn yourself with the sacred: Wear special objects that carry a story, meaning or hallowed purpose. Let your clothing match your inner self.

Gather your people periodically: Something happens when we encounter one another in an open authentic way. Our essence blossoms.

Be glad-hearted and brave: The shiny are glad to be alive; to be here in this particular body, mind, and spirit. They are spiritually courageous — because where they are is what they signed up for.  Such an attitude seems to be part of why they are kind.

Know you are doing what you are doing but don’t obsess on it: Be intentional… and then you’ll get so absorbed that you’ll forget about yourself. This feels very good.

Ritual activity: Especially find actions that consciously combine mind, body, and spirit (though of course everything does when you get right down to it).

Repeat: Over and over, these gentle strokings, cleansing, blessing, aligning, gathering, gladdening, intending — and every ritual activity — consecrate mind, body, and soul. That’s why hallowed people gleam from the inside out. That’s how they shine us up when they see us. Soak it up when you feel this happening. Watch them laugh with joy when you do.