For many readers, books are a sacred object and reading is a meaningful activity that takes readers to a higher connection with the Divine, which you can interpret as any religion or no religion at all. “The Divine” might very well be agnostic, atheist, or faith-based. What I take “The Divine” in reading practice is a deep connection to literature, poetry, books, and writing.  The fact is, for many people, reading is a spiritual activity. They cultivate a mindful reading practice that is guided by several personal goals and guidelines. They read to live more fully with a better understanding of the big themes that stories embrace, which may include finding connection with others, developing a personal morality, defining values, promoting diverse voices and experiences, and being a responsible human. They read to understand the world more deeply; for some, that includes seeking an autodidactic learning experience of discovering new information, and for others, reading to connect to stories. It’s no fluke that storytelling is among the oldest traditions in humankind. It is through stories that we live through our heroes’ journeys, learning valuable lessons, challenging our beliefs, and offering a way towards positive outcomes. Books offer hope, connection to other readers, and pure entertainment in dark and often difficult circumstances. Books save lives. I’m sure if you’re reading this, you’d agree. For these readers, reading is a lifelong effort of walking the path towards bookish enlightenment, along the way reading to understand the world we live in, the human experience, and the big themes that dominate our lives, which includes love, friendship, acceptance, inclusivity, diversity, war, evil, and morality, to name a few.  How do you establish a reading practice? Try answering these six questions to put you on the path to reading more mindfully and with more intention. And there you have it: six questions to help you develop your personal reading practice. What questions shape your reading practice? What bookish goals do you have? Begin reading with more intention by establishing an ongoing and ever evolving reading practice. This question also applies to fiction: through fiction, we live vicariously through the actions of the hero. What do you hope to learn through storytelling?