Okay, so when did the concept of a RITUAL become so hype!?
Before we jump into our approach, let’s take a step way back – because paying tribute to those who set the groundwork for us matters. Historically, humanity has been creating and performing rituals for as far back as we’ve been able to observe. Every single culture, society, religion, family, and person encompasses their own rituals! A ritual in its most simplified form is a sequence of acts that are performed in a specific way, with the intent of bringing out a distinct and desired outcome. This is exactly why rituals can be SO powerful. When there is an intention involved, everything within our being is energetically drawn to creating that outcome.
If you ask some of the healthiest and happiest people on earth today, you’ll come to find that they all have their rituals. The effects of a well-defined and intentioned ritual can spread throughout all areas of our lives. For instance, the ritual of meditation has been used by many great names within all areas of leaders, past and present; Steve Jobs, Ariana Huffington, Kobe Bryant, and Tim Ferris to name a few.
Rituals are not spiritual unless you make them spiritual. They are not religious unless you make them religious. They are not yours unless you make them yours. What we’re getting at here, is that you have the power to define, and redefine indefinitely, what YOUR rituals are. At the end of the day, we are a reflection of the habits we cultivate and keep. These habits, or rituals, help us live our best life through daily or consistent reminders that we are worth the intentions we have set for ourselves. So here are some helpful tips that can help you redefine the rituals in your life, or inspire you to cultivate new ones!
P.S we’ve compiled a list of some of our, and our social circles’ favorite rituals. Scroll to the bottom if that’s what you need!
Discover what works.
Discovering what rituals work for you can be as simple as taking practices that you enjoy, and finding space for them in your days, weeks, or wherever you feel they truly fit. If you can carve out some time to make those practices feel more intentional, it will only enhance the pleasure and benefit they are already bringing you.
On the other hand, if nothing comes to mind, and you feel like the things you’re doing now don’t feel good, then now’s your time to explore what does. Think about how you want to feel (calm, energetic, focused, loving, etc.), and then think about what you may be able to do to get there. This is also a great opportunity to open up this conversation with your partner, besties, or family members. Not only might they have rituals they can share with you, but they may also be able to support you in creating your own. Plus, the encouraging nature of doing this with someone, often helps hold you accountable on those harder days (we all have them!).
Discovering the things that truly work for you helps them to stick. It should feel good, and it doesn’t have to be more complicated than that. Scroll to the bottom of this blog for some inspo!
Know your intentions.
Rituals wouldn’t be as impactful as they are without the intentions that stand behind them. Exploring what drives you to incorporate these new practices, will give you more reason to uphold them.
Location has energy, time has memory.
Inspired by the words of Jay Shetty, finding a place to live out your rituals is as important as setting them. It can be helpful to choose a place that’s advantageous to your intentions, as it will allow you to sink a little deeper into your practice.
You may find it beneficial to create a sacred space! You can mark this place with anything that helps connect you with your highest self, such as the use of sacred plants (Sage, Palo Santo), crystals, or anything else that feels aligning.
Just as important as location is, so is time. Whatever time you like to carry out your rituals can vary day-to-day, however, being consistent with the time of day allows you to relate more easily back to previous experiences. Plus, you may also find that as you near the time you most commonly return to, feelings of intention can arise early in efforts to help you get there!
Every day tells a different story.
Having non-negotiable rituals is important, but so is knowing that every day is a new unfolding of yourself and can often look very different than the days before. It can be helpful to remind yourself that your rituals are welcome and encouraged to evolve – just as you are an ever-evolving human being (amazing, right!).
If you’re one of those people that prides themselves on waking up early but lately you’ve been having a hard time just getting out of bed, then take this as a message. Of course, this could be for many reasons of which you’d likely want to explore, but it’s important to recognize when your body is trying to communicate with you. Honour what it needs. We get signs that it’s time to revamp our rituals, we just need to listen. Sleeping in until your body naturally wakes up, snuggling with your partner/furry friend, or reading a book in bed in the morning so your body can rest a little while longer may be just what you need.
Needless to say, when something within you feels resistant, your rituals may be clouded by emotions that often don’t align with your intentions. So be flexible with yourself! The best experiences come from rituals carried out when your mind, body, and soul are all aligned.
Be patient with yourself.
Whether creating intentioned rituals is a new practice for you, or whether you’ve been returning to them for years – be patient with yourself. Explore and experiment what fuels your practice and feeds your soul. Above all – enjoy the process, just as much as the outcome!
Some Ideas for Rituals
- Crafting up your daily elixirs with nourishing ingredients, or simply preparing your morning coffee
- Cooking a romantic dinner with your partner every Thursday night
- Taking your sweet time with your morning and evening skincare regimes
- Making your bed with freshly washed sheets, and looking forward to your evening slumber
- Going for a brisk early morning walk in nature to start your day
- Sipping on your evening tea + eating a square or two of dark chocolate
- Throwing on classical music and melodically watering all your plants
- Pulling a tarot card when you’re feeling indecisive
- Opening a bottle of nice red wine, and getting cozy on the couch with a good book
- Mindfully shopping for your weekly produce at a local market
- Waking up early once a week to catch the sunrise
- New moon and full moon journaling and meditations
- Cleaning your kitchen before cooking a nice meal
- Going for a swim at the beach during golden hour
- Sipping on an energizing drink and then working out
- Applying warm oil to the entire body, from the scalp to the soles of your feet (Abhyanga, an ancient Ayurvedic practice)
- Methodically preparing your yoga space the evening prior, so you can look forward to waking up to use it
- Enjoying a homemade waffle breakfast with your family every Saturday morning
- Calling someone you love once a week to check-in
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