MAKING RITUAL
Create a meditation space that will invite you into your daily practice.
We all engage in rituals. Humans have done so for as long as we have existed. Rituals can be conditioned by our culture, religion, or our own independent making. Rituals are actions, behaviors, words, gestures, ceremonies that we do which serve as a function or container for a desired goal. We are acculturated to a ritual of greeting depending on our time and culture, shaking hands, bowing our head, curtsy or high five. We engage in rituals following a death, celebrating a marriage, honoring a rite of passage, or making our morning cup of coffee.
I encourage you to set some rituals to move you towards your goals whatever they may be.
If your goal is weight loss, you may set a ritual of how/when/what you will eat, how/when you will measure your result, how you will set your intention and remain mindful.
If your goal is inner peace, greater connection to the Divine, listening to your inner wisdom, increased self-affirmation and love, set your rituals that will enable success.
Your rituals can be as simple as repeating a mantra or as committed as spending significant time in meditation. Doing whatever it is you choose to do in a meaningful way, creating a habit with intentionality, is a grounding practice that will help you in achieving your desire.
Some Examples:
Mantra — Breath
Choose a word or affirmation that reinforces your identity as a sacred being or one that speaks specifically to your intent. Speak the word/affirmation first thing in the morning. Post it before you in various places where you will see it throughout the day. Allow it to become part of your breath, so it is before and within you always.
Example:
I am love. I am divine. I send love. I love my life. I will… I can…
Candles — Fire element
Light a candle while you are engaged in a practice towards reaching your goal. If you meditate, set an altar with a candle (see Creating Sacred Space). If you journal, light a candle while doing so. Of course, take care when working with fire - don’t leave the candle burning once you finish your practice. Have a ritual in lighting it and in extinguishing it. You may say something like: I light this candle that I may see the way. or I light this candle and know the Christ presence is with me. As you extinguish the light, you may say something like: I carry this Light now within me.
Journal keeping
There are many types of journal writing. Choose the one that speaks to you. Determine what kind of paper, notebook, or electronic format you will use.
Audience: Who are you writing to? Your future self? Your present self? God, or whatever name you use for the Divine?
Purpose: To capture meaningful memories write about the activities of your day. This is sometimes called a diary. To connect with the Holy write about the questions, thoughts, ideas, and reflections about matters pertaining to your soul. You may write a gratitude journal listing that for which you are thankful each day. You may keep a food journal if your goal is health-related.
Does your journal stay in your sacred space or do you carry it with you as you meditate in nature? You may also have a dream journal where you record your subconscious as it speaks to you in your sleep (see Dream Circles).
Morning and Bedtime
The beginning and ending of your conscious day can be a time for rituals. The morning might be a thought of gratitude as you awake or an intention for your day. The evening might be a reflection on your day- where did you experience the sacred? Where did you see the Cosmic Christ?
