I recently heard someone say that they were filling their calendar with spiritual practice. Wow. What would it be like if I did that? Instead of work and tasks and hamster-on-a-wheel running around, fill my calendar with deeper meaning?
I don’t have to go full-on monastery. Even one spiritual practice a day would be helpful. Morning prayers and gratitude are a good way to start. I’ve kind of let that slip in the last months. I already do things that connect me with my spiritual presence (yin yoga), and Nature (silent walking or skiing). What I think I’m missing is more regular ritual.
One of my go-to books for ideas on creating ritual is The Woman’s Retreat Book: A Guide to restoring, Rediscovering, and Reawakening Your True Self—In a Moment, an Hour, or a Weekend by Jennifer Louden (Harper, 2004). As the title says, rituals don’t have to be elaborate or time-consuming. What they need to be is mindful and intentional.
Every ritual needs to start with some kind of recognition of all that brought us to this moment. Here is a great article from the Lion’s Roar on making offerings to our ancestors:
As I write this, I realize that it’s been a long time since I gave myself the energy renewal of a mindful retreat of 3-5 days. I’m going to start thinking about that. It’s time to reset my priorities. This all seems appropriate now that we have passed the Solstice and are starting a new season.
Here’s to light and hope and renewal : )
Happy Solstice! Gratitude and appreciation. May there be light and hope and renewal in 2022. 🙂
xoxoxoxoxoxoxox