My weekly ritual of going to my church weekly, walking the family dog as much as I can. I will be moving however so my rituals will change. Life right now is busy, I work my regular job and some seasonal hours in retail just for the holidays and getting ready to move. In the off season (not sailing season) my friend and I do a lot of walking/hiking so I look forward to finding new places to explore when I move.
I have several rituals. I have to pay attention though. I think there is a fundamental difference between ritual and exercise. Ritual is just holy. Some practice or way of doing something that draws me closer to God, not me. An exercise is when I’m doing something because I think I’m going to get something from it. Holiness. Approval. Recognition. It’s more transactional, while ritual – the real deal – lets me step into liminal space. When I notice where my heart is and recognize it’s less about presence and more about accomplishment, it’s time to change my tune. Ask for grace.
Several years ago,
I began to do this.
It calms me,
grounds me,
and gives me joy that I have a home to clean,
clothes to launder,
dishes to wash,
gardens to tend,
people to feed…
I have been practicing
and continue practicing
so that it is starting to be second nature.
I began the ritual making
when I became overwhelmed with my routines becoming more difficult
and taking longer to accomplish,
due to a long period of mobility issues.
I was becoming frustrated and angry.
Since I have been seeing them as rituals
they are not nearly as tedious as they used to be . . .
and the experience of them
is deeper and richer
for paying attention to them.
I am seeing real progress,
and finding myself more than grateful,
but grateful to tears . . .
Thank you, Sparrow for your thoughts. You have helped me see my life in a better light. I am very Blessed in all aspects of my life and your post was a good reminder.
My daily walk is becoming a ritual, a time of prayer and breathing exercises. I breathe in for myself and breathe out for the world–self love and love for all forms of life on our planet.
My morning routine could be transformed into a ritual.
Sometimes my favorite part of my day is having my morning tea.
I love the flavor and the warmth of the tea, and it always feels comforting.
I often look at various things on my iPad while I drink my tea
or sometimes I don’t sit down but instead,
drink it as I get ready before leaving to go to the gym.
I am taking the 5 day class Revitalize Your Rituals, given on this website.
I have difficulty with consistency, and almost didn’t take the class for this reason.
Then I thought about how much ritual would add to the richness in my life
so I decided to take the class and just keep it simple.
Since the recent election I’m looking at very little news
so this opens up a space for me to fill.
Answering the question of the day will become part of my morning ritual.
So today is day 2 of the class, so I’m excited to see where this goes.
Blessings to all on this lovely Monday morning.
I don’t easily think in terms of rituals. I have routines and practices. I might bring more mindfulness to something in my daily routine. For me that doesn’t turn it into a ritual.
I prefer to maintain the flexibility I have now of doing things in a different place or a different way and still bringing my awareness to the moment. Reading poetry on several sites and coming here each morning is a practice. If I’m traveling and therefore reading on my phone instead of my laptop, in a hotel instead of on my sofa with my cat and the coffee my husband brought me, I can still maintain that practice.
As part of my morning practice, today I read this and it fits the mindset I’m describing.
“Walk Slowly”
Danna Faulds
It only takes a reminder to breathe,
a moment to be still and just like that,
something in me settles, softens,
makes space for imperfection. The harsh
voice of judgment drops to a whisper
and I remember again that life isn’t a relay race;
that we will all cross the finish line;
that waking up to life is what we were born for.
As many times as I forget, catch myself charging forward
without even knowing where I am going,
that many times I can make the choice
to stop, to breathe, to be and walk
slowly into the mystery.
Yes, I went to the page and did read it differently.
Thank you, Barb.
I will copy this poem.
It’s simple and beautiful
and such a good reminder
of what is important!
♥️♥️♥️
My daily walk to the lake by my house started out as a routine, but gradually naturally transformed itself into a ritual. It started out as simply a way for me to get some exercise before work and pick up a few items at the store nearby. But then I started adding to that – i made it a point to start saying hello to everyone I passed on my route, I started looking for anything interesting I could capture in a photo, and most recently, I started sitting by the lake just observing my surroundings. I reflect further on the word for the day, and read through the daily question responses a second time. Before I leave, I write a short poem – a haiku. Sometimes it’s related to what I observe at the lake, but more recently, they’ve been based on the wisdom I gained from this site on that particular day.
I should really be more present and ritualize the making and drinking of my morning coffee.
Seriously, it’s something that brings me so much pleasure and satisfaction.
Checking in here already feels like a ritual. Something I do with intention and focus (most of the time).
This sounds irreverent but when I clean my stove top perc pot each day to ready it for making coffee the next morning, I always have the visual of the Priest wiping out the chalices after communion at Mass. I attended Catholic school from 2nd thru 7th grade. Mass was daily and instruction began after Mass.
Washing dishes is something that I sometimes do in a negative, scattered mental state. I think this is partially because I often do this task later in the day when I am more tired. I like the idea of transforming this task into a ritual. I love the word “cherish” from yesterday’s question. I could transform dishes into a ritual by closing my eyes and saying my mantram in my mind a few times before I start. And then cherishing each dish as I touch it, cherishing the warm water and soap and dishwasher that I have access to, cherish the ritual of transforming dirty back into clean.
I look over my own shoulder
down my arms
to where they disappear under water
into hands inside pink rubber gloves
moiling among dinner dishes.
My hands lift a wine glass,
holding it by the stem and under the bowl.
It breaks the surface
like a chalice
rising from a medieval lake.
Full of the grey wine
of domesticity, the glass floats
to the level of my eyes.
Behind it, through the window
above the sink, the sun, among
a ceremony of sparrows and bare branches,
is setting in Western America.
I can see thousands of droplets
of steam—each a tiny spectrum—rising
from my goblet of grey wine.
They sway, changing directions
constantly—like a school of playful fish,
or like the sheer curtain
on the window to another world.
I am grateful for the anchors I have been led to by God in my life. I recently fell into a period of much brain dysregulation. I will do my best to observe and accept it. Lord, help me to let go of the dysregulation and move toward those things that bring me joy today. Thank you for this moment of beautiful life. Thank you for my imperfections. Help me to love and forgive all who are in my life. Each person, including myself, a gift. Lord, may I be here now, may I learn to know that I am loved by You and by those in my life. May my heart be open to connections and forgiveness. Amen
Sarah, I am very fond of the word “Lord.” Several years ago, I looked it up in an on line etymology dictionary and traced its origins. The Lord was the bread keeper, the one who feeds us. I love that image of the word “Lord.”
At the end of the day, putting my work things away, stretching, warming some tea … an end-of-workday ritual sounds like a nice transition into evening.
My morning routine IS my ritual 🙂
Wake up. Chat and laugh with my husband if he’s awake. Put on coffee if I didn’t set the machine the night before. Love on and feed the dogs. Let them outside, and then it’s me time… I use Insight Timer for my morning meditation, write in my journal, visit this site for the daily question and insight thru your postings, and then I read the daily meditation from Fr Richard Rohr (thanks again, Carol!).
Thank you all for what you contribute here. I appreciate this little community!
I view my daily routines as my daily rituals….all performed with love for myself and love of others. My morning cup of hot tea, feeding my cats (If my husband has not already done so…which is 99 percent of the time!). Sitting in my warm living room to read a few prayers and inspirations, coming to this amazing site with an abundance of good and kind people, saying the rosary during the day (not mundane)…and the evening of preparing for dinner and then at the end of the day enjoying time of gratefulness for my husband , home and animals. Really the whole day is full of rituals, prayers, gratefulness and love. Wishing you all a wondrous day! Bless One and All.
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My weekly ritual of going to my church weekly, walking the family dog as much as I can. I will be moving however so my rituals will change. Life right now is busy, I work my regular job and some seasonal hours in retail just for the holidays and getting ready to move. In the off season (not sailing season) my friend and I do a lot of walking/hiking so I look forward to finding new places to explore when I move.
I have several rituals. I have to pay attention though. I think there is a fundamental difference between ritual and exercise. Ritual is just holy. Some practice or way of doing something that draws me closer to God, not me. An exercise is when I’m doing something because I think I’m going to get something from it. Holiness. Approval. Recognition. It’s more transactional, while ritual – the real deal – lets me step into liminal space. When I notice where my heart is and recognize it’s less about presence and more about accomplishment, it’s time to change my tune. Ask for grace.
Several years ago,
I began to do this.
It calms me,
grounds me,
and gives me joy that I have a home to clean,
clothes to launder,
dishes to wash,
gardens to tend,
people to feed…
I have been practicing
and continue practicing
so that it is starting to be second nature.
I began the ritual making
when I became overwhelmed with my routines becoming more difficult
and taking longer to accomplish,
due to a long period of mobility issues.
I was becoming frustrated and angry.
Since I have been seeing them as rituals
they are not nearly as tedious as they used to be . . .
and the experience of them
is deeper and richer
for paying attention to them.
I am seeing real progress,
and finding myself more than grateful,
but grateful to tears . . .
I never expected this bounty.
It is so amazing, what changing the focus will do in a person’s life.
It is life changing as you are attesting to!
How powerful your mind is, Sparrow. You changed your mind and you changed your life. Thank you.
Thank you, Sparrow for your thoughts. You have helped me see my life in a better light. I am very Blessed in all aspects of my life and your post was a good reminder.
Thank you dear Sparrow, your words are a source of inspiration and encouragement. May I have the same tenderness for my life.
Thank you for expressing the aging process in such a fine light, dear Sparrow.
Thank you, Sparrow
I am so inspired by this sharing of yours, Sparrow!
My daily walk is becoming a ritual, a time of prayer and breathing exercises. I breathe in for myself and breathe out for the world–self love and love for all forms of life on our planet.
My morning routine could be transformed into a ritual.
Sometimes my favorite part of my day is having my morning tea.
I love the flavor and the warmth of the tea, and it always feels comforting.
I often look at various things on my iPad while I drink my tea
or sometimes I don’t sit down but instead,
drink it as I get ready before leaving to go to the gym.
I am taking the 5 day class Revitalize Your Rituals, given on this website.
I have difficulty with consistency, and almost didn’t take the class for this reason.
Then I thought about how much ritual would add to the richness in my life
so I decided to take the class and just keep it simple.
Since the recent election I’m looking at very little news
so this opens up a space for me to fill.
Answering the question of the day will become part of my morning ritual.
So today is day 2 of the class, so I’m excited to see where this goes.
Blessings to all on this lovely Monday morning.
I think you will be grateful you did,
dear Mary…♥
I don’t easily think in terms of rituals. I have routines and practices. I might bring more mindfulness to something in my daily routine. For me that doesn’t turn it into a ritual.
I prefer to maintain the flexibility I have now of doing things in a different place or a different way and still bringing my awareness to the moment. Reading poetry on several sites and coming here each morning is a practice. If I’m traveling and therefore reading on my phone instead of my laptop, in a hotel instead of on my sofa with my cat and the coffee my husband brought me, I can still maintain that practice.
As part of my morning practice, today I read this and it fits the mindset I’m describing.
“Walk Slowly”
Danna Faulds
It only takes a reminder to breathe,
a moment to be still and just like that,
something in me settles, softens,
makes space for imperfection. The harsh
voice of judgment drops to a whisper
and I remember again that life isn’t a relay race;
that we will all cross the finish line;
that waking up to life is what we were born for.
As many times as I forget, catch myself charging forward
without even knowing where I am going,
that many times I can make the choice
to stop, to breathe, to be and walk
slowly into the mystery.
https://www.ayearofbeinghere.com/2015/11/danna-faulds-walk-slowly.html (on the page it has a balanced layout with the lines centered and you’ll read it differently there)
Thanks, Barb. The poem you shared is very helpful to me.
Yes, I went to the page and did read it differently.
Thank you, Barb.
I will copy this poem.
It’s simple and beautiful
and such a good reminder
of what is important!
♥️♥️♥️
My daily walk to the lake by my house started out as a routine, but gradually naturally transformed itself into a ritual. It started out as simply a way for me to get some exercise before work and pick up a few items at the store nearby. But then I started adding to that – i made it a point to start saying hello to everyone I passed on my route, I started looking for anything interesting I could capture in a photo, and most recently, I started sitting by the lake just observing my surroundings. I reflect further on the word for the day, and read through the daily question responses a second time. Before I leave, I write a short poem – a haiku. Sometimes it’s related to what I observe at the lake, but more recently, they’ve been based on the wisdom I gained from this site on that particular day.
I love writing haiku’s – they’re fun.
I love the idea, Lauren, of writing a haiku
based on the daily question!
I may try this.
This sounds so grounding, Lauryn.
Thank you to both you and Carol for inspiring me to read/write more poetry. 🙏
Lauryn, Hope you will share some of your poetry with us if and when you are comfortable to do so.
I should really be more present and ritualize the making and drinking of my morning coffee.
Seriously, it’s something that brings me so much pleasure and satisfaction.
Checking in here already feels like a ritual. Something I do with intention and focus (most of the time).
This sounds irreverent but when I clean my stove top perc pot each day to ready it for making coffee the next morning, I always have the visual of the Priest wiping out the chalices after communion at Mass. I attended Catholic school from 2nd thru 7th grade. Mass was daily and instruction began after Mass.
Washing dishes is something that I sometimes do in a negative, scattered mental state. I think this is partially because I often do this task later in the day when I am more tired. I like the idea of transforming this task into a ritual. I love the word “cherish” from yesterday’s question. I could transform dishes into a ritual by closing my eyes and saying my mantram in my mind a few times before I start. And then cherishing each dish as I touch it, cherishing the warm water and soap and dishwasher that I have access to, cherish the ritual of transforming dirty back into clean.
This made me think of a poem.
“The Zen of Housework”
Al Zolynas
I look over my own shoulder
down my arms
to where they disappear under water
into hands inside pink rubber gloves
moiling among dinner dishes.
My hands lift a wine glass,
holding it by the stem and under the bowl.
It breaks the surface
like a chalice
rising from a medieval lake.
Full of the grey wine
of domesticity, the glass floats
to the level of my eyes.
Behind it, through the window
above the sink, the sun, among
a ceremony of sparrows and bare branches,
is setting in Western America.
I can see thousands of droplets
of steam—each a tiny spectrum—rising
from my goblet of grey wine.
They sway, changing directions
constantly—like a school of playful fish,
or like the sheer curtain
on the window to another world.
Ah, grey sacrament of the mundane!
https://www.ayearofbeinghere.com/2013/02/al-zolynas-zen-of-housework.html
“Ah, grey sacrament of the mundane!” A sentence worth writing down. Thank you, Barb.
That’s a really nice poem– thanks for sharing, Barb C!
🙂
I am grateful for the anchors I have been led to by God in my life. I recently fell into a period of much brain dysregulation. I will do my best to observe and accept it. Lord, help me to let go of the dysregulation and move toward those things that bring me joy today. Thank you for this moment of beautiful life. Thank you for my imperfections. Help me to love and forgive all who are in my life. Each person, including myself, a gift. Lord, may I be here now, may I learn to know that I am loved by You and by those in my life. May my heart be open to connections and forgiveness. Amen
Sarah, I am very fond of the word “Lord.” Several years ago, I looked it up in an on line etymology dictionary and traced its origins. The Lord was the bread keeper, the one who feeds us. I love that image of the word “Lord.”
Beautiful! I thank you!!
At the end of the day, putting my work things away, stretching, warming some tea … an end-of-workday ritual sounds like a nice transition into evening.
My morning routine IS my ritual 🙂
Wake up. Chat and laugh with my husband if he’s awake. Put on coffee if I didn’t set the machine the night before. Love on and feed the dogs. Let them outside, and then it’s me time… I use Insight Timer for my morning meditation, write in my journal, visit this site for the daily question and insight thru your postings, and then I read the daily meditation from Fr Richard Rohr (thanks again, Carol!).
Thank you all for what you contribute here. I appreciate this little community!
Thank you prayers and silence – listening for God’s voice.
Meditation and life
I view my daily routines as my daily rituals….all performed with love for myself and love of others. My morning cup of hot tea, feeding my cats (If my husband has not already done so…which is 99 percent of the time!). Sitting in my warm living room to read a few prayers and inspirations, coming to this amazing site with an abundance of good and kind people, saying the rosary during the day (not mundane)…and the evening of preparing for dinner and then at the end of the day enjoying time of gratefulness for my husband , home and animals. Really the whole day is full of rituals, prayers, gratefulness and love. Wishing you all a wondrous day! Bless One and All.
Thank you, Nannette. Remember you are one of the “good and kind people”.
My daily experience,too, Nanette. I can add nothing more.