Inspired by Mary Mantei’s response, I’ll start writing handwritten notes – one a day or one a week to individuals that I’ve been meaning to write for a while now. I was just overwhelmed by doing it all at once. Thanks, Mary…
Meditation also in the eveinings, opening up to stillness as a “first things first”, and to start playing music (handpan) again, not as a ritual but regularly just for the joy of playing and singing. This morning I came to meet my biggest fear and could perceive the projection which nourished it all my life so far. It might take a short while to really let go, but there is a chance for the better now. I am deeply grateful. Guess there will be at least more freedom to open up to both meditation and music now, for which there was a strong longing but could stay with it only for a while and was easily distracted by unsolved emotional states since a while now. Thank you, life. Thank you all, dear friends and loved ones, and all beyond. May blessings be with all of you.
There is nothing new that I want to add to my “rituals”…I pray each morning and that takes a bit of time. I am working to come back here to Grateful Living where I use to come every day…so perhaps that is what I am going to be sure to add. It feels like “family” here…all the familiar folks that continue to come here and support one another. Thank you for still being here!!
No, there is not a new ritual I have been wanting to bring into my life. I already have a “practice” with my rituals. It’s pretty full!! Some days I am better at making enough time for my practice, some days not so much. 😕
At the start of 2026 I added reading the Bible a day for 365 days thru Asension Press. I am still struggling with the right time of day for this new practice. For some reason it has been hard for me to do this at a set time each day.
I am curious to read others responses.
🕊️🩷
Don’t stop starting again, PKR. « Some days I am better at making time for my practice, some days not so much. » That sounds like real life happening!🩷
My husband and I are doing this. It has taken me until now (March) to get on track. I have maintained staying 5 days behind him since the beginning – getting caught up and then falling behind because of one thing or another. We are using a different program from yours, but it’s easy enough if I just stay committed and motivated. I just have to give myself some grace when I fall behind.
No. I have morning practices, not rituals. I read poetry and come to this space. When I tried adding in writing morning pages, a recommendation in The Artist’s Way, I found those interfered with my established routine. I have the book The Daily Artist’s Way and I’m continuing to read my way through it, but not necessarily journal with the writing prompts. Maybe someday when I’m retired and don’t have time pressure nibbling at my heels in the morning.
In my improv troupe we’ve done a skit called “Ritual”. We take an everyday action like folding laundry or brushing teeth. The objective is to turn that into a ritual. Typically we slow down the movements, whatever they are, then add chanting or hand movements or dance–layer upon layer of extra things to turn the ordinary into something special, each of us adding whatever says “ritual” to us. It prompts laughter every time. Maybe today you can find laughter in approaching an everyday activity and “ritualizing” it as a game.
Your idea to turn something ordinary into something special sounds like fun, Barb. Thanks for the idea. We have tickets to see our local improv group this Sat. Eve. They are a blast!
I spontaneously do this on my own sometimes,
and it always makes the task go more happily,
dear Barb.
I don’t know what got me started,
and I’d never heard of it done before,
but I like it,
along with the occasional responses I get
from one cat or the other.
Sophie
is particularly moved by dance,
as she has gone quite deaf,
but Phoebe is partial to the singing. 🙂
A new ritual would be actually listening to my intuition my instincts which is completely the universe mind and trusting the universe! Now that I have been doing this lately, it has been remarkable and I’m so grateful! Trusting and becoming the universe has been the most joyous path I could possibly ever imagine.
Singing wholeheartedly with others is amazing and so connecting. So many individual voices as one.
Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young just came to mind. Gorgeous harmonizing. The Beach Boys too.
It’s not new, but I would like to be more regular with my meditation practice. Also, I would like to get back to calling friends, out of the blue. During the pandemic, I was in the habit of doing this. It led to so many deep discussions and reinforced connections.
As things got back to “normal”, my life got super busy, and I let this practice slip away. I miss it.
I don’t have one that I want to incorporate into my life right now. I am kind of spurt and go with the ones I do have in place. So I want to be more faithful to them.
I’ve been reading the bible App everyday on my phone over the last few months as my faith continues to grow. Now, it’s a matter of just staying the course as usual.
I began to shape a new ritual last week. I want to write someone a personal, handwritten note each week and I want a broad spectrum of people to write. Last week I began making a list. I want to choose a particular card, or paper, or postcard for each person. So I have begun the process of establishing this ritual. Writing personal notes is not new to me, however, I want to do more of it., weekly. I am inspired by the book, « Theo of Golden » by Allen Levi. Write on!🩷
I have a list of people I want to write notes to, but it has seemed overwhelming to sit down and do it. Maybe if I add it as a ritual – one a day, I could actually accomplish it. Thanks.
My mom kept an address book I can still picture in my mind’s eye: tall and skinny, with a sort of golden yellow plush cover. As friends moved she would update their addresses. It became almost a journal of changes in people’s lives.
I have no such book! I have my contact lists in Google and Outlook. Those are almost entirely people I’ve met through professional or volunteer activities. I have a name and an email address, maybe a cell phone number. I only have street addresses for family and a few friends whose homes I’ve stayed at.
A while back I thought I’d start pinging true personal friends I’m connected with through Facebook and asking for their home addresses as a way of staying in touch outside of social media, but I didn’t keep up with it and work my way through the whole list. You’re inspiring me to get back to that.
Yes, Barb, our mothers’ address books are artifacts of the past. I still have mine of many decades old. It rarely gets looked at, and when I do, it is a trip down memory lane. Who knows, maybe I’ll find a name from times gone by and drop them a note!🩷
As I understand myself as a kind of hunting practice. Try for a while and then quit. My upcoming challenge is to keep practicing what I’m already doing: first, visiting this site and answering the daily reflection question, and most importantly, keeping up with my daily gospel reflection. Happy Wednesday, everyone! 💐
My practice is my ritual. I don’t think there’s any new one I’ve been longing for.
I have, however, added to my weekly routine. Before my responsibilities and schedule changed at the studio, I had been going to 3 cardio-strength classes a week. It dwindled to one, and although I started teaching more classes, I noticed I just wasn’t feeling as strong. So I added in a class on Tuesday, going in early before my gentle yoga class to take it. I love it and already feel better. And since it wasn’t one I was taking before, I have met some new people which I also appreciate.
And I think you’ll appreciate this – my husband and I went to our first NBA game last night, watching the Hornets beat the Mavericks. It was so much fun, despite one of the main players my husband wanted to see having to sit out because of an injury.
Sunnypatti, last checked, the Hornets are 31-31. They just traded for Coby White from the Bulls. He’s quite a good player. Hornets have continued to improve at a rapid rate in the new year.
They have a good team and have been playing hard to show that. We’re hoping to get to another game before the season is over.
0
J
Jill M
3 weeks ago
This is a new ritual for me, but listening to solfeggio frequencies and music with relaxing and meditative Hz in the mornings has really been grounding and centering me.
I love rituals – from my morning cup of coffee to seasonal decorating they bring comfort and routine. I enjoy learning other cultures too and their rituals. I can’t think of a new ritual to add at the moment but I will look forward to reading everyone’s reflections on this.
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Inspired by Mary Mantei’s response, I’ll start writing handwritten notes – one a day or one a week to individuals that I’ve been meaning to write for a while now. I was just overwhelmed by doing it all at once. Thanks, Mary…
You are so welcome, Katrina. You will add surprise and joy to others’ days, therefore the world. Have fun.🩷
Meditation also in the eveinings, opening up to stillness as a “first things first”, and to start playing music (handpan) again, not as a ritual but regularly just for the joy of playing and singing. This morning I came to meet my biggest fear and could perceive the projection which nourished it all my life so far. It might take a short while to really let go, but there is a chance for the better now. I am deeply grateful. Guess there will be at least more freedom to open up to both meditation and music now, for which there was a strong longing but could stay with it only for a while and was easily distracted by unsolved emotional states since a while now. Thank you, life. Thank you all, dear friends and loved ones, and all beyond. May blessings be with all of you.
There is nothing new that I want to add to my “rituals”…I pray each morning and that takes a bit of time. I am working to come back here to Grateful Living where I use to come every day…so perhaps that is what I am going to be sure to add. It feels like “family” here…all the familiar folks that continue to come here and support one another. Thank you for still being here!!
Nice to see you back Nannette.😊
Bless you….🙏🏻
Good to see your name again. Thank you.
Thank you for coming back Nannette.
Yes, thank you for coming back🌻
Thank you,
dear Nanette,
for coming back . . . 🙂
❤️🌞
We’ve missed you! I hope your health is good and your travels enjoyable.
Welcome back, Nannette! It is a while ago that we met here. Happy to see you back!
No, there is not a new ritual I have been wanting to bring into my life. I already have a “practice” with my rituals. It’s pretty full!! Some days I am better at making enough time for my practice, some days not so much. 😕
At the start of 2026 I added reading the Bible a day for 365 days thru Asension Press. I am still struggling with the right time of day for this new practice. For some reason it has been hard for me to do this at a set time each day.
I am curious to read others responses.
🕊️🩷
Don’t stop starting again, PKR. « Some days I am better at making time for my practice, some days not so much. » That sounds like real life happening!🩷
My husband and I are doing this. It has taken me until now (March) to get on track. I have maintained staying 5 days behind him since the beginning – getting caught up and then falling behind because of one thing or another. We are using a different program from yours, but it’s easy enough if I just stay committed and motivated. I just have to give myself some grace when I fall behind.
No. I have morning practices, not rituals. I read poetry and come to this space. When I tried adding in writing morning pages, a recommendation in The Artist’s Way, I found those interfered with my established routine. I have the book The Daily Artist’s Way and I’m continuing to read my way through it, but not necessarily journal with the writing prompts. Maybe someday when I’m retired and don’t have time pressure nibbling at my heels in the morning.
In my improv troupe we’ve done a skit called “Ritual”. We take an everyday action like folding laundry or brushing teeth. The objective is to turn that into a ritual. Typically we slow down the movements, whatever they are, then add chanting or hand movements or dance–layer upon layer of extra things to turn the ordinary into something special, each of us adding whatever says “ritual” to us. It prompts laughter every time. Maybe today you can find laughter in approaching an everyday activity and “ritualizing” it as a game.
Your idea to turn something ordinary into something special sounds like fun, Barb. Thanks for the idea. We have tickets to see our local improv group this Sat. Eve. They are a blast!
I spontaneously do this on my own sometimes,
and it always makes the task go more happily,
dear Barb.
I don’t know what got me started,
and I’d never heard of it done before,
but I like it,
along with the occasional responses I get
from one cat or the other.
Sophie
is particularly moved by dance,
as she has gone quite deaf,
but Phoebe is partial to the singing. 🙂
Love this, Sparrow! Wish I could be with you in person to ritualize with your lovely kitty audience!
I think I’ll try this with my kitties! 😺😺😺😺
A new ritual would be actually listening to my intuition my instincts which is completely the universe mind and trusting the universe! Now that I have been doing this lately, it has been remarkable and I’m so grateful! Trusting and becoming the universe has been the most joyous path I could possibly ever imagine.
I want to bring singing into my life. There’s a local choir practice that I can sign up for.
Singing wholeheartedly with others is amazing and so connecting. So many individual voices as one.
Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young just came to mind. Gorgeous harmonizing. The Beach Boys too.
Yes! I am excited to learn more about how those harmonies work, they’re so complex and beautiful.
It’s not new, but I would like to be more regular with my meditation practice. Also, I would like to get back to calling friends, out of the blue. During the pandemic, I was in the habit of doing this. It led to so many deep discussions and reinforced connections.
As things got back to “normal”, my life got super busy, and I let this practice slip away. I miss it.
I don’t have one that I want to incorporate into my life right now. I am kind of spurt and go with the ones I do have in place. So I want to be more faithful to them.
Great answer, Yram. Patience is very often times all we need.
I’ve been reading the bible App everyday on my phone over the last few months as my faith continues to grow. Now, it’s a matter of just staying the course as usual.
I began to shape a new ritual last week. I want to write someone a personal, handwritten note each week and I want a broad spectrum of people to write. Last week I began making a list. I want to choose a particular card, or paper, or postcard for each person. So I have begun the process of establishing this ritual. Writing personal notes is not new to me, however, I want to do more of it., weekly. I am inspired by the book, « Theo of Golden » by Allen Levi. Write on!🩷
Wonderful, Mary! Deepening connections!
Your reflection makes me think of my mom – she loved sending cards and letters. Thank you for those sweet memories.
My Mom too, Michele!
Happy to be part of your sweet memories, Michelle.🩷
I have a list of people I want to write notes to, but it has seemed overwhelming to sit down and do it. Maybe if I add it as a ritual – one a day, I could actually accomplish it. Thanks.
You are welcome, Katrina. You’ll find the pattern that works for you. 🩷
My mom kept an address book I can still picture in my mind’s eye: tall and skinny, with a sort of golden yellow plush cover. As friends moved she would update their addresses. It became almost a journal of changes in people’s lives.
I have no such book! I have my contact lists in Google and Outlook. Those are almost entirely people I’ve met through professional or volunteer activities. I have a name and an email address, maybe a cell phone number. I only have street addresses for family and a few friends whose homes I’ve stayed at.
A while back I thought I’d start pinging true personal friends I’m connected with through Facebook and asking for their home addresses as a way of staying in touch outside of social media, but I didn’t keep up with it and work my way through the whole list. You’re inspiring me to get back to that.
Yes, Barb, our mothers’ address books are artifacts of the past. I still have mine of many decades old. It rarely gets looked at, and when I do, it is a trip down memory lane. Who knows, maybe I’ll find a name from times gone by and drop them a note!🩷
That’s a very sweet ritual, I’m inspired.
As I understand myself as a kind of hunting practice. Try for a while and then quit. My upcoming challenge is to keep practicing what I’m already doing: first, visiting this site and answering the daily reflection question, and most importantly, keeping up with my daily gospel reflection. Happy Wednesday, everyone! 💐
My Ngoc, you’ve been doing well with making sure to come here and your gospal routine over the last week. Keep it up.
My practice is my ritual. I don’t think there’s any new one I’ve been longing for.
I have, however, added to my weekly routine. Before my responsibilities and schedule changed at the studio, I had been going to 3 cardio-strength classes a week. It dwindled to one, and although I started teaching more classes, I noticed I just wasn’t feeling as strong. So I added in a class on Tuesday, going in early before my gentle yoga class to take it. I love it and already feel better. And since it wasn’t one I was taking before, I have met some new people which I also appreciate.
Sunnypatti, I’m with you on not having any new ones to long for. Often times, we just need better committment to the ones we’re already doing.
I am for sure committed!
And I think you’ll appreciate this – my husband and I went to our first NBA game last night, watching the Hornets beat the Mavericks. It was so much fun, despite one of the main players my husband wanted to see having to sit out because of an injury.
Sunnypatti, last checked, the Hornets are 31-31. They just traded for Coby White from the Bulls. He’s quite a good player. Hornets have continued to improve at a rapid rate in the new year.
They have a good team and have been playing hard to show that. We’re hoping to get to another game before the season is over.
This is a new ritual for me, but listening to solfeggio frequencies and music with relaxing and meditative Hz in the mornings has really been grounding and centering me.
I love rituals – from my morning cup of coffee to seasonal decorating they bring comfort and routine. I enjoy learning other cultures too and their rituals. I can’t think of a new ritual to add at the moment but I will look forward to reading everyone’s reflections on this.