rituals, intentions & promises - day 30

​Rituals guide us gracefully out of auto pilot mode creating a magical space where something more beautiful can emerge.  - Laurey Simmons


Rituals create order out of chaos.  In the same way that there is beauty within trial -  a pearl out of grit, a ruby out of stone a rose out of thorn -  rituals polish up our appreciation and hone our intentions. 


In her book The Inner Beauty Bible, Laurey Simmons says  Rituals allow us to create a safe and timeless zone where we can fully acknowledge our thoughts and feelings (and) let them breathe.

We know that the power of intention is the fuel that shapes our world.  Dr Wayne Dyer tells us we do not attract what we want, we attract what we are - and if intention drives our desire for compassion, forgiveness, inclusion and loving, it also drives our desire for beauty, success, happiness and abundance and causes us to bless the goodness in  all of nature.  Believing that what we cultivate without, we also cultivate within, so that when we spread rose petals across our bath, use scented soap, light scented candles and lay out our best linen we draw into ourselves the essence of beauty which we have prepared outwardly.

It is said that the best way to focus on maintaining the power of intention is to create a ritual which causes us to bless the goodness in all of nature and these rituals form a part of almost all communities, tribes and religious bodies and are often done either through prayer, dance, art, ceremony or ritual.  

There is no hard and fast rule about rituals (outside of some religious or tribal ceremonial rituals)  -  no right way or wrong way so long as the practice is one which focuses your attention on your exercise.   Rituals such as lighting a candle  before meditation, cleansing our home or work space with sage or Palo Santo, using essential oils to prepare for sleep, slipping into a series of sun salutation poses to prepare for the day or cleansing our crystals under the light of the silvery moon and -  even something as simple as sipping a herbal tea while writing your gratitude list,  all help us focus and dedicate ourselves more carefully to the energy of intention.

Almost all rituals involve:
cleansing - of self, environment or energetic vibration/frequency
connecting to a higher power  - that may be your Ancestors, Guides, Source, Universe, Angels, Nature, Life Force or Heart Energy.
dedicating to the highest good of all - even if you are letting go of someone or thing, this should be harmonious and for the benefit of all beings everywhere.
gratitude - the master key that unlocks everything, instantly raises our energetic frequency and opens our heart.

Tools of rituals:
Crystals - considered the bones of mother earth and the gift of the gods - for healing, protection, cleansing and balancing energies.
Smudging and cleansing tools - for drawing away heavy energies and releasing sticky energy to be cleansed by the violet flame of the Great Central Sun.
Flowers and petals - they bring vibrant colour and beauty to any space and have a place in the celebration in almost all life events.
Feathers - often believed to represent the heavens. In ritual they symbolise divine knowledge.
Sea shells  - bring the flowing energy of the ocean to a ritual.  In many cultures they represent fertility and are valuable as a nurturing of ideas and creative intentions tool.
Stones - some stones call to us by their shape, colour, size or surface.  Stones retain their source energy so may be bringing a piece of mountain, forest or sea bed to your environment.
Wood - this resource from nature can be in the form of carved figurines representing animals, nature or of religious significance.
Essential oils and other perfumes - these unlock different qualities of our inner world.  They are for healing, calming, cleansing, energising, purification, wisdom and beauty.  
A singing bowl - the ultimate tool for centring our minds.  Place crushed lavender or rose petals in the bowl and allow the sound release the wonderful aroma.
Silence - appreciate it as much as all the other elements of ritual.

What kind of ritual?

There are rituals for literally everything. For the morning and the evening, for mealtimes and bathing and sleeping, for weddings and birth and death and coming of age.  There are rituals for preparing for exams and for making a speech, rituals for meeting and healing and teaching and learning, rituals of friendship and forgiveness, rituals for asking and receiving, for giving and for forgiving  and rituals for letting go, endings and completing.   And of course there are rituals for thanksgiving.


And finally…

As it is day 30 of November Bliss, 30 days of Magical Rest, we learn that after rest comes the reawakening.  Each of the practices, exercises and tasks of the past 30 days were intended to allow us to rest from the usual,  meaning seeing things and doing things differently.  If a change is as good as a rest then hopefully you feel more aligned in mind, body and spirit and find that you are healed, radiant wise and loving, ready to experience the magic and wonder available to us everyday.

Now it is time for one last ritual.  

The ritual of promise to yourself to remember to hold the practice of magical rest sacred and to return to it regularly.  Light a candle,  and placing your hands on your heart, right hand over left, read the following words:

PROMISE TO SELF

I promise to notice the child in me.  To pay attention and make time to have fun.
I promise to take care of myself.  To rest and ask for support when I need help.
I promise to affirm that I am a perfect and divine being worthy of love and respect.
I promise to forgive myself and shed the burden of guilt and shame.
I promise to keep an open mind and be prepared to expand and evolve.
I promise to speak kindly and with compassion to myself.
I promise to live my life according to my own values and principles and not how others expect.
I promise to let go of any relationship that shrinks, belittles or demeans me.
I promise to celebrate my successes no matter how small.
I promise to expect the best and to meet the universe half way.
I promise to tell fear that I appreciate it looking out for me but I’m in the driver seat.
I promise to remember that I am of the stars and that I leave sparkles in my wake…..

Thank you for your company on our quest together over the past 30 days and wishing you love, happiness and magical light every day.

Trina xx

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