I’m not a one-size-fits-all kind of gal and I apply this philosophy to my daily regimen as well.
Depending on the season, where I am in the world, what projects are in front of me, and where I am emotionally and mentally – I diversify my rituals to ensure I’m creating a space where I can be present and flexible. That said, I have many go-to rituals that help me stay connected to my body and my intentions for the day.
Pause and Pray: When I first wake up in the morning I pause in bed before jumping into my day. I need a moment to drop in and sense where I’m at internally and what I have in front of me for the day. While lying in bed, I place one hand on my belly and one hand on my heart and recite a short simple prayer. It can literally take 60 seconds or less, so there’s no excuse not to do it.
I tend to riff my prayers each day, allowing it to be natural and in the moment. Depending on how I feel and what’s going on in life, I may ask for support and courage for the day, to see the beauty and sacredness in everything, to step into my best self, and I often weave a small prayer in for my loved ones.
This is an example for how my morning prayer may sound: “May I be guided to step into my best self today and be present to the joy and beauty in my life. May I live, speak, think, and act in a way that uplifts and inspires myself, the planet, and all who cross my path. May my family and loved ones feel peace, inspiration and joy today. And may our entire planet be lifted into a place of love and collaboration. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.” Give it a try.
This small step does wonders for one’s spirit, heart, mind and accomplishments for the day!
Hydrate: Every night before bed I put a full glass of water in my favorite mason jar on my nightstand so it’s right there when I wake up in the morning. One of the first things I do upon waking and before anything else goes in my body, is drink the entire glass of water. If I want more, I’ll have a second. It helps me wake up, gets everything moving on out, and helps me feel more clarity.
I’m not sure how long I’ve been doing this, but it’s been a daily for years and I feel off when I don’t do it. It’s also one of the first things I have clients do as a simple self-care ritual, and that one action makes a big change.
Oracle Intentions: I’ve just created an oracle set called The Moon Deck and I use it every morning to help set the tone for my day. It’s a deck of cards with a guidebook. I pick 1-3 cards each morning, place them on my altar, and reflect on the message and image as I mentally gear up for my day.
They work as a clear and loving reminder for how to retrain and uplift my thought patterns (especially in how I speak to myself). They also motivate me to step more purposefully into my my work and relationships. It started off as an experiment so I could see how they feel on the receiving side of something that I created. But now I’m hooked!
Superfood Coffee: Another daily ritual is, yes, coffee. I have a lot of respect for the stuff. Lately I’ve been whipping up a new concoction to cut the caffeine down and increase the benefits. Here’s the recipe that may change your life:
- Mix fresh ground coffee beans (I blend mine daily) with ‘Reishi Roast’ (a dark and earthy reishi + herbal blend) and boil your water
- Steep them together in a French press for 5-10 minutes.
- Once brewed, blend it up with almond milk, a spoonful of coconut oil, a leveled tablespoon of Maca and a hefty dash of cinnamon.
- Pour into your favorite mug and savor each sip
I really enjoy my time with this mug of yum and drink it slow as I read some favorite blog posts, work on my newsletter, or create my first Instagram post of the day – which is a fun creative outlet for me where I combine my love of writing and photography. Then it’s off to the races on my laptop working on projects or I head out to teach class.