“Rituals are important.”

John Lennon

Do you practice rituals in your daily life? Have you ever even contemplated this? Do you know what a ritual is? I have given this quite a bit of thought and consideration and would like to share those musings with you.

A ritual is loosely described as a formal and customarily repeated act or series of acts. Let’s look at the words formal which can be described as abiding by rules of convention or etiquette; something official and important and customarily: something done in a way which follows customs or usual practices. Therefore, unless we really put attention and intention into whatever we are doing it cannot truly be called a ritual.

Any repeated task can become a ritual

Brushing your teeth, something we do everyday, isn’t really a ritual unless we make it so. How do we do that, through Attention and Intention. Paying attention to something means that we take notice of it. If you are like me and just switch on the electric toothbrush and let it do its thing, that is not paying attention. Intention means that we have an aim or plan. Arguably, when brushing my teeth my intention is to clean my teeth and freshen my breath but is that really an intention? I would like to think that we are capable of cultivating deeper, more meaningful intentions in our daily lives.

My yoga practice, of course, is the biggest ritual that I infuse into my daily routine. At times when you are cultivating rituals they can feel more like habits or routines. But, truly, they are so much more than that. As my practice and my understanding of what practice means has grown deeper it has moved way beyond a habit or routine. It’s something that I feel on a cellular level on the periphery of my physical body and more internally in my core.

Once I experienced the potency gleaned from the daily ritual of a yoga practice I made the attempt to add other rituals into my life with the objective of elevating the mundane towards something more spiritual. Just like a yoga practice, rituals have the power to transform the person who practices them.

One of my favourite rituals

Besides yoga, one thing I am known for is my love of chai. From that first sip on my first trip to India I was hooked. When I returned home I searched for the perfect blend of chai in an easy to use teabag or loose mix. While there are some decent options out there, nothing compared to the street chai I had tasted on my travels. What to do?

I decided to take up the making of chai from scratch. Before I knew it, making chai became a ritual for me. Why do I feel it’s a ritual? I created some formality around it. The vessels that I use to concoct the chai are special, belonging to both my paternal and maternal grandmothers. I set aside the required allocated time and only make chai when I am making chai. I do not multitask, engage in conversation, look at my device and I keep my gaze directed solely towards what I am doing.

My utensils and ingredients are kept in the same spot, neatly put away after use and readily available for the next day. When I am making chai it feels like the most important thing that I have to do. While it feels effortless, I remain focused and engaged. I follow the same pattern each morning and although I know it by heart, I take my time and let each stage of the process have its unique moment.

Reaping the benefits of daily ritual

By dropping into that space of full attention when I am engaged in making chai my mind becomes clear, calm and free from distractions. It feels momentarily as though the constant fluctuations of my mind cease and from that a quiet stillness arises. Lastly, while I am making the chai I set an intention for the day which might be something as simple (and, actually, as complex) as to remain present throughout the day.

When the chai is finished and poured into my favourite cup, the taste of it holds me present, in the present moment, even if that is just a fleeting moment. From there, the ritual is complete and I drop back into the organized, happy, chaos of my day. The ritual of making chai everyday keeps me grounded and focused. It teaches me about impermanence and my own reactivity to things that go on around me that I have no control over. It is so much more than making chai. It has been transformative.

Which tasks could you turn into a soothing ritual?

I hope this post inspires you to find a daily ritual that you can become fully engaged in. One where you can pay attention to and set an intention towards. It doesn’t have to be anything grandiose or complicated. Rather, I would advise you to choose something that appears to be mundane on the surface but can be elevated to something sacred.

I love this quote because it underscores the fact that the person who performs the ritual must be open and receptive to the changes daily ritual will yield. That it indeed an important ingredient in any ritual.

“Any ritual is an opportunity for transformation. To do a ritual, you must be willing to be transformed in some way. The inner willingness is what makes the ritual come alive and have power. If you aren’t willing to be changed by the ritual, don’t do it.”

Starhawk

At this point, I want to keep my chai ritual personal and unique and so I am not quite ready to share my chai recipe just yet (also, I know that not everybody enjoys caffeine), however, I do want to share a soothing Ayurvedic energy drink that might bring you some Sukha (comfort, joy, sweetness) and encourage you to adopt your own daily ritual.

Energy Drink Recipe

• Soak 3-4 dates and 10 almonds overnight in water, drain
• Peel the skins* off the almonds and discard them (this can actually be a ritual in itself if the skins are tough!)
• Add the dates and the almonds to one cup of milk (I like oat milk)
• Add a ¼ teaspoon of cinnamon and a pinch of cardamom
• Add 1 tsp of ghee or coconut oil
• Blend and enjoy

*According to Ayurveda, the skins of almonds can be difficult to digest and can aggravate certain doshas (constitutions), soaked almonds with the peels removed are seen as grounding, nourishing, highly digestible and energizing. Soaked almonds can be stored in the fridge for a few days.

???? Are you considering adding a daily ritual into your life? I would love to hear about it. You can simply click the button below and send me a message!????