The Sol Journal

Rituals are the formulas by which harmony is restored.” – Terry Tempest Williams

When it comes to our health, daily habits and routines are necessary to our success, but the rituals we cultivate may be even more important. Rituals have been apart of human existence for thousands of years, and we have a need for them more than ever in our modern lives. Whilst many religious practices have their own rituals, our own individual rituals can take whatever form we choose, whether they are spiritual in nature or practical in essence. Rituals are simply defined as a series of actions or types of behaviour carried out in a certain way.

The beauty of rituals is their grounding influence, providing us with a sense of purpose and direction at any point in our day. They help us to better establish healthy routines, bringing about a new level of mindful awareness around decisions we make and the actions we take. Rituals benefit our physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual wellbeing, with studies showing the ways in which they can lower cortisol, support a healthy immune system, reduce anxiety, and improve nervous system adaptation. One study highlighted that chanting the Sanskrit syllable “om” calms the limbic system, involved in emotion, behaviour, and motivation.

You may already have one or multiple daily rituals that you call on, or you may be wondering where to begin. Something like our morning and night-time routines can be the best place to start when introducing a ritual. They don’t have to take hours out of our day, and they can evolve with our needs overtime. Even if it’s 10 minutes in our day to make and sip on a pot of tea with no other distractions, this harmonious practice heightens our connection to ourselves.

Tips for getting rituals back on track:

• Be realistic with what is achievable for you in your day and with a ‘less is more’ approach.
• Try introducing your new ritual on a weekend. The ‘starting Monday’ mindset can often be one of the main barriers to starting and continuing a ritual.
• Journal around your intention for introducing your ritual. For example, it may be that you want to develop a deeper sense of self-care and self-love and this ritual is affirming that back to yourself each day.
• If you are using certain tools for your ritual, have them out and in eyeshot ready for their use. Find rituals that light you up and that you enjoy. If something feels like a chore, we are much less inclined to stick to them or take in their full benefits when we operate from a lower vibrational energy.
• Create a sacred space. Whether it’s simply lighting a candle or burning some incense. Putting all devices away or turning on some calming meditation music. The space you create, and honour is a ritual in itself.
• Reflect on the benefits of your daily rituals. It may be that you’ve noticed greater productivity or mental clarity. Or that you can connect with your partner, friends, or family in a deeper way. It may be that your ritual has helped you to improve your physical health. Whatever it is, rituals when used consistently and intentionally, really do create a sacred framework for our wellbeing and growth.