Everyday Ritual; your pathway to daily peace and expanded creativity

We know already that rituals help us mark the ebb and flow of our life journey, celebrations and passing and transitions of all descriptions. However, rituals hold the power to enhance and beautify the small moments of each day as well.

The simple rituals you perform every day have the potential to bring great joy and peace of mind, not only for yourself but potentially others around you. Most importantly, regular practice of simple rituals expands your creativity and has you connect deeply with your own authentic source of inspiration.

Everyday rituals can be a grounding force in our over-stimulated and stressful lives. Have you ever felt that your mind is just too ‘noisy’? You may quieten it with these gentle, mindful, symbolic acts. Bhava Ram calls daily ritual ‘the act of taking positive thought and putting them into action’  I would say that it is also an act of reflection, of slowing down and appreciating the blessings that we often take for granted.

Prayer, meditation, and visualisation are some of the most ‘obvious’ rituals we undertake daily. Honouring our physicality through yoga practice, stretching or any pleasurable exercise can also bring peace, satisfaction, and more energy to navigate the rest of the day. Not all everyday rituals are so formalised though; imbuing otherwise mundane acts of daily living, those that might otherwise pass almost unnoticed, with a sense of mindfulness and gratitude can also be of great benefit.

Try it – connect with each other

Consider the daily mealtimes for you and your family. Often, eating is such a utilitarian activity – we eat what we can, when we can, fuelling our bodies before moving on to the next distraction or demand on our time. So many missed opportunities! A family meal can be such a nurturing ritual for not only our physical but our spiritual selves. Gather each member of your family together for a meal on a set day and time. Have every person contribute to the meal, however big or small – even a small child can stir a pot or bring cutlery to your table, and the satisfaction and fulfilment that it brings them is wonderful. Preparing the meal is an act of mindfulness and intent in itself, almost a form of meditation.

At the table, take time to sit together and be thankful before the meal begins. You might like to light a candle, share a blessing, or simply join hands and reflect in silence. Then enjoy your meal, quietly, without distractions like television or newspaper. Savour the taste and texture of the delicious meal you’ve prepared, and be glad of the nourishment and of sitting in the circle of people you love most. Repeat as often as possible, and see how your family is more connected, happier and healthier.

Transforming daily activities into mindful, deliberate rituals has the power to take us out of our lives for a little while, giving us the opportunity to find calm and balance in an otherwise topsy-turvy world.