Rituals for Connection & Care

Sep 21

We just had a Pisces Full Moon & Lunar eclipse - we also have fall equinox this coming Sunday… so it is a week of shift, change, and the natural world beckoning us to release.

I wanted to put together a small list of rituals and practices that can support you during this time of transition; it is important for us to tend to our emotional, mental, and physical bodies. These little intentional acts rituals can provide introspection & connection to what we are feeling so we may uncover ways that best support our growth forward.

Breath

Breath is a wonderful tool to bring us into a place of connection and agency. Our breath can activate us, soothe us, and ground us into the present moment depending on how we use it.

Our breath pattern/rhythm is often an indicator of our internal landscape - if shallow and quick, this might signal that we are anxious, fatigued, or even activated (even when we are not in a dangerous situation).

Our breath can ground us during times of turbulence or when we feel disoriented. Try this practice for grouding and connection:

Take a comfortable shape for your body and place one hand on your heart and one hand on your belly *placing loving hands on our body stimulates the “healing” hormones that offer us a sense of comfort and ease
Start by feeling your body breathing; witness each inhale and exhale - without changing it… what is the tempo and texture of your inhale? See if you can just hold space for yourself as you witness your own breath 1-3 minutes
Shift into counted breathing - offering yourself a longer exhale. Start with 4 count inhale and 6 count inhale. Adjust the counts according to your needs (longer or shorter) *if at anytime this practice activates you, listen to your body and stop. Breath has a different and personal effect to each and every one of us. Tune in and listen to what your body needs

Journal

Journal prompts to support you during this eclipse season

What are the 3 main emotions I have been experiencing these past 3 months? What do I feel these emotions are trying to tell me?
How have I been handling these emotions?
What patterns am I ready to let go of - what thoughts/feelings/relationships are keeping me in a loop and holding me back from stepping into my deeper, wider, higher self?

Altar

I have always found creating an altar space a sacred act of support for myself. Altars serve as a space and reminder to commune with ourself. It’s a place where we set intention, honor the season we are in, our ancestors, the elements, and can truly be a physical reflection of the altar of our heart (what’s important to us at this time in life).

I always adorn my altar with herbs, crystals, and items that reflect the season and/or the intention I’m setting for myself. I always have items to represent the 4 directions and 4 elements.

East = water you can place a small bowl of water here
South = Fire set a small candle and light when you come to altar
West = Earth stones/herbs can be placed here
North = Air a place for incense, feathers,

I also usually have a bell to represent ether, and I often ring it as I come to my altar or after I finish a ritual.

You can also create a crystal grid that supports your current goals/intention. If you have, say 3 goals, find a precious item/totem that represents this goal/intention and ceremoniously place it on the altar… I also place my daily tarot and weekly oracle card on my altar.

Truly, there is no right or wrong way to setup your altar. Just approach it with intention, creativity, joy, and reverence. Let it speak to you and be a physical representation of what you’re manifesting and holding space for in yourself and your life. Let it be a sacred space to commune with and support your sacred soul

Self Love/Compassion Practice

Find a quiet room with a mirror in your home. Set a timer for 5 minutes and begin this practice:

Start with a soft gaze looking at yourself in the mirror - notice anything that comes up in your mind as you do this: critique, shame, joy, love, etc. See if you can welcome all thoughts and let them go.
Gently shift your gaze so you are gazing straight into your own eyes. Gaze gently and lovingly here. What do you see? What colors do you notice? Textures? How does it feel to look right into your own precious gaze?
Breathe here for 1 - 3 minute. Receiving yourself before repeating the following: “I welcome and celebrate my whole being. I love you _____ dearly. I see all that you do, bear, and navigate. You are worthy of love and care. You are a beautiful, loving, and precious being. You are divine - I love you.”

Energetic Practice

There are many energetic practices to help us tune into our emotional (energetic) body to connect, regulate, and release/receive.

As a Reiki practitioner, I start every day tuning into my natural breath and energy. I find a comfortable seat (and honestly sometimes I’m still laying in bed!) and do the following:

First, notice your natural breath - what’s it’s tempo, texture, and where is it in the body
Start to invite your body to receive the breath; visualize your torso gently widening, lifting with expansion on the inhale and softening down your center toward the Earth on your exhale. If a counted breath supports you, play with inhaling for 4 counts and exhaling for 4 counts, pausing on top of the inhale and bottom of exhale
Notice how you feel: emotionally/energetically - do you see colors? Visions, textures? See if you might feel/envision your own auric field around you… notice any shifts within your body, mind, or energy as you draw your attention to this
After breathing for a 2-3 minutes - start to envision a golden light at the crown of your head. Allow yourself to gently drink in your inhale and with the exhale visualize the golden light spilling down your spine to your root chakra. After several rounds, you might feel/visualize this golden light expanding outward toward your aura

Here is another quick energetic practice I love that you can do just about anywhere. It’s a beautiful combo of movement, breath, and visualizing energy.

Drop heels x3 to ground
Inhale slowly drifts arms up to the sky - gathering up energy in your aura
Flatten palms and push hand down the midline to clear/release energy down toward earth x3
To finish draw hands down to heart center in Anjali Mudra (prayer hands) and breathe here. Connecting to the sacred portal of your heart. You can visualize with each breath your heart opening like a flower to receive this practice. Repeat any affirmation/mantra if working with one.