The importance of rituals in our lives

Full moon July 23 in Capricorn – prompting us to seek security inside and out

When my son was only little, maybe 3 years old, he could identify what day of the week it was by referring to the rituals that were taking place on each day in specific orders. This would include things like how long he went to preschool for that day, if there was an after preschool activity on, or if we were all home for the day (weekend). It definitely gave him a sense of control and security even as a little human being.

Rituals throughout the year help us remember certain milestones and occasions and let us reflect on the journey we have been on throughout the years.

Daily rituals ground us and give us a sense of belonging, safety, and importance.

For many of us, these daily rituals have become so ingrained that we might not even realize we are doing them. For example: for as long as I can remember (since my adult days) I used to get up and have a cup of coffee in the morning before I even properly opened my eyes.

It will only become apparent that we have these rituals when we shake things up, consciously or unconsciously change our habits and suddenly feel lost (sometimes not realizing why we feel that way). What once was as simple as breathing becomes a void, an obstacle, or even a cause for anxiety.

This month I have switched things up and stopped having coffee first thing in the morning to give my adrenals a bit of a break – but boy was that a struggle! It wasn’t so much the actual caffeine hit I was missing, it was the ritual attached to it. The constant I could count on in the way my day was beginning was now gone.

This prompted me to consciously rethink the routine and my morning ritual and I had to re-create one that works for me now and that gives me joy, security and stability.

In times of change or uncertainty in your lives I encourage you to look at your daily rituals and evaluate if a re-creation or re-establishment of your routine might be all it needs to create a sense of security and belonging.

Examples for those triggering times could be:

·         The birth of a baby

·         The death of a loved one

·         A Separation

·         Retirement

·         Leaving school and moving to tertiary education

·         Changing jobs