Moon Ritual
When my first-born was a toddler, her favorite book was Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown. We read it every night, until we were reciting it. We both loved our ritual.
When I realized we didn’t need the book for the words, I recreated the images from each page on construction paper, and tacked them to the wall of her bedroom, circling the room from left to right. (GM fans will appreciate that her room was dark green.) We could fall back on her pillow, nestled in a Goodnight Moon room, and let our eyes skip from image to image as we recited the words. The words morphed here and there over time, but this ritual worked its way deep into my heart.
Calendar Ritual
I haven’t been practicing any positive daily rituals of note since around the time we drifted away from the green room. My yearning for more ritual probably drew me to the calendar commitment. I didn’t begin the thirty-day commitment with ritual in mind, but as I crest my fourth month I realize, these are tiny rituals. Some are more mundane than others (so far, movement, tea, clear table, write . . .), mostly things I felt I didn’t have time to squeeze in.
When I mark off each day after I complete the commitment, if I have also completed a commitment from a previous month, I note that month’s number. It’s usually all of them. I’m changing my habits, my routine. I’m allowing myself time for positive, indulgent moments.
Bath Ritual
This evening, a flock of bluebirds swooped in for bathtime. I have more work to do tonight. But I allowed myself the time to enjoy them. When they lingered, I took a little more time to take photos. I took them through a window so they’re not great, but they are an affirmation, the ripples of ritual, of allowing these moments.
I’ve never seen twenty plus bluebirds in one place. Today I did. And bird watching is not even on my commitment calendar.
©Copyright Pennie Nichols. All Rights Reserved, 2017.
What a great idea – once I finish my month of no complaining I’ll have to find something else intentional to do to replace it (and what great inspiration for at least one blog post each month as I share what I’m going to do) Now I just have to achieve the one I’m in the middle of!
My “intentions” have mostly been small (not like this month!), but even those small committments have made a significant impact on my experience. Good luck!!
I would love to see 20 + bluebirds in one place…in fact one will do…I haven’t seen one in a long time…thanks for posting this…