Rituals

Rituals

By Kathryn Carole Ellison

From "Celebrations: Poems of Life and Love"

Rituals are central to our lives

Whether we recognize them or not - 

They're used when major events occur

To essentially 'mark the spot.'

They're also used in daily chores

Like preparation of a meal.

A person might use them in business

When firming up a deal.

Rituals give us places to be playful in life;

To explore meaning in what we do;

And time to rebuild family relationships,

Time to mend and glue.

Rituals connect us with our past;

They define our lives in the present.

They show us our path to the future,

Which we can make more pleasant.

As we pass on our ceremonies and traditions

To the next generation in line,

We tie together branches of the family tree

And use our love as twine.

..............................................................................................

I love rituals and traditions - and our family has many! I recently started a new morning ritual - just for me - that is beautiful and grounding. 

One of the great blessings of 2017 was meeting a wonderful woman who is a poet. Kathryn Carole Ellison's collection of poetry immediately spoke to me - in a very deep way. In her poetry she shares life's lessons in a beautiful, approachable way that really resonates with me. 

Every morning before I reach for my phone or read the news, I make a cup of tea, light a glassybaby, and read a poem (or two or three!). I randomly open to a page and the message is always just what I need that day. Then I take a few minutes to meditate on the message before I begin my day. It's powerful and calming at the same time. I carry the message with me throughout my day. 

I shared this ritual with a friend this week, and she sent me a text this morning with this picture expressing her gratitude for the gift of poetry I gave her and letting me know that she started her day with tea and a poem. 

If everyone started their day this way, I have a feeling the world would be a better place.

What are rituals that ground you?