A Ritual

You may have a bit more of a bounce in your step, as we crossed the Equinox threshold and moved towards longer days, new life and growth.

I like this time of year, but it can sometimes hold a start-stop energy. Some days you can tackle it all, maybe you find yourself pulling out the contents of your kitchen cupboards for a good old Spring clean(Saucha: cleansing, clearing, great to do this time of year). Other days, you might crawl back under the covers with the electric blanket on, and not want to achieve much.

I might be projecting my own experience of this time, but often when I talk to clients, they are feeling the same. The push, the pull, the give, the resistance.

So, maybe if you have some time this weekend, carve out a moment of stillness and do a little ritual for yourself, or maybe with friends.

Let me know how you get on.

Setting the space.

Firstly, set up your space. Make sure you feel like you can focus, are able to switch off and be present in this moment. That might mean carving out a corner of your bedroom, or setting up a few items on your mantle, or side. Turn off your phone, leave it in another room. Maybe play some lovely music you that helps you feel calm.

Think on the colour yellow, maybe lay a scarf down on your side, or a yellow table cloth. The colour yellow is bright, cheerful, joyful and also represents drive, transitions, determination and meaning(why we are doing what we are doing). Maybe place this on your side, mantle or in your meditation area. You may also like:

+ A candle, white, yellow, green

+ Yellow or green ribbons, scarf, or material.

+ Daffodils, Tulips and Hyacinths

+ Smudge stick, for clearing, I use(and sell here) sage, rosemary, bay and lavender smudge sticks.

+ Pebbles, rocks, precious things you’ve maybe discovered on a walk.

To drink.

I have a mild obsession with chamomile tea at the minute, it’s what my body is asking for, so I’m going with it. I love Bird and Blend, deckchair dreaming might sound summery, but I’m really enjoy it this month.

You can also make your own tea for this time of year, why not try hibiscus, nettle, and dandelion?

Hibiscus tea may help reduce blood pressure, improve cholesterol levels, and decrease oxidative stress.

Nettle is packed with minerals and vitamins that our bodies need to stay healthy. If you’re considering a spring detox, nettle’s high nutrient content can help you recover from a winter of overindulgence. Nettle is also a natural diuretic, helping your body flush out toxins and release excess water.

Dandelion has been used for centuries to make a revitalising spring tonic. This bitter plant has many benefits, including supporting the liver’s natural detoxification processes, Dandelion tea also helps your body to release toxins and excess water, it supports the digestive system, liver, and kidneys.

Chamomile is not only calming and great for reducing stress, but it also possesses anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties that can help soothe allergic reactions, particularly those affecting the skin.

Scent and Smells.

You can light a candle, spray some aromatherapy or burn incense. Try using bright, vibrant and awakening scents.

You could try Echo’s new Celestial blend, A MINDFULNESS TOOL, Ylang-Ylang, Pink Pepper, Juniper Berry, Grapefruit A Blend to warm the solar plexus, promote joy and purpose Ylang-Ylang to uplift and calm, Pink pepper to energise and warm, Juniper Berry for emotional support, Grapefruit to soothe and detox.

Celestial Blend Aromatherapy

Meditation.

This month, I’ve been guiding with the heart. If reading meditation instructions is tricky for you, please scroll down and use my guided soundbath and yoga nidra meditation for a really beautiful check in.

+ Sit quietly, and just notice your breath. No judgement, or pressure to be doing this well. Just keep noticing the presence of the breath and where it lands in the body.

+ When you start to settle in(5-10mins) allow the breath to deepen, feel it fill the whole of the lungs, draw your awareness to the belly, then the middle of the lungs and finally the upper part of the lungs, keep your shoulder and jaw soft. Again, just notice how the breath is.

+ Placing a hand on the heart, or just landing your awareness there, sit with the heart. however it is, painful, quiet, closed off, bright, full. Sit in gentle awareness of acceptance, to how things are with the heart right now.

+ Some images might come into your mind and that’s ok. But as you feel the heart being breathed, the edges softening, find yourself surrounded by vibrant greens, and in the minds eye, visualise a green place in nature. If you have aphastasia, just think on the words and ideas of nature and green. That is enough. As you sit here, allow this part of the practice wo grown stronger with each breath, the colours bright, the sounds and feelings fuller. Breath this green into the heart, the idea of new life, growth and a journey forward.

+ As you sit with the heart. Maybe think on your dharma, your role in the world, how you love, those you love and how you might show up for your community. How you can give yourself love, while holding yourself with such compassion, nothing to fix, change or improve. Just love.

+ You can stay here for as long as you like, or gently come back into the room. Feel free to journal or sip your tea gently as you reflect.

Ritual Space On Our Greek Retreats

Journal.

If you feel like it, here are some journaling prompts.

• Describe a place, person or activity that you love. Tune into how you feel while you are with that person, in that place or doing that activity, try to find a few words linked to this, ‘loved’ ‘calm’ ‘free’ ‘joyful’.

• A radical action of self-love. What small and relatively easy thing could you do, consistently, that feels like self-love. This could be going for a walk and getting a nice coffee or tea. This could be daily meditation or mindfulness, it could be meeting a best friend and connecting. It doesn’t need to be about fixing but taking actions that feels helpful, loving and kind.

• Write down a big dream, a passion, something you would love to work towards, could you action this?

• Gratitude. What we are grateful for. This isn’t about gaslighting ourselves out of a shit time, it’s ok to feel bad if we are struggling. But during some of my harder moments, I found such solace and profound gratitude for the small stuff, for Suki my cat, for the sun on my face, for a really good book I can read in the bath.

• Giving back. It is not very fashionable to talk about this in the wellness community, but originally in yoga, you would set an intention not only for yourself but mainly for others. It linked to dharma, purpose, community and how we can create change. So with this in mind, in a world that feels almost impossible, what thing/s can you do to keep brightening the corner where you are. Donate, educate yourself, petition, write to your MP. bring your neighbour their shopping etc etc.

Happy Rituals everyone.

For those who want to really nurture their hearts and nervous systems, try this free meditation, grab some headphones and chill out(click the spotify image below).

Sending you all Spring love, stay brave, stay kind and keep loving.