Living in Ritual - embracing the sacred rhythm of life

Hey beautifuls!!

thank you so much for being here, in this blog i wanted to talk about rituals and what this looks and feels like for me and how it has changed over the course of my life AND MAYBE HOW YOU CAN BRING IT INTO YOURs.

The reason I want to discuss this is that creating rituals is a significant part of my life, and I want to teach my girls this as well. It provides me with peace and a sense of connection in an otherwise chaotic world. It allows me to slow down, which is something that actually nowadays comes naturally to me and I can do it without feeling guilty or fearing judgment as i have in the past.

There's immense beauty in having daily rituals. Most people have skincare routines, so you don't actually need to be a spiritual hippie witch, like me to appreciate them!

ritual is defined as 'a religious or solemn ceremony consisting of a series of actions performed according to a prescribed order'

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mine are slightly different (my skin care one is lather, rinse, repeat or go to bed and deal with it tomorrow if I'm feeling particularly tired) I HAVE detailed A COUPLE OF my daily practices and HOW I HAVE incorporated them INTO MY LIFE BELOW...........

there was a time that i would wake before everyone in the house. i would light a candle, play soft music, journal, meditate, pull an oracle card, practice yoga and sip cacao as i watched the world come alive. it was bliss and after doing this my day would just be better because i had had that connection with myself, the time to regulate my nervous system. to contemplate, reflect and wake up my physical body. if i didn't do that in the morning i would do it in the afternoon. the important thing was i making the effort to do this as i had the opportunity. my wonderful first born was EITHER at school or IF IT WAS IN THE MORNING SHE WOULDNT WAKE UP UNTIL 7.30AM and i would rise before that.

However, in 2021, our BEAUTIFUL second daughter was born, (there is a 10-year age gap between my girls) which changed my daily routines. I no longer had the time to practice for as long, and it's rare for me to wake up before her since I still feel quite sleep-deprived. She wakes up at the crack of dawn, and it took her three years to sleep through the night, during which she was waking hourly. I had to adapt because, without my rituals, I felt my identity and sanity slipping away.

Now, I TRY TO incorporate ritual into almost everything I do. Even if some of WHICH aren't traditionally considered rituals, doing them with intention makes even the 'mundane' feel much more special. For instance, something as simple as opening and tying back the curtains first thing in the morning is literally one of my favourite things to do. I open the curtains and can hear the birds singing, see the vast lush fields, and watch as the hares run around (they honestly look like they've been on steroids—they're jacked!). It fills me with contentment as I let the light of a new day into our home.

My super quick morning ritual involves going to my dressing room WHERE I HAVE MY ALTAR ( WHICH IS ADOURNED WITH FLOWERS, TRINKETS, CANDLES AND OILS) AND lighting a candle, reciting my womb priestess vow, drinking water, and anointing myself with oils.

As I BLOW OUT the candles, I express WHAT IT IS I AM Grateful FOR. If time allows or if the little one sleeps in and my teen is up and getting ready, I take the opportunity to move my body and protect and clear my energy and that of my family's. This routine takes very little time, yet it still allows me to CONNECT before the day begins.

I want to HIGHTLIGHT TO YOU that not every morning IS LIKE THIS, and it's IMPORTANT not to view this as a chore or aS PART OF A CHECKLIST. Sometimes, you just have to go with the flow.

When preparing food, I try to slow it down, play music, and think about my family or who will eat the meal. I believe that if I'm in a bad mood or rushing while cooking, that energy will transfer into the food that they will consume.

*Disclaimer: We sometimes have chicken nuggets and chips, and I occasionally mutter "FFS" under my breath a 345800000 TIMES if the day is particularly hectic! That's life, it's about balance, and I am human. ;)

In the winter months or on early mornings, I light the fire, candles and incense, and we have breakfast by candlelight. This is my absolute favourite thing to do, as it makes the morning feel much calmer and magicKal and everything just runs smoother—unless my husband is around and the house resembles Blackpool Illuminations!

I OFTEN TRY TO BRING MY GIRLS INTO IT TOO, I DONT HIDE ANYTHING AWAY AND NOW THE YOUNGEST WILL GET INVOLVED, SHE LOVES TWIRLING IN THE SMOKE OF PALO SANTO, DANCING AROUND THE KITCHEN AND SHE WILL SEND 'WUV' INTO THE FOOD OR OUR CACAO. I KNOW SUPER CUTE!! THE ELDEST USED TO BUT NOW I MAY JUST GET A PLAYFUL EYEROLL, ALTHOUGH SHE IS PARTIAL TO A KITCHEN RAVE AND LOVES HAVING MASSAGES, ,reflexology AND REIKI. MY HUSBAND WILL JUST ASK ME TO LIGHT ONE OF Those STICKS,,,,, (he means INCENSE)

lastly, my evening ritual which includes a warm Epsom salt bath (if time permits), i cleanse and protect my energy and if i am feeling like i have some nervous energy i will shake my whole body before i get into bed.

i give thanks for my day and i say a protection prayer for myself, my family, friends and maybe a specific person that needs support or a situation that may be happening in the world. ill be honest, i cant actually sleep if i don't do this one.

OF COURSE THERE ARE SO MANY OTHER THINGS YOU CAN DO TO BRING RITUAL INTO YOUR LIFE, FEEL INTO WHAT EVER FITS YOU. AS I SAID BEFORE ITS SO IMPORTANT TO NOT SEE IT AS PART OF YOUR TO DO LIST AND NOT TO OVERTHINK IT, IT COULD BE SOMETHING AS SIMPLE AS TAKING THE TIME TO MAKE YOUR FAVOURITE DRINK,

TAKING YOUR SHOES OFF AND PUTTING YOUR BAREFEET ON THE EARTH OR PUTTING ON MUSIC AND SHAKING WHAT THE GREAT MUMMA GAVE YOU!!

WHAT EVER IT IS DO IT WITH LOVE, CARE AND INTENTION AND SEE HOW MUCH IT WILL CHANGE YOUR LIFE...

LOVE AND PEACE

JESSIE XXXXX (and special guest... my imposter syndrome who almost made me not post this! bugger off steve..! yes i have named him :) )

OUR BEAUTIFUL ALTAR FOR ONE OF OUR WOMB CONNECTION RETREATS