Designing an Intentional Sunday Ritual
‘A ritual is the enactment of a myth. And, by participating in the ritual, you are participating in the myth. And since myth is a projection of the depth wisdom of the psyche, by participating in a ritual, participating in the myth, you are being, as it were, put in accord with that wisdom, which is the wisdom that is inherent within you anyhow. Your consciousness is being re-minded of the wisdom of your own life’ || Joseph Campbell
Hello my loves & welcome! Rituals are a spiritual practice that have whole-heartedly shifted the way in which I approach my everyday life. The beauty about rituals is that you design them. You choose what your rituals are and when you pursue them. You choose if you want to keep moving through a ritual or try something new. You don’t need to add more to-dos or change your routine. As a matter of fact, the difference between rituals and everyday tasks is the intentionality behind them. Let's dive in…
For many (but not all) of us Sunday is the completion of our week. The last day before you begin a fresh, new week of work. If you work in the nightlife industry or work as a nurse, hair stylist, or police officer choose whichever day is the last day of your ‘week-end’ and call that your Sunday. The way in which you spend your Sunday sets the tone for your new week. While Sunday is a day that should include preparation for the week, Sunday should also be a time where you prioritize you.
Your Sunday ritual should not just consist of tasks that need to be completed before the start of your week; it should embody intentional practices that support your weekly priorities. When planning your Sunday ritual, ask yourself, ‘What can I do that will support the health of my nervous system this upcoming week? How can I best sustain my energy for the week ahead? What tasks can I move through that will accommodate my upcoming schedule?’ Give yourself ten minutes. Write these questions down in your journal and brainstorm.
When preparing for your Sunday ritual consider these four categories:
Cleanse
Connect
Nurture
Create
Cleanse
Your Sunday ritual is meant to refresh your spirit for the week (think of the phrase the Sunday Reset). This means it should incorporate some sort of cleansing practice. Your cleansing ritual could be as simple as taking a shower or drinking water, but you are welcome to dive as deep as you’d like. Maybe your cleansing practice looks like a cold plunge, washing your crystals, or taking a hot bath. Choose a practice that is meaningful to you and that you are open to holding space for.
Connect
Connection is an essential part of life. Yes we need water, food, and clothing, but without connection life holds little meaning. Utilize your Sunday as a space to feel connected. This could look like walking your dog or having dinner with your partner. This could also mean taking a yoga class with a friend or going for coffee. Whichever area of connection you choose, choose with intention. That means if it doesn’t feel right to leave the house one Sunday, don’t. Instead, opt for connection inside of your home, but whichever you do choose, be fully present within that space.
Nurture
From the moment we come into this world, we crave the feeling of security; meaning, we want to feel safe, cared for, and held. We desire this feeling from other people, however, we rarely look to ourselves for the same support. What if we consciously carved out time each Sunday to hold ourselves? You can nurture yourself by cooking a meal or prepping meals for the week ahead. Nurturing yourself could look like taking a nap, going to the farmer’s market, or getting a massage. This is your Sunday practice. You choose what is meaningful to you at that time and in that space.
Create
Many of us are conditioned to believe that in order to be creative, we must be an artist, an actor, or a poet. The truth is: we are all creative beings. We create the way in which we move throughout our lives and the way in which we hold space in our relationships. It is time to create the way in which we prepare ourselves for our week. This could look like setting goals for your week or looking over your calendar. Your creative ritual could also look like painting, sewing, or preparing content. Choose an intentional practice that will set you up for a flourishing week.
Rituals have been practiced by humans for centuries. The earliest form of ritual dates back to 130,000 years ago at Mt. Carmel, Israel. This is not something new, however, overtime humans have lost touch with the intentionality associated with rituals that they have now become routines. If you want to discover more about how to incorporate conscious rituals into your space, join me for Align– my six-week group intensive for creating conscious rituals. Early enrollment is open now until December 18! Click here to schedule a call.
xoxo ~ b
