Almost everywhere I turn, someone is sharing their morning routine with me. The inspiring cold plunge that makes you feel grateful to be alive or transcendental meditation. Promises appear in my inbox and social media, offering the most peaceful existence.
The reason everyone talks about the morning routine?
Because it works.
If you’ve never tried before, setting aside a few moments to yourself to start your day intentionally can change your life—truly. I hope these ideas spark inspiration to choose a magical practice.
Especially when we choose a magical practice and consider it a ritual instead of a routine.
The difference between routine and ritual
Morning routines are usually presented in a way that implies we are priming ourselves for success and productivity. I don’t appreciate that pressure creeping into my precious solitary time.
The key is how you feel about your actions—it’s all about perspective. The one thing I dislike about the morning routine is the pressure that’s constantly applied to do and be more.
Take journaling, for example. I’ve worked through The Artists Way book several times, and part of the process is the prescribed morning pages. If you’re unfamiliar with The Artists Way, the guidebook takes you through a 12-week program that blends spirituality with exercises to unlock your creativity. The book has been around 30 years and is still a best seller. Elizabeth Gilbert has said without the Artists Way; there would be no Eat Pray Love. I’m not knocking it—I have found it a brilliant tool to unblock creativity or get to the heart of things. But it’s one of the best examples of how a routine can feel stifling and a ritual can feel supportive.
To nourish yourself, you have to ditch guilt as a motivator
The morning pages are three pages you write every morning before you start your day for the twelve weeks you commit to the course. When forcing myself to write the pages out of routine, I used guilt to motivate myself. I told myself if I didn’t finish, I’d be more anxious that day, less inspired, or even irritable.
Sometimes my morning pages consisted of three pages about how much I disliked writing them. It wasn’t until long after I finished the course that I decided to break up with the guilt and change my relationship to the morning pages.
I began journaling as a ritual by choice
Writing down my thoughts with curiosity and looking forward to seeing what’s revealed feels different without the pressure.
Sometimes I need to gently push myself into ritual, but I notice my intuition chooses it.
Habits and routines, when left unfulfilled, can evoke a sense of failure and, yes, guilt.
But rituals will always be there waiting for you
Ready to inspire magic and possibility. They are brimming with the intentions behind them, and when you invite the spirit world to join in, you are supremely supported in your ritual.
I notice that when I incorporate changes slowly, I’m more likely to sustain them over time. So, my advice is to start with one magical practice and build from there. I’ll be sharing four rituals this week and four more in part two (coming in two weeks.)
Eight Morning Rituals (without the Guilt) Part 1
1. Stir with Intention
If you start the morning with a hot beverage, you’re already halfway there with this simple magical practice. As you stir clockwise, state what you’d like to call into your day. This could be the phrase, “I trust the wisdom of my intuition.” You could state words like “peace” or “ease.” As you drink your morning beverage, feel the warmth of the intention spreading throughout your body. Imagine something magical happening to you that day.
2. Intention Candle
This is my favorite ritual lately.
Choose any candle you’d like.
Using a sharp pointed object (a pen or sharp pencil works well), carve words of intention into the candle.
Light the candle for a few minutes each morning and remember your intention.
Last month, I chose two large taper candles—a deep blue for communication. I carved “community” into one candle to represent my intention of building communication in my community and “connection” in the other candle to represent what I hoped to achieve. I lit the candles on my altar each morning.
3. Don't forget to look up
Moon gazing is not just a nighttime activity. Tracking the moon and its cycles is a time-tested ritual that can help you connect to nature and your ancestors. The earliest people marked time by the moon, and turning to this ritual can help you remember who you are. Pick up a farmer’s almanac, witches’ almanac, or choose an astrology app (I love the Chani app) to help you notice the phase and the position of the moon each day. As you look up, consider the vastness of the universe. Notice the connectedness you share with the moon—whisper your hopes and dreams to her.
4. Connect with Nature
Embracing nature as a ritual can keep you grounded and help connect you to your intuition. Direct your attention to what’s outside. This could be a walk, drinking coffee on your porch, or, If you’d like, you can practice this near a window. You don’t need to go outside for this ritual if that’s not accessible to you.
Notice one element of nature. This could be the mournful hoot of an owl, the playfulness of a chickadee, the strength of an oak tree, or the way a tall pine bends to the wind. Pay attention to the first thing you notice and consider the qualities of nature that you’re drawn to. Imagine embodying these qualities throughout your day. You might choose to embody the wisdom, joy, strength, resilience, or anything else you observe.
The Electric Curtain will return in two weeks, and I’ll share four more magical morning rituals with you— including my favorite shower meditation.
Wishing you many magical moments,
Sheryl
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Sheryl!!!!!! I took the plunge and paid for a year long subscription!!!!! While Jupiter is cazimi, no less 🤓 Every single one of your newsletters fills my day with magic. You connect me to my spirituality in a way that nothing has before. THANK YOU. Now, to take advantage of being able to comment (yay!) . . .
Morning routines have been on my mind lately too. I wonder if there's something in the air!
I really struggled with Morning Pages when I did the Artist's Way. I think it has something to do with the rigidity of the practice? I just looked up Julia Cameron's chart, and found out she's a Capricorn Moon (ARE WE EVEN SURPRISED!). I also found out she shares my birthday, which is . . . incredible hahaha. 🥹🥹🥹
I'm absolutely gonna try the stirring ritual. So simple, but so profound. Such simple practical ways of infusing magic into your every day!! And connecting with Nature –– "considering the qualities you’re drawn to, and embodying them throughout the day". I've never considered that before, and it fills my heart with excitement and joy. What am I drawn to? What do I wish to embody? It gives me a new perspective on my spirit animals and guides, too!
Big hugs! Enjoy your two weeks off, so excited for part II! 💗💗💗