THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A RITUAL AND A ROUTINE: YOUR INTENTION

One of my favorite rituals is meditating with my crystals in hand or near me, as chosen by what I'm intentionally inviting in as current manifestations.

Think about the things you do on a regular basis, and whether you would consider them rituals or routines. Many of us follow daily routines that dictate how we start and end our days, how we keep structure, order and efficiency, and how we share our time with others. Routines can bring a sense of order and predictability to our lives, but they can also lead to a feeling of monotony, where days blend into one another without any significant reflection or meaning.

In contrast, rituals are performed with symbolic meaning. They might be introspective habits like meditating or journaling, or physical practices, like yoga, tongue scraping or fascia massage. Rituals might lead you to a more enlightened sense of well-being in your body, your emotional state, or your mental fitness. They are done with perhaps a higher purpose intended, such as spiritual self-care practices (or rather, spiRITUAL).

Here's an example: when doing a sage burning in my home to clear and reset the energy, it is something I do with great intention and mindfulness. I will get very focused and grounded, pausing to take a few deep breaths with my eyes closed, and often calling in my angels and guides to help me do a spiritual “house cleaning” before I perform my smudge ritual. I follow a pattern of opening the doors and windows to allow the flow of energy, and I chime my spirit bells that hang at the doorways when I light the sage. In contrast, when I wash my floors, I don't pause and reflect before I do so, and I definitely don't ask for spiritual guidance to help me get the floors clean (though I would never turn down the help if a floor-washing angel showed up! 🤣😇). Both will give me the desired outcome of a clean home, but one definitely calls in a higher spiritual perspective.

Take a moment now to pause and consider whether your habits are merely routines, or if they are rituals that enrich your existence and foster something deeper for you, moving you toward a more peaceful or enlightened path of daily living. Both have their place, but rituals become much more significant when you assign deeper meaning to them.

✌🏻☮️😮‍💨