Sunday, March 24, 2013

Making Room for Ritual


Recently, as I raced to get ready for work as usual, a sparkle caught my eye.  The morning sun was shining on earrings that hang on an old, lace scarf pinned to the bedroom wall.  On most days, I scan the earrings looking for a pair to wear.  That particular morning, I paused for a second to notice translucent, multicolored stones sparkling in the sunshine.  The rainbow of light delighted me. 

Then I chose a pair of earrings, put them on, and rushed off to work.

My momentary pause that morning suggested a ritual I could fit into my busy days.

I like rituals, small markers of our days and weeks.  And lately, I’ve been seeking ways to mark time, so that I do not just race from one task to another, from one day to the next. 

I have considered lighting candles or incense to mark the end of the day—but often wonder whether I can declare the day done.  I like making pancakes in the morning; stirring the batter and adding fruit make me happy.  But I don’t do this regularly enough.

The earrings suggested a ritual I can perform each morning: I can take a moment to notice something beautiful.  Something that is already in my surroundings, something I might otherwise overlook.  Beginning with that ritual can color my whole day.

No comments:

Post a Comment