Most days I wake in the dark, light a candle, and sit with myself (though occasionally a child or a dog curls into my lap).

I sip hot water with lemon, move my body gently, offer mantra into the dawn. This 20 minutes is sacred, a ritual I’ve curated over decades. The surroundings have changed a hundred times, but the ritual, at its heart, has stayed the same.

what makes a ritual?

What separates ritual from routine, practice from habit? Definitions of ritual describe a repeated action involving the same gestures or movements every time, performed with some significance or symbolism. The way I’ve come to understand it in practice, ritual action is intentional (not just on purpose but with purpose, imbued with specific intention) and it’s connective (bringing you into vivid awareness of yourself and/or the greater Whole). 

Brushing your teeth, making your bed, preparing coffee or tea, any of these daily routines could become ritual. Let them be intentional, connective, and preferably, in the first moments of your day.

seeking balance

Routine and ritual can be especially powerful in autumn, when the winds of change tend to swirl around us. Ayurvedically, autumn is associated with the vata dosha, which shares the season’s cooler, clearer, somewhat erratic and airy qualities. To promote balance, grounding practices - like a steady daily routine! - can be quite helpful, as well as connective time with loved ones; warming, grounding foods (as I write this I’m sipping on pumpkin soup with black pepper and chili flakes); and steady, meditative movement.

Earlier in the year, I shared some guidance for developing a sustainable morning ritual. Now that we’ve crossed the threshold into autumn, here in the northern hemisphere, I’m back with some ideas for grounding during this swirly, transitional season. I’ll use my own morning routine as a real-life example…

Before turning to outside noise, connect inward first.
When you first emerge from sleep, greet your body and your breath, however you choose to do that. For me this looks like:
Take a deep breath. As you exhale, gently massage the sleep from your eyes and face. Feet on the earth, another breath, and a slow sweep of your hands over your body (as if you’re clearing water droplets off of your skin) before you stand up. Rinse your face and mouth and use the bathroom. 

Cultivate warmth.
Depending on the climate where you live, this might be something you introduce gradually as the weather changes. Remember, balance is the name of the game. Here’s what it looks like for me:
Light a candle in the kitchen. Heat some water in a kettle or wait for the tap to get warm. Cut a slice of lemon and add it to a mug or cup that feels good in your hands and at your lips. Fill the cup with warm water and sit with it in the quietest space that is available. (Again depending on the climate where you are, you may want to add a layer of warmth like socks or a sweater before you sit).

in case you missed it: intention-setting water ritual

Holding your cup in your hands, imagine pouring your intention into the water with your mind, as if intention would attach to each molecule. Then, as you sip the water, be present to this warm liquid imbued with intention as it’s in your mouth, as it flows down your throat and toward your belly. Imagine the little water molecules hydrating the tissues of your body, while also settling intention into your actions, words, and thoughts for the day.

Keep your movement low to the ground.
We’re going for grounding, yeah? Leave the burpees for another season. If you like to move in the morning, whether its gentle or a little more fiery, focus on steadiness and keep your body low to the ground. Here are a couple of grounding asana practices I love (click for YouTube link):

Give yourself a moment of transition.
Maybe intention-setting is all there’s time for in your morning, or maybe there’s a walk, an asana practice, coffee preparation or writing. Maybe the ritual ends because you’ve completed the process or maybe because a dog or a child or a doorbell calls you away. But before you move on to what’s next, give yourself an exhale - something to close this ritual and transition into the day. It might look like Savasana, or a resounding Om, it might literally be a full breath and exhale before you answer whatever is calling. You deserve that much, your practice deserves that much. Repeat after me: I have time to exhale. 

My Morning Routine, Autumn 2023

5:55am
- feet on the ground, a deep breath + self massage
- use the toilet; rinse my face, brush my teeth and tongue with cool water (toothpaste is a little much for my senses this early)
- pull on a sweater and step into slippers
- light a candle in the kitchen, turn on the kettle, cut a slice of lemon for my mug
- water + intention ritual; gentle movement; recite mantra 3 times aloud (or more if the house is still quiet)
- exhale 💓
(usually my husband and son are awake by now, so I pause here to say good morning and check in)
~ 6:15am
- put away clean dishes; make coffee 
- sit where it’s quiet(ish) for 5-10 minutes with my notebook and pencil
- prepare a simple breakfast for myself and clean off the surface where I’ll eat
- sit down and take at least five minutes to focus on eating mindfully
~ 7 am, I’ll start nudging my son out of his own sleepy-liminal-space toward breakfast and we’ll both get ready for the day. If I’m traveling solo, I might go for a walk or practice asana before getting to practicalities. 

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Do you have a morning ritual or routine? I’d love to hear about it! If not, is there something else that helps you feel connected and grounded, no matter where you are? Drop a comment below, let’s learn from each other.