Self-care rituals: Why and how you should add rituals to your life

Rituals are a part of every culture since the dawn of humanity. They give life meaning and help people to connect with the higher forces of nature and the higher force of Self.

Nowadays, the internet is full of self-care rituals, from herbal baths to skin-care routines. We all have different types of rituals that we incorporate into our daily lives.

 But why are these rituals important? How can we make the most of them?

 Keep reading to find out more!

 

What are rituals?

 According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, a ritual is a "sequence of activities involving gestures, words, actions, or objects, performed according to a set sequence."

 Many activities in daily life could be classified as rituals, such as shaking hands and saying "hello", washing our teeth and taking a bath, doing our beds, etc. However, what makes something a ritual is an intention we put into it.

 Routinary things are activities we do mechanically because they are a habit. But when we put an intention and do those things consciously, we make them a ritual.

 For example, what If you put an intention into your bath? Instead of just washing your body, you could see it as a purifying experience. Impregnate your bath with love and intention.

 

Why are rituals important?

Rituals are opportunities to honor our lives and fill our days with meaning.  A routine is made up of the tasks that we do daily. A ritual, on the other hand, is how we break up the monotony, find delight in the mundane, and nurture our spirits.

 Self-care rituals are essential parts of life because they allow us to celebrate our physical bodies and souls. With self-care rituals, we feel energized and motivated. We release stress, fears, and worries. It allows us to contact our divine essence, our inner gods or goddesses.

 

How to incorporate self-care rituals into your life

 Rituals can change depending on the person. You can ask different people, and they all will give you different definitions of "self-care". But the main idea is to focus on wellness and taking care of your physical and mental health.

 Find some time alone.

It’s surprising how much the modern world teaches us to avoid being alone. Most of the time, we are afraid of being alone. We surround ourselves with people, and when we can’t, we find many distractions. For example, social media, loud music, or TV shows. It’s like we can’t stand our thoughts and emotions.

 However, leaving some time of the day to be by yourself, makes you reflect. When we are alone, we realize things that we wouldn’t when we are surrounded by people. This way, we can enjoy the sound of silence.

 That doesn't mean you need to be alone to enjoy a self-care ritual. You can share it with a close friend or even your partner. But you still should leave time for yourself.

 Put intention into your daily activities.

As we said earlier, doing a particular activity can be a monotonous, routinary experience. But that same thing can become a ritual. It all depends on your intention.

 For example, taking a bath. Instead of just pouring soap and water on your body, add some magic to it. Light a candle, play some relaxing music, burn incense, and add some herbs and flowers to your bath. Small details can make a big difference.

 

Be mindful

 Mindfulness means consciously focusing on the present moment, without thoughts, judgment, or attachments. It means contemplating life as it is.

 Mindfulness is an essential part of rituals. If your mind is constantly wandering between the future and the past, you can't connect with the magic of the ritual you are performing.

 So, try to avoid distractions. Choose a time of the day where you can focus on yourself and self-care. Don’t distract yourself with other tasks or responsibilities.

 Be aware of the present. Don’t let thoughts enter your mind. Instead, enjoy.

 

Daily activities that you can turn into rituals

 Here are some examples of activities you can turn into self-care rituals by putting intention into them.

 

Cooking

 Cooking is a magical activity. It means putting ingredients together to assemble something amazing. Here, you channel your creative force to bring something delicious to life.

 What makes cooking amazing is when you choose your ingredients consciously. Choose food that nurtures your body and your soul, and you will feel wonderful.

 

Taking a bath

 Of course, taking a bath can become a ritual. Use your imagination. Imagine that water cleanses you physically and energetically. Feel like it washes negativity away. You will feel energized.

 

Gardening

 If you love plants, you know how taking care of them can become a mindful practice. Water your plants, clean them, repot them If you need to, feed them with organic fertilizer, talk to them, sing to them…

 Plants teach you the value of life and celebrate its magic. Taking care of your plants is such a fulfilling experience.

 

Cleanse your house physically and energetically

 Taking care of yourself also means taking care of the place you live in. Nobody likes to live in a messy, cluttery space. So, give yourself some time to clean and organize your house or apartment in a way you enjoy it.

 Then, smudge it with sage, palo santo, sandalwood, or any herb or resin you love. You will feel how the atmosphere feels lighter. See your house as a temple and you will receive that love back.

 

Skin-care rituals

 Skin-care rituals are wonderful ways to bring love to your physical body and honor it. When you use natural, plant-based ingredients, you are putting life into your body. And when you do it consciously, your skin-care routine can become a ceremony to honor your inner god or goddess.

 

Visit nature

 Nature is magic. Natural places are Mother Nature’s sanctuary. When you visit nature to honor and respect it, you will feel energized and harmonized.

 So, go to a river, a beach, the forest, or the mountain. If you can’t, then go to your nearest park or your garden. Walk barefooted, hug a tree, immerse yourself in water, and nature will do its magic.

 

Exercise

 Exercise can be a way to tune into your body and release stress. Try conscious exercises, not to lose weight or get fit, but as a way to reconnect with your essence. You can try yoga, tai-chi, qi-gong, dancing, etc. Do what works for you.

 

To wrap in

 

Rituals are ways to celebrate life. They allow you to live consciously and connect to your inner god or goddess, your Higher Self. Rituals are for everybody, regardless of their age, race, or gender. It's for everyone who has a soul.

 Without rituals, life gets monotonous. Rituals give magick to everyday life.

 

Here in Soularis, we believe that self-care is about showing love to yourself from the inside out. Sign up for our newsletter for updates on very soon to come spiritual baths and goddess oils so you can honor that inner god/goddess that dwells into your physical body. We are here to accompany you in your self-love and self-care journey!

 

If you are ready to tune into the magic of self-care rituals, click here to check our soul-nurturing oils and baths!