Hi friends,

Most Friday mornings I indulge in a ritual where I'll go to my favorite coffee shop and spend time reflecting on my week: documenting what I did in my calendar, journaling about how I've been feeling or if something specific happened, figuring out things I want to focus on, working through limiting beliefs. I love this. It's a reprieve that I look forward to every week. This works for me because, obviously, I love introspection. It excites me to come to conclusions, to find things to feel good about, and to dream about what's next. It's not for everyone, but it is very much for me.

And I've gotten so much direct benefit from this practice. It's the time in my week when I do my best manifesting. Reading back through the goals I set for myself this year, seeing how many of them I've felt aligned to and accomplished, has been deeply satisfying. Just visiting my intentions on a mostly weekly basis has kept them alive, and kept me on the lookout for the ways I'm already receiving them.

Creating a ritual like this, one that I get so much out of, takes dedication, especially at first. I've adopted it into my weekly plans, it's part of who I am and how I spend my time. On Fridays I reflect. And it can be very easy to schedule over, very easy to miss. But with practice and intention, it's become second nature.

One of the most important things about ritual, for me, is that it's easy. Fridays are for introspection, but if I can't, or didn't, that's okay. There's always next Friday. There's always the Sunday after, and then the Friday after that. I don't need to be hard on myself for choosing something different.

The flexibility doesn't just apply to the scheduling and attendance, but to content too. Sometimes I'll sit with the specific intention to write, and then spend the whole time listening to voice memos instead. Sometimes I feel antsy, open and close my journal a few times, and then leave. That's okay too, because I still showed up for the ritual. I still showed up for myself.

Sometimes people get caught up in the "rules" of the ritual, needing every step laid out in order and if not done exactly right it doesn't count. But that's not for me. I believe everyone is different, that there's no single right way out there. If you get what you need from it, it worked. No one who came before you had the one perfect formula, no one else innately has more access to magic or source energy than you do. Find the way it comes to you, and let it help you feel good.

Easy Ritual Ideas

Here are a few small rituals to try. If one sounds fun, give it a shot. Make it your own!

• Kiss yourself in the mirror when you wake up, and wish yourself a great day
• Dance around to "Ring My Bell" by Anita Ward (or whatever your favorite upbeat song is) in your room when no one is watching
• Go on a weekly date with your inner child (à la the Artist's Date from The Artist's Way): do a solo activity that would have delighted you as a kid, and enjoy it as if you were that age again
• Light a candle or some incense and spend a full minute pretending you've already received something you really want. Feel how it feels - accomplished, relieving, energizing. What does having this make you want next? Let that be a guiding star for your next steps.

The beauty of ritual is the consistency of showing up for yourself, choosing you again and again. You are worth your attention, so give it to yourself. And if you already have rituals of your own, I'd love to hear about them!

xo,
Christen