Lenten Spirituality Ritual
Return, Reflect, and Renew
A Lenten spiritual practice using fire ceremony and breath meditation.
It’s the night before Ash Wednesday. Traditionally during Lent some people give up things like alcohol, candy, or Netflix. I’m curious about the subtle energies, like thoughts and emotions that affect my body, mind, and spirit. Tucked into chair next to fireplace with two pieces and paper and my favorite pen, I reflect on how any lifestyle habits or mental patterns are negatively affecting my physical, mental, and spiritual life.
Holistic self-care is about navigating, editing, and refining the sacred trinity of wellbeing: a healthy body, a clear, calm mind, and a spirit infused love and guided by faith.
The season of Lent, feels like perfect time to expand my reflection on my spiritual life, including the other two realms- physical and mental/emotional body.
According to Ayurveda, blocks in any of the body’s vital channels (digestive, nervous system, mental, etc.) impact the flow of food, waste material, blood, and subtle energies like intuition and creativity.
Writing: The Kindling
On first piece of paper, I write down three habits and/or emotions stressing my mind and blocking creative energy. On second piece of paper, I write three creative goals and/or career dreams, as well as three affirmations to support my wellbeing and spiritual happiness.
Fire: Releasing
Opening fireplace door, I toss first piece of paper into flames. The list of habits and thoughts goes up in flames. I imagine any stresses or creative blocks being released. My mind feels lighter; creativity brighter.
Prayer: Blessing
I then tape second piece of paper, my dreams and affirmations, on window near my yoga/meditation space. Put your list in prayer/meditation space, on altar, or choose a place you frequent during the day. After short, seated breath meditation, I chant. Vibrations from chanting and praying aloud resonate both inward to every cell in body, and, outward into your personal space and beyond. Modern science proves, by tracking brain waves and cardiac function, how praying and chanting supports physical and emotional health. I say the Serenity Prayer, A Hail Mary, and Prayer to Ganesha- my spiritual tripod tabernacle built from benefits of learning/practicing The Ten Steps, Catholicism, and Ayurvedic spirituality. Say the favorite prayer(s) that resonate with your heart and create spiritual practices that align with your heart and beliefs.
Ceremony
The next morning, I shovel ashes from fireplace and put them in bucket. Transformed by fire element, the oak logs and old habits/thoughts are now ready to return to the earth.
I carry bucket out to pine tree where the bird feeder hangs. Filling the feeder each morning is another simple, sacred ritual, reminding me that my daily needs are always met. A congregation of morning doves, chickadees, and sparrows look on from nearby pine branches. A few minutes earlier, I watched them dine on sunflower seeds as I did my morning yoga-ish routine.
Dipping right index and middle finger into ashes, I draw sign of cross on bark nearest the ground. (You can also do this on a large rock) The cross represents the intersection of hope and mystery- sacred portals and magical realms. I recall my three dreams/goals and imagine them manifesting. Then I speak my three affirmations. I notice how I feel after speaking and imagining. This is the sensation and energy I promise to conjure up each time an old thought of emotions tries to haunt my career dreams or vampire my creative energy. As I walk back to cabin, mallards on the river below begin applauding, their quacks cheering me on.
Daily Rituals for Eternal Wellbeing
Each morning, after my yoga-ish movement and breath meditation, I repeat this ritual. Just the part of taking ashes from bucket and making sign of cross on tree. Note: If you want to do nightly ceremonial fire, go for it. I dip from bucket of original fire, to keep things simple.
I’m doing this through Easter Saturday. I’m curious to witness what new career opportunities and creative adventures arise this Spring. Whether you do this ritual for a day, week, or month, it will shift your thoughts and emotions into a more positive space, thus stoking more creative potential by clearing energetic clutter and lowering stress.
My reminders and mental reroutes:
1. Return to peace regarding things I can’t control.
2. Reflect on being at intersection of hope and mystery. Here, by trusting faith, gumption, and gratitude, I move forward and merge with God’s perfect plan and divine timing.
3. Renew my physical, mental, and creative energy through a brief breath meditation. Other renewal options to sustain optimal energy: a leisurely nature stroll, or, a few intuitive stretches or dance moves.
The Return, Reflect & Renew ceremony helps me merge into mystery and root into hope, supporting my ability to spiritually bushwhack unknowns when navigating towards creative goals and career dreams.
I hope you are inspired to create your own Lenten spiritual and self-care adventure. Reach out if you’d like help via a holistic coaching session.