Click HERE to read Part 1.
Richard Whately said, ‘Lose an hour in the morning and you will spend all day looking for it‘. I couldn’t agree more. Mornings for me are sacred. And to thrive in days that generally are filled with a heck of a lot more than was ever deemed possible a few decades ago, we need sacred space more than ever before. If we can reserve some time for our souls early in the day, we can build resilience for whatever the day throws at us.
Mornings are the times in which we prepare our bodies and minds for the day ahead. Rush in the morning and we will rush all day. Start calm and grounded, and we will be able to return to that state at the least very quickly. I’m going to pop some ideas down for you to try out, and also list some extra things you could use to keep you grounded and stable that I work with, tools, oils, potions, and remedies!!
From the day I landed in London, I have kept to my morning rituals. I mix them up so I don’t get bored and they become monotonous and I can’t stay present to the joys of them. In essence, though they are:
- I stretch my body right away. Could be Tai Chi, a yoga sequence, karate warm up, literally jumping up and down. Whatever I feel my body needs that morning.
- I breathe in outside air. I open a window or walk outside. I have no idea what this will look like during an English weather, so stay tuned. In Taoism, breathing in fresh air is an absolute must in the morning to align our bodies (which are nature) with nature.
- I drink something hot. Not coffee first thing (and more on this later). Could be simply a mug of hot water, or a more elaborate Zen tea ceremony that I adore, but admittedly takes me 30 minutes the way I like it. Sometimes it’s just a beautiful green tea in a cup I love. For quality tea, check Cloud Hidden and Global Tea Hut.
- I Meditate. If I don’t get my Integrated Meditation sitting done before I leave the house I can literally kiss that one goodbye!
- I read something inspiring. I try to read a book, just for 5-10 minutes if it’s all I can manage and not check Instagram too early. I want my mindset for the day expanded and not crammed full of what everyone else is up to. Or on Instagram I just answer my DM’s, comments and not see what the world is up to, it keeps it sharp and short and the feeling of not responding doesn’t haunt me.
I suggest you mix it up too, but have a sequence that you can do anywhere, a short version and a long version. Once you have started, you will always try to prioritise it, as it makes the day that much more present. The sense of connection to oneself and grounding is vital for city living. When Marley was little, I would just incorporate her into some of the sequence, kids love stretching, and ritual, so don’t let this be an excuse.
Sent with love,
Jac x