Readers, please enjoy this guest blog post by Lisa Wagoner, author of the new Positive Pagan.
Getting moving in the morning can be a challenge for many people, myself included. While I will never be a fan of that first part of the day, I have found ways to start my day in a more positive frame of mind. These little rituals make mornings more tolerable, and dare I say it, enjoyable. The rest of the day flows more smoothly if I am not in my usual grumpy state. I hope some of these rituals add some more zest and joy to your mornings!
Looking Forward Ritual: While most people advocate setting your clothes out and preparing lunches the night before, I add this ritual to my routine: I choose one thing to look forward to in the morning. Something I can delight in upon awakening, look forward to doing, and anticipate before I go to sleep. I revel in choosing different ones every few days, whether it be a good cup of coffee, time spent outside on my deck, feeding the birds, or reading a few chapters of my new book. Or maybe I will choose to do a reading with a new oracle deck I bought, or journal about a new spell I am working on, doing a bit of research on items I can incorporate. Changing it up every few days keeps this ritual from becoming stagnant.
Incorporating Magic Ritual: I find ways to incorporate magic into my mornings, whether it be a certain number of times I stir my coffee (I do them in multiples of three), setting my intentions with my deities, or being still and simply listening at my altar. Sometimes, I will pull cards for myself, or send some healing energies to those who request it. Whatever I choose to do doesn’t require a lot of time, as I have to get ready for work as well, but starting my day with some form of magic does help lessen the morning grumbling.
More Than Gratitude Ritual: Sometimes gratitude is a rote choice for people, simply listing all the things we are grateful for in our lives. What often gets overlooked with gratitude is the perspective it grants you, as you realize how much you really do have, or how far you’ve come, despite obstacles and challenges. This is where social media can be helpful: look at your memories of the day, or if you’re not on social media, look at old journals or calendars. Or simply drift backwards in your memories and as you do so, notice all that you appreciate, whether it be family, friendships, health, travel, home, your senses, and your capabilities. See how far you’ve come, what you’ve changed, and what you cherish about your life. It may inspire you to make some changes, or make those plans you’ve been putting off for a while.
These three simple rituals have added much to my days, so I hope they add a bit of magic to yours. May they inspire you, give you food for thought, and make your mornings much more pleasant.
Our thanks to Lisa for her guest post! For more from Lisa Wagoner, read her article “How to Stay Positive in a Negative World.”
