by Karen Stokes, RN

January, the start of another calendar year. Most of us are thinking about fresh starts and new beginnings this month. Whether your resolution is to cease smoking or to advance your yoga practice to a higher level, a personal ritual each day can help you to make these desired changes last. Personal rituals can be very simple yet useful tool when you are trying to make changes in the way you perceive the world, the way you think and feel about things. To take 15 minutes a day to engage in a personal healing ritual could change the way your day unfolds. Here’s how to do it.

Find a spot that can become your personal ritual space. It should be a place where you can sit or stand comfortably. A quiet and peaceful spot would be ideal, but if there is a lot of activity and sound where you live, gentle music might help to muffle the distracting sounds. Construct an altar in this space if you like, upon which to put symbolic items, flowers, offerings to the spirits, etc. For example, if you would like to focus on peace, a bundle of lavender (symbolic of peace) or a peace symbol made of wood or metal could be placed on your altar. There are no hard and fast rules to follow. Select things that have special meaning to you. Having a sacred spot helps you to keep focused on your special intention.

Blessing or cleansing your ritual space is important too. This creates a favorable energy in the atmosphere. For blessing and cleansing areas, the burning of herbs like sage, cedar and sweet grass is popular. Resins such as frankincense, myrrh and copal can be burned as a way to increase the vibrations of your sacred spot. Incense is also used for this purpose. Sometimes, I prefer to prepare my space using a homemade room spray made of essential oils and spring water. This blend includes lavender (to promote tranquility), clove (to aid in concentration and help to connect with spirit), cedar wood (grounding and centering) and bergamot (uplifting and calming). See the recipe that follows. Aromas can be a very important part of your personal ritual. Certain blends help us to relax, ground, center and experience spirit. Scent can also help you to focus on your intention. Add aromatherapy to your personal ritual and increase its power.

Now that your sacred space is set up and cleansed you are ready for your ritual work. This is where you speak and affirm your intention. Affirmations like “I am smoke free” or “I am healthy, vital and fit,” would be good for someone striving toward physical health. Perhaps the phrase “I accept universal love” or “I am a kind and compassionate person” would be appropriate. “I forgive” would be a very helpful affirmation for most of us. Whatever you would like to create in your life can be spoken here in your personal healing ritual. Whatever changes you desire for your body, mind and spirit can be intended and affirmed during your healing ritual. Any change that promotes the health of the body, mind and spirit is good.

Visualization is also an important part of the personal healing ritual. See yourself as the vital and fit person that you intend to become. Visualize yourself as the self confident, capable and stable person that you truly are. In your mind’s eye, create the vision of yourself as the person you strive to be. Perhaps you would like to see yourself as generous, spiritual, full of love and free from fear. See yourself in this desirable situation as this person surrounded by bright light. During the process of ceremony, the changes begin.

Next, take a few moments to appreciate the beauty that is all around you. Too often we forget about this part. And the ability to be grateful can help us to experience pleasure. Look for these things. Maybe it’s a tree outside the living room window. Maybe it’s a long time friendship or special family connections. Once you get into the habit of appreciating you will find more things that you are thankful for.

The New Year is a good time to try personal healing rituals. Each year, each season, each month and each day can be a time to make a fresh start. We tend to look for pleasure in things beyond right now, missing out on many precious moments. As we learn to express gratitude, we find it easier to feel pleasure in the simple things that surround us. Look for these things, recognize them and express gratitude for them in whatever way feels right for you. Greet each day with good intentions like love, forgiveness and appreciation. You may find it easier to let go of the emotional and mental weights that make you feel heavy. Soon you will perceive the world in a new way. Happy new year.

AROMATHERAPY BLEND FOR PERSONAL HEALING RITUALS

20 drops of lavender essential oil
15 drops of bergamot essential oil
10 drops of cedar wood essential oil
5 drops clove essential oil

Combine the essential oils in a one ounce glass spray bottle. Add one ounce of spring water. Shake well before using as a room spray. Be careful to avoid eye contact. Makes one bottle of room spray.

Karen Stokes, RN Herbalist is a member of the American Botanical Council and the Michigan Holistic Nurses Association. She can be reached at (248) 515-9863 or karen.stokes@yahoo.com.