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The Three Celtic Cauldrons

The Three Celtic Cauldrons

A Shamanic Path to Inner Power

In Celtic cosmology, power is not something to be seized or imposed. It is something remembered, tended, and brought into right relationship. Among the most evocative teachings carried through the old Irish wisdom texts is the teaching of the Three Cauldrons—an ancient map of human vitality, consciousness, and spiritual authority.
This is not a chakra system borrowed from elsewhere, nor a metaphor divorced from land and lineage. The Three Cauldrons arise from a distinctly Celtic worldview: earth-rooted, poetic, embodied, and relational. They offer a shamanic framework for understanding how life force moves within us, how imbalance arises, and how true power is cultivated from within.

The Cauldron as Sacred Vessel

In Celtic culture, the cauldron is never merely a container. It is a threshold object—a place of transformation, regeneration, inspiration, and rebirth. Cauldrons appear again and again in myth: the Cauldron of the Dagda that never runs empty, the Cauldron of Cerridwen that brews wisdom and poetic fire, the cauldrons of rebirth that restore warriors to life.
Within the human being, these cauldrons are understood as energetic vessels that hold and circulate our life force (neart), our emotional truth, and our spiritual fire. When the cauldrons are upright and in harmony, energy flows freely. When one is tilted, blocked, or depleted, we feel it—in the body, the emotions, and the soul.
The Three Cauldrons are:

• The Cauldron of Warming (Coire Goiriath)
• The Cauldron of Motion (Coire Ernmae)
• The Cauldron of Wisdom (Coire Sois)
Together, they form a living system of balance and power.

In the Celtic tradition a cauldron is know as a container of transformation, both literally and energetically.

1. The Cauldron of Warming – Rooted Life Force

The Cauldron of Warming is located in the lower body, often associated with the belly, womb, hips, and lower back. It is the first cauldron we are born with fully upright, and it governs physical vitality, instinct, sexuality, safety, and belonging. This cauldron is warmed by the earth itself—by nourishment, rest, touch, sensual pleasure, rhythm, and connection to land and body.

When it is strong, we feel grounded, alive, and at home in ourselves. When it is depleted or tilted, we may experience fatigue, disconnection from the body, shame around desire, or a sense of not belonging.
In shamanic Celtic practice, restoring the Cauldron of Warming is not about transcendence—it is about coming home. Walking barefoot on the land, tending the hearth, honoring the cycles of the body, and reclaiming pleasure as sacred are all acts of healing this cauldron.
True power begins here.

2. The Cauldron of Motion – Emotional Flow and Relationship

The Cauldron of Motion resides in the heart and chest. It is said to be tilted at birth and slowly straightened through life experience, relationship, and emotional maturity. This cauldron governs feeling, empathy, movement, breath, and the ability to be in relationship without losing oneself. This is the cauldron of grief and joy, love and anger, devotion and boundaries. When it flows well, emotions move like rivers—felt fully, expressed honestly, and released naturally. When blocked or overheated, emotions may stagnate or overwhelm, leading to collapse, reactivity, or emotional numbness.

In the Celtic shamanic view, emotions are not obstacles to spirituality; they are initiations. The Cauldron of Motion teaches us how to stay present with intensity, how to let the heart be shaped by life without breaking, and how to move between worlds—inner and outer—with integrity.
Song, poetry, ritual, breathwork, and sacred listening are traditional ways of tending this cauldron.

In the Celtic tradition a cauldron is know as a container of transformation, both literally and energetically.

3. The Cauldron of Wisdom – Sacred Fire and Knowing

The Cauldron of Wisdom rests in the head and upper body. It is the last cauldron to be fully upright and is associated with insight, inspiration, vision, and spiritual authority.

This is not intellect alone, but imbas—the luminous knowing that arises when body, heart, and spirit are aligned.
When this cauldron is upright, wisdom flows downward rather than pulling us out of the body. We become clear-seeing without becoming ungrounded, inspired without burning out. When it is prematurely activated without support from the lower cauldrons, it can lead to dissociation, spiritual bypassing, or inflated ego.
In Celtic tradition, true wisdom is earned through lived experience, humility, and service to life. The fire of this cauldron is lit by devotion, contemplation, ancestral listening, and time spent at the thresholds—dawn, dusk, solstice, equinox.
Power here is not domination. It is clarity in service of balance.

The Dance of Balance: Uprighting the Cauldrons

Healing and empowerment are not about forcing the cauldrons into alignment. They are about relationship—listening to which cauldron is calling for attention and responding with care.
Many modern wounds show up as an overemphasis on the upper cauldron (mind and vision) while the lower cauldrons remain undernourished. The Celtic path reminds us that wisdom without embodiment is unstable, and spirituality without warmth lacks roots.
Shamanic practice with the Three Cauldrons may include:

• Grounding rituals and body-based practices
• Emotional tending through ritual, voice, and community
• Seasonal ceremonies aligned with the land
• Ancestral remembrance and mythic storytelling

In deeper shamanic work, these practices are not only symbolic—they become direct experiences. Through guided journeying, ritual structure, and intentional sequencing, it is possible to enter each cauldron as a living inner landscape, listen to its state, and gently restore balance.
This is the foundation of my online course on the Three Celtic Cauldrons, where you are guided step by step to work with each cauldron through shamanic journey, embodied reflection, and ritual integration. As the cauldrons slowly come into harmony, a natural authority emerges—quiet, steady, and unmistakable.

Reclaiming Your Power the Celtic Way

 

The Three Celtic Cauldrons offer a deeply humane and earth-honoring map of inner power. They remind us that we are not meant to ascend away from our humanity, but to inhabit it fully.
To walk this path is to warm the body, soften the heart, and clarify the mind—again and again, across the seasons of life. Power, in this tradition, is not something you take.
It is something you become when all parts of you are allowed to belong.
May your cauldrons be warmed, upright, and well tended.

 

Go Deeper: A Guided Journey with the Three Celtic Cauldrons

 

If you feel called to not only understand this teaching, but to live it in your body and energy, I invite you to join my online course: The Three Celtic Cauldrons.

This is a 4-session self-paced online journey, designed to support a deep, experiential relationship with each cauldron. You will be guided to:

  • Connect directly with the Cauldron of Warming, Motion, and Wisdom through shamanic journeying
  • Learn how to sense imbalance and restore flow in your own energetic system
  • Anchor the teachings into daily life, relationships, and seasonal transitions

The course can be followed:

  • As a 4-day intensive immersion
  • Or over 3–4 weeks, allowing it to become a steady companion for seasonal portal preparation or integration (Equinox, Solstice, or personal thresholds)

All sessions are recorded and can be completed in your own timing, making this work accessible and supportive wherever you are in your cycle.

✨ You are invited to step into a deeper relationship with your inner power and Celtic lineage of wisdom.

👉 Learn more and join the course here: Three Celtic Cauldron

 

Get issue #3 of the publication Wisdom of the Witch to know the wisdom of the seasons.

I’d love to hear your experience, questions, and reflections. I invite you into the conversation—let’s weave our voices and deepen the connection.

Celebrating Ostara, the spring equinox

Celebrating Ostara, the spring equinox

Spring Equinox marks the midway point between Winter and Summer Solstice. It is also the second of the three spring celebrations, the first one being Imbolc and the last one Beltane. Ostara has its roots in pagan Germanic traditions and honours the goddess Ēostre. In our contemporary life Spring Equinox might simply inspire a moment of marking spring and is an invitation to allow this season to inspire our personal reflections.

 

Why should we celebrate Equinox or Solstice?

Most of our lives are governed by modern life routines, an energy which is linear and left brain oriented. The cyclic rhythm of the seasons and presence of sunlight in the wheel of the year offers us moments of inspiration, to take time out, stop, and remind ourselves of our goals as well as to connect with our inner needs and soul’s wisdom. It offers a moment of calm, a moment to make time to take care of our needs, a time to connect with our family and friends, a time to honour the presence of Spirit in our lives.

As more and more people distance themselves from organized religion, nature offers us an undeniable powerful guidance and beauty. The sun governs the rhythm of our days and the cycle of our year. The solstices and equinoxes are therefore highlights of the cycle of the year – neutral yet so personal.

“The seasons carry a wisdom which inspires us to make positive changes in our lives.”

– Gita

Spring is a time of new beginnings

In the wisdom of the seasons teachings, Spring Equinox is the height of the spring season. We are called to step into the manifestation of our plans and ideas.

In the teachings and deep wisdom that nature reveals to us, this season is all about new cycles, exciting opportunities, a call for clarity and commitment, the planting of new seeds, cleansing the old, and releasing the dust of winter.

Equinox is a moment of perfect balance in a season of transition. We are moving from winter into summer. Transitioning can be challenging if we do not pay attention. Yet, in the middle of the season, we are offered this moment when day and night are equally long, when the sun offers us a moment of perfect balance.

This is a great opportunity for meditation, to find our center, to rest, get clarity and receive divine wisdom.

It is the season in which we welcome new opportunities, take on new collaborations or move forward with new ideas. We are also asked to step up, shake off winter fatigue, and let in the new and fresh energy. Spring cleaning comes to mind.

“When we connect to the teaching of the seasons and mother nature, and when we invite sacred moments into our daily routine, we bring magic back into our life.

– Gita

Create your personal spring ritual

The wisdom and inspiration which is offered to us in this spring season could fill books and hours of conversation. Over the years, inspired by the questions and comments of my students, I have put together many resources through which you can get inspired.

Some are simple and encourage a daily short practice, others will carry you deeper and open the door to a journey towards your inner knowing.

Integrate a daily practice

In the Shamanic Journey circle groups and in the Wisdom of the seasons in-person and online workshops, we pay a lot of attention to creating a daily practice. For it is only through daily practice and inspiration that we can be fully present and autonomous in our life.

Here are some ideas for daily practice:

        Meditation is a lifelong journey which should be done regularly.

The art to create a ritual is a simple act of being present and connecting to spirit and your inner wisdom. It is an act of honouring yourself and your connection with your integrity.

I would encourage you to find ways of making ritual relevant to your personal needs and the needs of your community. Your intention is what counts.

Throughout your practice, hold your intention with clarity in your heart and mind.

Spring Ritual Box

The ritual boxes are designed to help you celebrate each season. I have carefully selected the products and plant allies for their properties, in tune with each season, which calls for healing and transformation. They will help you to create a sacred space for your daily ritual and to follow your path inspired by the wisdom of each season. The Spring Ritual Box includes all you need for your very own ‘planting new seed’ ritual.

Do a Spring Cleansing

This beautiful season of bringing forth new life and new opportunities calls also for the release and cleansing of the old and stagnant energies of winter. A spring cleansing can be part of your ritual. Make room for new, inside and out. 

Each ritual should begin with a moment of smudging. Different burning herbs can be used for purification, although for this time and purpose, sage is the favorite.

The sound of a shamanic rattle can also be used to purify your home and sacred spaces.

Tending your sacred space and your altar is particularly important to renew your commitment and invite new energy.

 

Get issue #1 of the publication Wisdom of the Witch to accompany you in creating your sacred altar.

Connect to your community

The path towards inner wisdom and discovery of ourselves is a path which, ultimately, we have to journey on our own. Knowing who you are and what gift you carry is revealed in this path of discovery of the Self. It brings sovereignty and autonomy.

Community is the way we nourish ourselves on this journey. We find safety in the sacred circle with others and inspiration when we listen to their own discoveries.

 

  • Journey the medicine wheel and discover the wisdom of the seasons, a 1-year online programm. You can follow the program at your own pace, with access to additional inspirations and in-person support when needed. Once you have completed the one-year cycle, you will have a new vision and understanding of your life and your relationships. This teaching will inspire and nourish your live journey.
  • Join the community The witches cauldron on FB to have access to hours of video, inspiration to your own journey and an opportunity to join the conversations on different subjects and teachings.
  • Sign up to the newsletter to stay tuned for offers and opportunities, recipes, and inspirations.

May this spring season blow new wind into your journey of self-discovery and open your heart be filled with new buds of gorgeous fragrant joy and beauty.

Celebrating Samhain

Celebrating Samhain

Samhain, pronounced (Sow-in), is a Gaelic festival celebrating the end of the harvest season and the beginning of winter or the ‘dark half’ of the year. It is also known as the Celtic new year or the Witches’ New Year.
Samhain marks the mid-point between autumn equinox and winter solstice and with this the beginning of the winter season. In the outside world the darkness takes over the light, and nature is truly coming to rest. We are asked to firmly begin our journey of looking within.
It is the night when the veil to the otherworld is thin and therefore offers an opportunity to be in contact with our ancestors, to receive guidance and inspirations for the new cycle – the journey towards our inner wisdom. In many cultures November 1st is recognised as the day of the dead. In contemporary life it has been expanded into what we know as Halloween.

What is Samhain?

Samhain is the celebration of the dead. It is at this time when we take a moment to contemplate and remember the importance Death plays in our life’s cycles.
 
In the teaching of the wisdom of the seasons, Samhain is the moment when autumn finishes and winter begins. We know autumn to be the season of transition, the season when we harvest. Nature teaches us how to let go, how to bring things to completion, and how to allow our energy to return to our roots, where we stay dormant during winter.
 
To learn how to let go, to surrender to the natural movement, to truly receive the harvest and acknowledge the feeling of loss as well as of gratitude for the abundance we receive through this process, is the blessing offered to us in this teaching. When we do this process well, we create space for new insights, for a moment of rebirth, promised to us in the depth of the silence of winter.
 
In nature we observe how trees and plants return their vital energy back to their roots. Equally we are called to connect to our roots during the dark half of the year. Samhain is therefore the moment when we call to the wisdom of our ancestors, to share with us their knowledge and teaching. Through their inspiration we are now ready for the journey within. The silence and external darkness offer the gift of listening to our intuition and learning how to use our senses to connect to our intuition.

Guardian spirits of Samhain

All ancient traditions will have a guardian and archetype which is particularly related to the celebration of transformation, death, and rebirth. I have journeyed with and would like to introduce to you the following three.

Morrigan

Goddess and guardian of the dead. The
goddess of witchcraft and death, protection and retribution.
 
She carries the gift of moving the soul through the cycles. She is the triple source of power needed to regenerate the cycles of life. The symbols of circles and spirals are associated with her. The raven and vulture and the owl are her companions. Shapeshifting, death and transformation, regeneration and renewal are only some of the powers she is known for.
 
She is the moon goddess, representing the three phases maiden, mother and crone.
 
The Celtic gods Dagda and Lugh are named to be her consorts.
 
Dancing with her energy demands courage. She will take you to meet your shadows, she will move you through the process of death and letting go.
 
And if you call on her, if you put your trust in her, she will take you through the cycles from surrender into rebirth.

La Catrina

La Catrina is Mexico’s lady of death. She is a reminder to enjoy life and embrace death.

In this tradition the day of the dead is a celebration rather than a somber event. Altars are set up in the homes and filled with the favorite foods of the departed. The celebration also includes visiting family and friends and sharing gifts and sweets.

Raven

Magic is the first force which comes with the presence of the raven spirit. The raven assists us in becoming one with our will and intent, achieving great change, allowing dreams to become reality while opening doors to deeper powers of healing.

He signifies rebirth, renewal, and healing. He helps with transformation and transitions bringing light into darkness. He is the perfect companion for shapeshifting. He is a master of dismemberment, teaching us how to let go and move onto the next cycle.

The raven is a guardian and keeper of secrets.

Call on the raven to unleash your inner magic. He will teach you to hear messages from the otherworld and show you the real beauty of your shadow side.

Celebrating Samhain

Any celebration should be in resonance with your personal practice and means. It is the intension which counts. Keep it simple and relevant. Make it fun. Allow yourself to be surprised.

Celebrating life while embracing death can seem like a bit of a challenge. I invite you to include a sacred ritual in your celebration which will give you the space and opportunity for a calm reflection. Then when the ritual is done you can continue with different forms of your celebration. As Samhain marks the moment of transitioning from autumn into winter season, we are called to make a last effort of releasing negative energy from our lives, our habits and our mind. When we cleanse, we make space for new visions and opportunities. Begin with a cleansing ritual and let it naturally flow into the celebration of life.

Prepare your Samhain ritual

1. Cleanse your space

In shamanic healing cleansing is done through smudging and using sound in particular the rattle. You may choose to do a cleansing ritual before setting up for your Samhain ritual or include it, thus beginning your celebration with cleansing.

Prepare your smudging bowl and burning incense. Cedar or sage are particularly good for this purpose.

For your ritual light your incense and smudge your room, tools, sacred space and all people participating. State clearly your intension of releasing negative energies and blockages. Letting go of behaviors, dependencies and attachments. Then play your rattle and repeat the process using sound. Call on the spirit guides for release – the raven if you are courageous!

Continue with the incense and rattle until you feel the energy has shifted.

 

2. Build your altar

Take some time to prepare your altar space. I take this time to cleanse my existing altars and move things around. I clean away decorations and offerings from autumn. I change the spirit mask and other elements. I make sure I have a representation of Morrigan and La Catrina. I add candles and new offerings: fruits, sweets, mead, lotions and magic potions, herbal blends in tinctures, incense, herbal bath sachets, smoking blends to name just a view.
 
If building an altar is new to you, you might like to look at the post ‘Creating a sacred altar for daily connection’ and the Wisdom of the Witch publication ‘Creating your altar’.

Prayer to the dead

In your preparation for your Ritual think of the people and ancestors you would like to honour. If you know their likes, consider making a dish or include an offering of a food or drink they liked. Prepare a short prayer or song to connect with them, so they know that they are not forgotten and included in the celebrations.
 

Samhain invites you to…

Reflect on the following questions:

  • What part within me am I ready to let go of? What is ready to die?
  • What do I need to release to transform?
  • What can be revealed from my shadows? What light can emerge from the darkness?
  • What magic is awaiting me in the dark?
  • What is the message from my ancestors?
  • How can I best nourish myself in this winter season?

You may like to do a shamanic journey to receive answers to these questions and be in communication with Morrigan and the raven to ask for assistance in this process.

 

“Samhain is here, cold is the earth, as we celebrate the cycle of death and rebirth. Tonight we speak to those through the veil, the lines between worlds are thin and frail. Ghosts and spirits in the night, magical beings rising in flight, owls hooting up in a moonlit tree, I don’t fear you and you don’t fear me. As the sun goes down, far to the west, my ancestors watch over me as I rest. They keep me safe and without fear, on the night of Samhain, the Witches’ New Year.”

Morrigan, Morrigan Three times Three,

Hear the words I ask of Thee.

Grant me vision, Grant me power

Cheer me in my darkest hour.

As the night overtakes the day,

Morrigan, Morrigan light my way…

Morrigan, Morrigan Raven Queen,

Round and round the Hawthorn green.

Queen of beauty, Queen of Art,

Yours my body, Yours my heart.

All my trust I place in thee,

Morrigan, Morrigan be with me…

Luna’s Grimoire

 

Celebrating the change of seasons by celebrating the related festivals will allow you to live more in tune with them, awakening the energies associated with them and allowing them to manifest in your life. By celebrating Samhain, the passage from fall to winter, you will allow yourself the opportunity to enter a new cycle dedicated to the journey inward. I hope you will take full advantage of this season to take time to listen to the messages and connect with your intuition.

Get issue #3 of the publication Wisdom of the Witch to know the wisdom of the seasons.

A ritual to support you in your spring cycle

A ritual to support you in your spring cycle

Ritual is a powerful transformative tool which can be incorporated into the daily routine or done at specific times. Ritual often marks the beginning or end of a period or activity. Other times a ritual is used to honour and celebrate a specific moment. The more connected you are to the cycle of life, the more you will see that there are many occasions that can be honored with ritual. As we move out of winter and into spring, I invite you to live this transition through a ritual of connecting to your roots and calling upon the support and strength that will sustain you in this new cycle, by connecting to an element of nature: the tree.

The intention for this ritual

Begin your ritual by setting your intention.

Decide on a tree of your choice with which you would like to connect. Then formulate your intention using the following inspiration:

  • To remember your own roots and the strength and grounding they give you.
  • To experience strength.
  • To remember all the support available to you in your next cycle.

This ritual can be done outside if you have access to a tree in your garden, park or woods near your home. Choose a place where you feel safe and will not be disturbed. If not, you can do this in your home connecting to a tree through a photo or image.

Take the time to write down any personal intentions you would like to include in this ritual. Use a notebook or journal to write down any keywords or ideas that come to you, then formulate a clear intention. For example:

  • Remember all the support available to me which I can draw on to thrive in this new cycle.
  • Reconnect to the faith in my life that will fuel my confidence.
  • Connect to the power of nature to awaken the strength within me.
  • Experience a moment of rejuvenation.

Ritual is a powerful transformative tool which can be incorporated into the daily routine, mark times of transition, or to celebrate specific moments.

The setup of your ritual space

The next step is to begin with setting up your ritual space which can be very simple or as elaborate as you like!

If you are outside:

  • Choose your tree.
  • Set up a blanket to sit on at the base of the tree allowing you to lean against it during the ritual.
  • Decorate your space by forming a sacred circle around you and your tree. You can do this with stones, flowers, leaves, branches, or anything else you find in nature.
  • Choose different items to make it personal: candles, incense, instruments, crystals, a small statue, a picture, fruits (as an offering or as a feast for the end of the ritual), etc.
  • Bring into the circle any tools you may need: your intention notes, a notebook and pen for writing or a recorder if you prefer to have a natural flow during the visualization, etc.
If you are inside:

  • Choose the space where you will do your ritual. You can sit in a comfortable chair, on your couch, or even on your bed with the altar in front of you, on a desk, tray, (or anything else) etc. You can also sit on the floor or, like many of my friends, do your ritual in your bath, a place where you can close the door and not be disturbed.
  • Decorate your space in the same way as suggested for the outside. Place flowers around you in a circle, crystals, a statue… anything that speaks to you. For the bathroom, add candles in the room and scented oils in your bathwater.
  • Place an image of a tree showing its large root system near you, to support your visualization.

The ritual

1. Mark the beginning of the ritual

Once you are ready, mark the beginning of your ritual. I like to form a circle by putting salt or tobacco as an offering all around me in the outer line of the circle. I call on all my helping spirits to assist me. I say a prayer to acknowledge the spirit of the tree and the nature spirits around me. You can sing a song, ring a bell, or play a drum. You can dance or just sit in silence.

2. Connect with the tree you have chosen

Whether it is the tree you are leaning against or the image of a tree in front of you, begin to visualize the tree, focusing on the roots deeply pushing into the earth, and start contemplating what nourishes the tree, and the communication of the trees with their environment.

Connect to the root system and use this image to think about your own roots! What represents the strongest roots in your life? What gives you the most security and keeps you strong during life’s challenges? Take your time to let the ideas and images come into your mind. Think of all the strengths you have that you might take for granted. Emotional strength, knowledge through education, knowledge through experience, friends and connections in the community, spiritual practices, and more. Take your time and be open to surprises. Let your emotions guide you.

Then direct your thinking to what feeds the tree. Where does it get its nutrients from? The soil around it provides all the food it needs to grow strong. What does the soil in which you are rooted provide you with? Where do you get your true nourishment? Gather images and ideas in your mind. If you need to, you can open your eyes and write them down or record them.

Direct your final thoughts to the communication that trees have with their environment. The root system has an elaborate form of communication with the other roots of the trees around them, through which the trees inform each other of possible diseases, allowing them to develop resistance in advance. Who or what is the support that you can rely on? Allow yourself to receive all the information and record your impressions and visions.

Before you step out of your visualization, take stock of all the amazing support and strengths you have to build your own personal root system for your life. Next, set an intention for your new cycle that begins this spring and think about your plans for the new year. What do you want to add to your life? What new branches or leaves will grow on your tree in this new season? These may be specific projects or qualities in your relationships, such as peace, harmony, strength, joy, and abundance. Make a clear statement and remind yourself of all the support and strength available to you through your roots.

3. Complete the ritual

Once you are out of your visualization, take notes of your experience. Let your creativity flow by listening to the inspirations and new ideas that may come naturally. You can continue to celebrate this new energy within you with a song, dance, or other creative project. Then thank all the spirits and people who have helped you with this ritual. Take time to undo your sacred space. Clean it up, put all the objects back in their place. You may wish to keep a representation of your ritual space. Keep a crystal, flower or leaf and place it on your personal altar as a reminder of this energy. You can also keep a small altar on a tray to continue your prayer and intention for a while longer. You will see, in the days to come you will feel the presence of the energy of your ritual!

This ritual ‘connecting to your roots’ will raise your energy to another level, at a time of year when we are entering the spring season. Connected to your own roots, you will be able to draw on your strengths and what nourishes you and find the support you need to bring your projects to life. To accompany you throughout the spring season, treat yourself to the Spring Ritual Box made up of a collection of our products which have been carefully selected for you to assist you to create your sacred space, and continue in the manifestation of your seasonal intentions.

 

A ritual to integrate into your daily life

A ritual to integrate into your daily life

Incorporating a daily ritual into your everyday schedule will have a number of benefits in your life. Taking a moment for yourself each day will not only provide a moment of reflection and calm, but will also bring clarity to your thoughts, open a door of communication with your intuition and inner wisdom, establish a daily practice to nourish your soul, and will provide a source of rejuvenation and renewal. Here is a suggested ritual that you can do in the morning or in the evening at your convenience.

Choose your ideal moment

To ensure a regular practice, it is important that you choose a time of day that will fit easily into your routine. The best time for the ritual is in the morning, when you first wake up, or in the evening, once your commitments for the day are finished. Personally, I like the morning time because I carry the energy of my ritual with me throughout the day. Other people like the evening because they find it a great way to release the stress of the day and create harmony after a busy day.

Your decision should be motivated by your personal needs. It is important that the ritual is not an extra task but a joy. It is your daily rendez-vous with yourself.

To ensure a regular practice, it is important that you choose a time during the day that will fit easily into your routine.

Preparing your place at your sacred altar

Before you begin your ritual, sit in front of your sacred altar. If you do not already have one, choose a place in your home where you can concentrate, ideally a quiet place where you can meditate. An altar is a physical space that is specifically dedicated for this purpose and connects us directly to the world of the invisible. Creating a sacred altar promotes instant connection to a sacred dimension.

If you don’t have a place to leave your altar permanently, placing it on a tray is a great solution so that you can move it at the time of your ritual and then put it back where you keep it when you are done. You can include a candle, incense holder, crystal, statue, image or any other object of your choice, as well as adding elements of nature.

Choose a place in your home where you can focus, ideally a quiet place where you can do your meditations.

Get ready to start your ritual

How you prepare for your ritual is important. Again, it’s a good idea to establish a routine and make sure you are fully prepared before you start, every time. Imagine that your phone suddenly starts ringing, chances are that it will distract you and your mind will drift away from your ritual!
 
Ritual preparations:
  • Determine a minimum amount of time for your ritual. Give yourself 15 to 20 minutes. If you have an appointment afterwards and are afraid of missing the time, place an alarm clock near you.
  • Make sure you are not disturbed. Turn off all your devices.
  • Make sure you have everything you need for your ritual at hand: notebook, pen, etc.
  • Make sure you are completely comfortable. You can sit in a chair with your altar on a table in front of you, or on the floor on your yoga mat. Be comfortable and warm.

Begin your ritual

When you start your ritual, follow the same steps every day.

1. Take a moment to settle in
 
Take a moment to arrive. Settle into a comfortable position, take a few deep breaths. Bring your awareness into the present moment and remind yourself that you are here for your daily ritual and to take a moment for yourself.
 
2. Cleanse the space
 
Light the candles, incense or sage. Do some smudging on yourself and your ritual space. The intention is to cleanse the energies and open a sacred space.
 
3. Mark the beginning of the ritual
 
Take a few long deep breaths to re-center yourself. Call on your spirit guide, ring a bell, sing a song or mantra to mark the beginning of your ritual. Remain in silence for a few minutes and prepare your contemplation.
 
4. Enter into contemplation
 
The focus of your contemplation may differ from day to day:
  • It may be a simple intention, such as bringing harmony to your day or evening.
  • You may have a specific topic you want to focus on. For example, the non-judgment you wish to develop in a specific relationship in your life.
  • You may like to offer a prayer of intention to solve a problem you are facing.
  • You contemplation can also be inspired by the seasons. Use their teachings as a source of inspiration, as we do with the inspiration cards in our ritual boxes. We reflect in the spring on new opportunities, in the summer on what motivates the growth of our actions, in the fall on our harvest and in the winter on inner silence.

Personally, I begin with a prayer of gratitude. I appreciate the sunrise, the birds on my bird feeder, the flowers in my garden, the ice crystals on my window. I let my mind go to what occupies me most and set an intention for the day ahead. I take time to write down my thoughts in my journal and write my intention on my intention cards.

Some days you can write down ideas and inspirations or just sit in silent meditation. Other times, you can follow a recorded visualizations, like on our private Facebook group “The witches cauldron”.

5. Complete your ritual

When you are finished, take a few breaths and refocus in your body. Remind yourself of your intention for the day or evening. Keep this thought with you as you go about your day or sleep. Take a moment to express your gratitude. Appreciate the time you have spent with yourself. Thank the spirit guides you were able to communicate with. Ring a bell to mark the end. Remember to blow out the candles and put all the objects you used back in their place. Allow the energy of your ritual to accompany you through the rest of your day or evening.

 

Integrating a daily ritual into your life will be a great way to maintain the connection with your altar. It is a place dedicated specifically to you for inspiration and to deeply nourish your soul. All the steps of the ritual are important. The more you repeat them, the more you will feel the impact of this powerful transformational tool in your life. Not only does ritual support spiritual practice and can maintain and nourish its flow, but it takes our energy to a level beyond the mind where our ideas, wishes, desires and needs can manifest.

Integrate a daily practice habit tailored to your need by following the WISDOMS OF THE SEASONS program online.

Creating a sacred altar for daily connection

Creating a sacred altar for daily connection

Life is full of activities every day. We get busy, we hurry, we navigate between work and family, and we forget our basic need for stillness, reflection and connection. All spiritual traditions have understood the importance of anchoring a daily practice to connect with ourselves. And this is precisely what creating a sacred altar is all about. By dedicating a space of our own in our home, and furnishing it with objects that connect us to a sacred dimension, we immediately find the path that leads us back to ourselves, where we are at peace and in tune with our inner voice.

A Sacred Altar: What is it?

An altar is a physical space that is specifically created by and for ourselves to connect us directly to the world of the invisible. It allows us to consciously take time for ourselves each day by connecting to the sacred. Its presence in our living space serves as a daily reminder of the importance of making a date with ourselves – when our agenda is always very full and will connect us directly to this space where it is possible to stop, go within and to find our answers. While it is also possible to create an outdoor altar and even a temporary one, creating a permanent altar right in the place where we live is a first step in taking care of ourselves every day of the year. Just by its presence in our daily environment an altar will establish an instant connection between us and the spirit world.

 

Creating a Sacred Altar:

  • Provides a physical space dedicated to us.
  • Provides a time for reflection and meditation.
  • Promotes communication with the spirits.
  • Reminds us that we are connected to something bigger than ourselves.
  • Allows us to receive love and be inspired.
  • Deeply nourishes our being.
  • Develops our creativity.
  • Facilitates regular practice and integration of discipline.
  • Brings magic into our lives!

All spiritual traditions have understood the importance of having a daily practice to connect with the Sacred.

Essentials of a Sacred Altar

You are now ready to create your own permanent altar at home. Here are some recommendations to help you with this process.

1. Find the right place for you

There is no right or wrong place to set up a sacred altar. In fact, any location can be suitable, as long as it meets your needs and the location is convenient. Your altar should be easily accessible and visible enough to be a part of your daily life. Listen to your heart, it knows what is good for you!

2. Design your altar

In addition to being a place for yourself to meditate and take time to reconnect, an altar is also a place that allows you to communicate with the spirit world through offerings which you put on it. You may place any objects on it, but also elements from nature. When feeling inspired to do so, you can, at any time remove, change or add an element.

Let yourself be inspired by our unique ritual objects handmade in Quebec.

Here are some basic points to follow:

  • Avoid clutter.
  • Make sure the altar is safe (candles or incense).
  • Choose items that do not pollute the environment by using as many natural objects as possible that are sustainable and can decompose naturally.
  • Take from nature only what you need and return to nature what is no longer suitable.
  • Clean it regularly and take care of it as you would take care of yourself.

3. Maintain the connection with your altar

Once your altar has been established, it is now time to integrate its use into your daily life, because it is not a decoration but a physical place that is dedicated to you and the spirit world! Set up a simple ritual, which you can repeat every day – or even twice a day, morning and evening – in order to create a habit for life. It should fit into your routine and reality, establishing a discipline in your life that will become a regular part of your daily life.

Check out a suggested ritual to incorporate into your daily routine.

It is essential to maintain the connection with your sacred altar. It is a commitment, an important relationship in your life that requires time and effort. In return, you will receive love and support.

The process that leads to the creation of your altar is a magical experience to live. In making your altar, you will touch directly on that creativity that is there within you and is just waiting to be expressed, in an open, non-judgmental space where your actions are guided by the heart. And on a daily basis, your permanent altar will create a moment of connection with yourself. By resting your body and mind and, by connecting you to a world much larger than yourself, it will connect you to your source of inspiration, all while feeling supported and sustained. What may take some effort at first will become part of your life and your life will be forever changed by it.

Get issue #1 of the publication Wisdom of the Witch to accompany you in creating your sacred altar.

Simply Raw Nature – A touch of magic

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Gita Nicola Schneider

gita@awakeningtouch.ca
819 323-1455

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AwakeningTouch is an invitation to reconnect to the teachings of the seasons and the power of ritual. Drawing inspiration from nature awakens your inner wisdom. Discovering your personal rhythm creates simple joyful moments. Awakening happens through the Touch of nature, the magic of sacred community, the experience of your inner wisdom, the knowing that you found your place in life, the joy of living in harmony.

© AwakeningTouch, 2023