Rituals, the sacred predecessor to routines.
Rituals have been an eminent part of human life throughout history. They define and describe us to signal to the world who we are and what we represent.
In a more poetic origin, rituals have been called the language of myths. The oldest cultures engaged in ritualistic behaviour to unite with their beliefs and with one another. In our modern world, this quality lives on.
We hold our rituals sacred for they give our lives meaning and purpose. Our ancestors found rituals crucial to maintaining society. Today, they serve as that and much more.
The way we greet the mornings, what we do before bedtime, the music that permeates our lives, the hobbies that fill our days, and the foods we choose to savour are all rituals that both ground us and offer immense abundance.
Don’t mistake routines for rituals. Routines are a series of habits that offer consistency, structure, and convenience to our lives. They are a construct born from our urgency to be productive and efficient. They are valuable but are not often treasured.
Rituals, on the other hand, are rooted in culture and embedded in tradition. Rituals are usually mindful acts that we revel in. Starting your day with coffee might be part of your routine but how you make it can be a ritual. Walking after lunch might be customary but walking with a companion could become a ritual. A ritual is often treasured.
The difference is in the sentiment and mindset behind it.
I delight in making my morning coffee. I recently bartered the nimble and brisk coffee maker, Aeropress, for a slow-paced barista-grade coffee machine. Given I lack the dexterous skills of a trained barista, I take my time to make my coffee, savoring every moment of the 5 minutes it takes me to grind, froth, and pour. And in doing so, I brought more ritual into my routine and epically, my coffee tastes more luscious now.
While routines can be rigid and mundane, rituals offer space for us to embrace our interests and be intentional. Routines are about getting things done but rituals invite you to be present.
As we’re still teetering on the precipice of New Year celebrations, I find myself still reflecting on my days. While I need and appreciate my routines, I want to welcome more rituals into my life.
This year, I choose more play, music, and slowness. And with that perspective, I can even bring more richness into my routines. It’s said that monks can turn even ordinary activities like eating or bathing into mindful rituals. Writers are known to indulge in the affluence of rituals to help with the sometimes trying task of writing. I was pleasantly surprised to learn that one of my favourite authors, Haruki Murakami, found swimming and running a way to mesmerise himself into a state of flow. He considers physical strength necessary for artistic sensitivity and has ritualised running to music.
So, what do you want in abundance this year?
Our ancestors believed in a kinship with the spirit world and manifested their beliefs through rituals. What lifts your spirits and emboldens your beliefs? What would you like to manifest in your life?
Make them the essence of your rituals.
Hi! I’m Smriti, a product designer doing her best work at the intersection of design, technology, and well-being. Writing is my favorite form of creativity, and I share interesting stories about design and everyday life. If you found my musings interesting, here’s a big joyful thank you. 🙌
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