March 26th, 2018
By Gogo Thule Ngane
Guest writer for Wake Up World
I have to admit that I have mastered the art of staying in bed as long as humanly possible before suddenly jumping up, and rushing through the day to make it to my job or appointments. At least half of the time this appears to work. I get up, I go, and I get it done. However, by the end of the day I feel depleted, soul-less, purposeless, and completely tapped out. I know I am doing myself a great disservice.
Aside from the normal routines of bathing, eating well, and remembering your keys before you leave home, I invite you to join me in committing to at least one soulful ritual in the morning.
A lot of times we tend to try to make a lot of changes and implement all of our goals all at once. We put too much pressure on ourselves to change. Real lasting change is gradual, integrated consciously, and repeated often. You have to give yourself room to see what is no longer working, find ways to let those things go, and then make room for new and empowering practices — all the while being gentle and compassionate towards yourself.
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Below you will find three rituals you can do every morning that will help you feel more centered and full of purpose in the midst of your hectic life.
Ritual #1: Practicing Stillness
I know that everywhere you turn, the wellness community is encouraging you to meditate. Well, that’s because it’s important. Yes, meditate, be still, and get quiet. Just 10 minutes a day will transform your life. (Don’t believe me? Learn more about the benefits of meditation here. The studies on this are piling up.)
At the end of the day, when we feel tired or drained, the sting really kicks in and we question what all this work and running around is for. We come home accomplishing what seems like a lot, putting all this energy into other people’s goals and wellbeing, but feel unappreciated. I have come home from work many times, looked around, and wondered, “Well, who is going to put the same level of energy into me?!”
The truth is that you can’t control anybody else, and you certainly can’t expect more from others than you are willing to give of yourself. If you can’t give yourself 10 minutes in the morning, why should anybody else?
So take that time. Pour into you. Meditate. Take deep breaths in through your nose and exhale out through your mouth. Deep, cleansing breaths connect you with your innermost yourself, nourish your spirit, and fill you up with energy before you begin giving to others for the day.
Ritual #2: Purposeful Journaling
I have just recently come to love the ritual or practice of journaling. I know that many of us feel more and more called to search for purpose and meaning in our lives as we get older. At times “purpose” feels like a huge idea, a concept too big and abstract to grasp onto in our day to day lives.
A powerful way to bring more purpose and clarity into your life is to write out your reflections with the following prompt inspired from the text A Course in Miracles. Ask your source the following questions (whether that be God, the Universe, or the angels and ancestors): Who would you have me be? What would you have me do? How would you have me serve?
Prompting yourself in this way daily will begin to open you up to the little pathways where you can have a positive impact in your own life, as well as the lives of others. This will challenge you to find and weave purpose, meaning, and value into your life—all of which nourishes the soul by encouraging you to become more of who you truly are everyday.
Ritual #3: Moving Mindfully
Before you get out of bed, take a minute to feel into your body. Pay attention to the areas that are sore or uncomfortable due to possibly sleeping in the wrong position or even areas you just haven’t been honoring. Consciously stretch and move your body in the areas that want or need attention. This is important because as we breeze through our day and focus deeply on tasks and work, we impose large blocks of time where the sensations and signals in our body are being ignored.
The body is one of the greatest sources of information for our well-being. We can feel imbalances in our bodies long before announcements from our doctors and healthcare practitioners. A lot of us have lost this sense of being in touch and in tune with our bodies, because the signals and inner wisdom are drowned out by work, responsibilities, TV, social media, and the many other things that distract us.
Take a few minutes to see what part needs a stretch, gentle massage, and/or affirmations of self-love and appreciation. After all, your body is the temple that houses your beautiful soul.
Hopefully, these small rituals will help you feel more connected to yourself.
“You deserve you, just as much as the rest of the world does.”
A little soulful change in the mornings can empower you for the whole day. Commit often and journey soulfully.
Also by Gogo Thule Ngane:
- 3 African Proverbs to Live By
- Why We Honor The Ancestors
- Kundalini Awakening from an African Perspective
- Why The World Needs Healers
About the author:
Gogo Thule Ngane is a Sangoma Traditional Healer, Priestess, and Medicine Woman. She is guided by the Amadlozi, Elevated Ancestors of her lineage. Her work includes divination, traditional healing, and leads workshops, ceremonies, and retreats on ancient African healing and spirituality. She is devoted to awakening ancestral wisdom on the earth.
Journey with her at:
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