ritual – CosmoMuse

[two_third] (Photo by Ann Whittaker of our Seasons of Greatness Workshop, January 28, 2017)[/two_third][one_third_last]Ann Whittaker, our muse of eloquence, guides us on a journey through beautiful mid-winter rituals to help us take advantage of Aquarius Season’s connection to humanity.

“Conquer the angry one by not getting angry; conquer the wicked by goodness; conquer the stingy by generosity, and the liar by speaking the truth.”
– Gautama Buddha, The Dhammapada

My desire for tenderness, compassion, and generosity are potent these days. It’s midwinter, and all I want to do is make sure that hearts are warm, and that we are gathering to propel each other’s dreams forward–working together to unearth any dormant resources or to uncover the pathways that will move humanity into inspiring systems that can create beauty.[/one_third_last]

[full_width]None of us can do anything meaningful alone. We need each other. We need collective courage when we are afraid; we need collective trust when we are uncertain; we need collective imagination when we forget that darkness is where creation begins; we need collective tenderness when criticism lashes out.

DAILY, WE REACH OUT
Aquarian Rituals

Most days I run into fear, anxiety, anger, self-doubt, stinginess, or regret in some form or another. I’m hoping to be more present and aware when the ego creeps up by tending to these daily rituals that will keep me focused on contributing to this good world and the humans who inhabit it. [/full_width]

[one_sixth][/one_sixth][one_third padding=”3% 0 0 0″]MORNING: Light up your room, light up the world
Light a candle in the dark of the morning. Take notice of your breath. Notice if you have any fears, any self-doubt, any feelings of scarcity or possessiveness. Notice. Then present yourself with other options. If you are worried a new project isn’t gaining traction, reach out to friends or colleagues that you admire. Or, better yet, take a break from your own work, and be a light for someone else–who can you give your time, your heart for an hour or two? [/one_third][one_third][/one_third][one_sixth_last][/one_sixth_last]

[one_sixth][/one_sixth][one_third][/one_third][one_third padding=”3% 0 0 0″]MIDDAY: Turn on the music, identify the patterns
Find some inspiration in music or any art that you particularly enjoy. We love art because we love patterns. How can you tap into an art world of ideas, patterns, composition, and imagination to move forward on a project? Let the work of others inspire you–continue and expand upon conversations that have been going on for centuries.

(Try our Aquarius Season Spotify playlist: a mix of all our Muses Aquarian inspired faves)[/one_third][one_sixth_last][/one_sixth_last]

[one_sixth][/one_sixth][one_third]EVENING: What have you gained, and how will you share it?
Each day we acquire new knowledge, new hopes, new wounds, new insight, new resources. The truth is, none of it is really ours. How does a person actually “own” knowledge? Do we even really “own” our wounds, or can we let them pass through us, and let them exit us with tenderness? Can you be vulnerable without being dramatic? How can your new insight help someone who is struggling? What knowledge did you gain that can help a friend? Perhaps you are sitting on an abundance of resources that need to start flowing into the community. Write down the things you gained during the day, and identify a person or group who you would like to share it with. [/one_third][one_third] (Another image by Ann Whittaker of our recent Seasons of Greatness workshop, gathering and sharing with our loved community)[/one_third][one_sixth_last][/one_sixth_last]

[full_width]“One of the marvelous things about community is that it enables us to welcome and help people in a way we couldn’t as individuals. When we pool our strength and share the work and responsibility, we can welcome many people, even those in deep distress, and perhaps help them find self-confidence and inner healing.”
– Jean Vanier[/full_width]

[two_third][/two_third][one_third_last]Pack your bags muses! We’re about to travel the world right from a local coffee shop or cafe. CosmoMuse contributor, Ann Whittaker, takes us through her expansive Sagittarius Season rituals. Photography by Ann Whittaker | Location: La Barba Coffee

I’m sitting in a cafe in Salt Lake City, but I might as well be sitting in a teahouse in Hagi, Japan. Because the universal lives in the particular. Would I rather be sitting in Hagi? Absolutely. But am I happy to be working in Salt Lake City? Yes. No question. Because it’s all a piece in the puzzle. Sometimes my mind contracts around what I’m not doing, where I’m not traveling, and wondering if I’ll ever get to where I’m headed. Because right now I’m sitting in a coffee shop in Salt Lake City–far, far away from a teahouse in a place I want to be.

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[one_third padding=”10% 0 0 0″]Enter Sagittarius. Enter perspective. Enter truth and expansion.

This small moment in Salt Lake City is Hagi, Japan because it’s one of the steps that will lead me there sooner or later. So, I repeat to myself, “This is Salt Lake City. This is Hagi.” I’m already there. I’m exploring this moment to its depths, so that I can explore Hagi to its depths when I get there. Practice expansion. Practice seeing the universe in this very moment.

Here’s some rituals for Sagittarius season you can implement into your daily routine to bring visionary wisdom and experiences.[/one_third][two_third_last][/two_third_last]

[one_half][/one_half][one_half_last padding=”5% 0 0 0″]SEEK
Seeking is about asking questions–the kind of questions that ask you to see something in a new light. Seeking is seeing. We get caught up in our daily routines, and they become a burden to us because we don’t open our eyes to the subtleties and nuances that make the mundane remarkable. The small details truly are threads in a universal tapestry that you’re weaving into the wholeness of your life.

Think about one of your daily tasks. Ask yourself these questions to bring new light, new vision to something you see/do every day:

1. Why do I do this?
2. Whom do I do it for? (The answer can be you do it for you.)
3. Who else probably does this same task day after day?
4. How does this thread, this task, tie in to your entire life tapestry?
5. Why does it matter?[/one_half_last]

[full_width]QUEST
A quest is about bringing movement to your questions. The ultimate adventure is to ask a question, and then walk the path that presents itself to you. Do something different; open a new door; sing a new song.

A quest takes courage–it requires all the faith you can muster. All you know is the question. You don’t know the answer. Stay open, and listen to new ideas that present themselves to you–the more absurd, the better.

Try any of these things to bring a Sagittarian quest into this season:

1. Find the world in your community. Look for a new international restaurant run by immigrants in your area, and make it one of your go-to eateries. Befriend other patrons and the people who work there. Open up your world through food, new friends, and new experiences.
2. Read a book you wouldn’t normally read. Think of a friend who would love to know you’re reading it, and will “guide” you as you approach a new subject or genre. See where it leads your imagination.
3. Identify something you’ve been avoiding–something you’ve always wanted to do, but haven’t because you didn’t know where to begin or just haven’t made the time. Do it. Put it on the calendar this week. [/full_width]

[one_third padding=”6% 0 0 0″]SHOOT FOR THE STARS

Sometimes we diminish our own dreams, our own desires, our own passions. Because something is “easy” for us, we feel we don’t have the luxury to spend time on them. Truthfully, we all know that the “easy” things are our callings–it’s what we can really contribute to the world. And it matters. It matters like the stars matter in a dark sky. You are the guiding light for someone else. Even if your talent seems small, it’s huge to someone else.

Initiate one of your dreams into your daily routines. After all, you’ll never become a writer later in life if you’re not writing today, right?[/one_third][two_third_last][/two_third_last]

Tag: ritual

Seeking All Possibilities for Expansive Perspective