Morning Meditations
I’m a big fan of a morning routine. It helps set the tone for the day. My morning rituals have varied over time - a nice long walk while living in Florida, a morning run back when my body felt capable of running, a steaming cup of coffee replaced now by a nice hot cup of tea. While parts of my routine have changed depending on the season of life, a few things have remained constant.
Journaling
I will forever and always be a loyalist to a black hard-covered, blank-paged Moleskine journal paired with a black Pilot G2 0.7mm pen. Yes, this is weirdly specific, but it’s a combination that cannot be beaten in my humble opinion. I used to aim for 3 full pages of stream of conscious writing, as advised in The Artist’s Way, of which I’ve read Chapter 1 approximately 25 times and have yet to make it any further. Now I write until the thoughts running through my head are on paper and my mind quiets down. I’ve been consistently journaling for well over a decade at this point. Writing helps me process my emotions and notice patterns in the way I think. Spoiler alert: all the journals are filled with the same sentiment, “I DON’T KNOW WHAT I’M DOING WITH MY LIFE!” Which is a theme that still rings true to this day. Progress, not perfection. One day at a time. One page at a time.
Reading
I’ve had this meditation book for many years now and I still find great joy in starting each day with the inspirational and reflective passages. I’m a big fan of Melody Beattie’s ability to write such thought-provoking passages that aren’t overly complex or wordy. I tend to get deterred from meditations that are time-consuming. I know myself well enough to know I won’t be dedicating 20-30 minutes to any form of meditation. Maybe someday, but today is not that day. Over the years I’ve underlined portions that resonate with me (which are fun to happen upon years later) and have stuffed many flowers, leaves, and feathers between the pages.
Another book I’ve really been enjoying, by recommendation from a close friend, is The Pivot Year, by Brianna Wiest. Similar to Beattie, Wiest has the incredible ability to write in an impactful way that’s easy to digest. The book is broken into a daily reflection, not associated with a particular day of the year, which makes it easy to pick it up anytime. You can read it day by day, or randomly flip to a page.
Tarot
This one’s a little more woo-woo, but hear me out. I have no idea how to truly read tarot cards, nor do I have any intention of learning. Yet, still, I enjoy drawing at least one or two cards as part of my morning ritual. I usually think of a general question like, “Where should I focus my energy today?” and then shuffle and draw whichever card is calling to me. I take it all with a grain of salt, but I find it’s a great tool for introspection. For example, it’s interesting to note what first comes to mind when the card I pull says something like “a difficult decision, bring more balance into your life, or a relationship that’s causing stress.” Taking note of what the short blurb first brings to mind helps me focus on stressors or joys that may not be at the forefront of my mind otherwise. Plus, I genuinely love the illustrations of the deck I use. I love the watercolored accents and the focus on the natural elements of plants and animals depicted on each card.
