so i was reading New Moon Magic: 13 Anti-Capitalist Tools for Resistance and Re-Enchantment by Risa Dickens and Amy Torok for some inspiration on the Virgo new moon and that chapter of the book contained something that got me thinking.
the authors discuss how a ritual is a repetitive action that accumulates results over time, not only in a magical practice. so for example, a skincare routine is a ritual with the accumulating goal of improving the condition of your skin as well as maintaining its health.
so i wanted to shortly reflect of some aspects of my daily life that could be seen as rituals and this may inspire you to look at the mundane a bit more magically too! if you're pagan like me, you could also see these rituals as actions you do for the gods, as offerings or devotional activities.
showering
this one is the obvious one. showering is the ritual to keep yourself generally clean. i never really thought of it as a ritual because i don't enjoy showering too much but i always feel clean and rejuvenated afterwards. having a shower or a bath could then be seen as a small cleansing ritual, getting you ready for the day ahead or purifying you from the day's troubles.
similar to this could be routines such as skincare, brushing your teeth, cutting your nails and other body cleanliness or maintenance tasks.
taking meds
for me this is specifically taking my testosterone which i do every day. it has become a routine so i don't really think about it much anymore but i should! it is a commitment i am making to my body and my happiness and similarly to the shower one, it is something that makes me feel happier and more in touch with myself.
if you also take meds, you can also think about the action as a ritual that prepares you for the day ahead (if you take them in the morning) or as the maintenance of your body and/or mind. if you don't take meds you could instead apply this to other morning routines such as eating breakfast, cooking food, taking vitamins or having a cup of coffee.
evening routine/ritual
in the evening i do multiple things that calm me down and set my mind into "getting ready for sleep" mode. i used to struggle with sleep a lot due to my adhd but i have since incorporated things that help me fall asleep more easily. now that i'm assessing this routine through a different lens, it seems more like a ritual, a series of motions that help me set my mind onto something and achieve my goal.
during my evening routine/ritual, i first take my melatonin which helps me to fall asleep in a timely manner. then i go floss and brush my teeth. after this i usually turn my laptop off, directing myself away from my desk and towards the bed. finally, i do my evening skincare routine and go lay in bed and while i sometimes still go on my phone or read, i am usually able to fall asleep soon enough. in a sense, this is a ritual that helps me fall asleep and have a good rest.
studying/going to school
while i have recently finished my degree, now in retrospect i see studying and going to school as a ritual which helps me build my future. thanks to education i have been able to not only learn many important and interesting things, i have also learned about myself and figured out what I want in life. while school and studying isn't always fun (let's be real, it's mostly not fun) it can be really beneficial to you, your sense of self and your future. so, you can think about it as a long-term ritual.
if you don't study (anymore) you can still apply this to other aspects of your life. for example, if you're looking for work like me, you can think of applying for jobs as a prosperity ritual, same thing with going to work. you could also see reading a book or doing research the same way.
other things that you could see as rituals
hanging out with friends - a ritual that maintains friendship, brings happiness and support etc.
cleaning your room/house, doing laundry, taking out the trash etc. - a ritual to keep your life and home organised and clan
charging and cleaning your electronic devices - a ritual to keep them working and in good shape
doing groceries - a ritual to keep you going and/or help you stay healthy
binding - a ritual to make you feel more comfortable in your body and/or to help you pass
Bed time Routine: This can be as simple as brushing your teeth right before bed to as complex as doing a yoga routine, drinking some sleep tea, meditating, cleaning your face and teach, and doing a small ritual for the theoi. Just something that gets your body and mind ready for the rest ahead.
Naps: Take naps when you can and need them.
Lavender and Poppies: Poppies are his devotional flower and lavenders are simply calming and often used in sleep teas. So having imagery of these plants or wearing jewlery/clothes with their print is a great way to honor him.
Sleep/Dream Journal: Keep track how much sleep you are getting and how good of sleep you get. As well as any dreams you have during that sleep.
Birds: Hypnos often took the form of a song bird. So go bird watching, listen to bird sounds before bed, or even find a way to help care for birds, whether by dedicating the care of a beloved pet to him or by donating to bird sanctuaries.
hi! i’m very new to this (i just found out about kemeticism and felt more interest in it than i have anything else) and i’m wondering if it would be okay to start dedicating my essays and papers to Thoth (i’m an english major) and how i would go about doing this? and also should i only dedicate certain ones to Him?
Hello!
So you can absolutely dedicate your essays to Thoth!
If the topic of your essays is appropriate you could write it in honour of Thoth. Giving your act of study and research as a devotion.
You could also ask Thoth to guide your hand and give you wisdom for more difficult assignments. You could ask him to watch over your research and helpful guide you to the best resources.
When I did my degree, I would often find myself writing about the gods. When I did, I gave them offerings and always tried I ensure that what I wrote about them was my best possible effort.
☀️☀️☀️
It’s really up to you exactly how you want to dedicate your essays to Thoth and there are more ways then the ones I’ve given above, these are just examples! Good luck in your research!
I hope this was helpful and please let me know if you have any more questions :D
If anybody wants their deity drawn badly just ask me And I'm not being humble I really do mean legitimately badly. I feel like anything done with effort is a devotional activity and I'm bored. So umm... go wild I guess? If your god is represented as an animal at all I will draw them like that because I'm not going to inflict my human drawings on you guys.
