My husband and I are members of 52Frames, a creative community where participants shoot and submit one photo every week for a year. It is a guided photography challenge. Every week, 52Frames posts a new assignment.Â
Last week’s challenge was ‘My Daily Routine’.
This week, we’re asking you to share with us. Give us a peek into a slice of your day.
Who knows? Something that you might consider mundane and routine might well be thought of as being super cool by others. Share a moment of your day that makes what you do special – whether it’s in the company of others or perhaps a moment of solitude far from the madding crowd.
Consider letting in others into a moment that defines you – perhaps as you indulge in a hobby or passion – whether it’s cooking, gardening, working out, painting or anything else that’s part of the daily grind. It doesn’t have to be something around the house or even indoors, but hopefully it’s something you do on a near-daily basis.
Show us the things that matter – maybe a family tradition, or a favoured nook or something you do consistently at a particular time of day.
I shot and submitted a photo of my altar.
This photo is a glimpse into my morning practice, an essential part of my devotion that helps set the right tone for the day ahead. It varies a little each day. Here’s what my morning practice looks like.
Acknowledgement of Country
I begin with a verbal acknowledgement. I live on the Wurundjeri land of the Kulin nation. I acknowledge the spirits of this land, the traditional custodians, and pay my respects to elders past, present, and emerging.
Offerings to my ancestors
I light a candle for my ancestors and recite a prayer. On Mondays, which I dedicate to them, I recite a longer prayer and refresh the glass of water I keep on the ancestral shrine. I may also offer coffee, food, and music.
Offerings to my Guerreros
Guerreros, the Spanish word for warriors, refers to the warrior orishas: Eleggua, Ogun, Ochosi, and Osun. On Mondays, I light a candle for them and make offerings of, at least, water. I may also offer coffee, rum, toys, candies, and food.
Offerings to the Goddess
I have shrines to several goddesses, but I don’t tend to them all every day. On my main working altar, shown above, I honour one goddess every month. Each morning, I light a candle for her and recite a prayer, hymn, or other words of praise.
On Fridays, I also make offerings to Yemaya, Oshun, and Aphrodite.
I take a few minutes to speak with all these spirits, thank them for their blessings, ask them for their continued guidance, and so forth.
Smoke purification and offerings
I burn incense or herbs and purify my space, myself, and make smoke offerings to the spirits.
Meditation
I meditate for at least 15 minutes. Meditation has been shown to have many health benefits. It reduces stress and anxiety, enhances self-awareness, lengthens attention span, increases positive feelings, and more.
Meditation didn’t come easy. My mind was often crowded, and it was hard to focus my attention. That’s common and subsides with practice. I started with a free 10-day beginner’s course from Headspace. Occasionally, I still use a guided meditation, but mostly I meditate against a background of a singing bowl and Om chants.
Meditation gives me a sense of calm and balance that stays with me all day. It also gives me great insight into the sacred and mystical work that I do.
More magick and prayers
On some days, I will perform additional magick and prayers. That’s usually fulfilling requests for healing, prayer, and energy.
Divination
On Wednesdays, I draw a tarot or oracle card. I chose a different deck each month, one that usually reflects the goddess I’m honouring that month. I’m thinking about drawing a daily card in 2022.
I set aside 30 minutes for my morning practice. Some mornings are easier than others. Sometimes it seems like I need to skip my morning practice, especially when I haven’t had a good night’s sleep and I’ve hit the snooze button too many times, when I feel like I might be running late for work, or when I wake up feeling grumpy. But I try not to because when my energy is low or agitated, this practice brings me back to the centre and helps keep me connected to the essential spirits in my life.
