Addiction, Habit, Ritual
One of my favorite ways to begin the day is to make myself a cup of tea or herba mate (Darjeeling with milk and honey is my favorite) and then – taking the tea with me – go walking outside. I love the peaceful, clear feeling of early morning: how the energy seems both settled and fresh.
Sometimes these walks are quite short – five or ten minutes – and sometimes they become longer excursions – an hour, ninety minutes or more. Though I have favorite places, mostly I let myself just wander, guided by intuition, by what I feel drawn to explore.
Often there is something that I see or hear (how cottonwood seeds are carried by the currents of Wonderland Creek, how the song of the tiniest bird can fill the entire morning) that pulses or shines in a way I’ve come to understand means: “I am the starting-point, the first image, of a poem …”
Oftentimes my thoughts will drift into prayer, usually chanted or sung (out loud if I seem to be alone, or internally if there are others present, who might be offended, or assign me a psychiatric diagnosis based upon such behavior). read more
Comments
I particularly liked your central question, asking how we differentiate between ritual and habit or addiction. I remember when I was younger being obsessed with the idea of not wanting to do anything out of habit. If I was walking somewhere, I would always try to find a different pathway between A and B. I did that with everything. I tried not to repeat myself, to avoid all obvious patterns. It was a fascinating exercise, but ultimately exhausting and even disorienting. I finally realized that patterns are important, maybe even essential to us. They represent a sort of a rhythm, an in-breath and an out-breath to our days. The earth itself moves in patterns. Here is what surprised me: The more I really settled into those rhythms and rituals, the more freed up I was. In the midst of a ritualized action, the mind can be both aware and at rest. That’s when magic happens…
Ivan
Thanks for stopping by, Ivan, and for your insightful comment. Yes ~ various spiritual practice forms, for one, are “patterns” which can serve us well, and which seem often derive their power from repetition. And I also find that certain daily rhythms provide a kind of comfort and feeling of safety ~ which can provide a “container” for all kinds of magic