We all have rituals that give our lives a greater sense of depth, even if they may seem meaningless to the world around us. Because rituals seem to be more and more subjective, at times completely removed from the traditional ideas of sacred or profane, they seem to possess a pleasant sort of plasticity these days. Over time– some rituals grow and others shrink, and many are abandoned completely to make room for new practices.
And when I use the word ritual—it’s conceptualized in the healthiest sense as the routine things we do that bring us enjoyment, reflection, restoration.
An annual ritual of mine is to begin knitting scarves a few days before the autumn equinox. At least one of these scarves is for myself, I admit. But it’s unusual if I still have that scarf from one year to the next, because it often ends up being given away. Aside from knitting myself a scarf, I also like to begin knitting a few more for gifts. Believe me, I’m not a particularly skilled knitter. My scarves are by no means in high demand, but I do like to give the people close to me gifts that I’ve made myself and the gesture seems to please people– so far, at least!
You see, my knitting time is twofold; it’s pragmatic but it also gives me a lot more than a few scarves. The process of making something with my hands can be like a moving meditation—helping me to focus on a single task when my mind really just wants to run wild in all directions. An active brain can really help out during a hectic, busy day. But it can also become an annoyance, preventing mindfulness and potentially ramping up unneeded stress. Even fifteen minutes of knitting a night helps to slow my thoughts and bring me back to the present.
So, as the equinox approaches, my yarn and knitting needles are making their way out of the basket and into the living room. Though, it still isn’t terribly cold where I am—pretty mild, actually—I’m looking forward to spending a few hours alone with my materials over the next month.
What are your own rituals? And are there any that you would like to start? As always, please feel free to leave a comment with your ideas; I’d love to read them!
