Recharge and the power of ritual

This month again I am invited to take a closer look at where and how we can find time in our busy lives to re-charge. Speaking with body workers, therapists and healers alike, there can not be enough emphasis on our minds and bodies need to recharge. Each day we are challenged on multiple levels, many of us leading intricate lives with many, many roles to play each day.

At the same time we aspire to grow, to work on ourselves, to develop. And although much of this happens simply by us connecting to others and dealing with the everyday challenges, most of it happens when we rest. When there is time and space and silence to let it settle in. It is in times of rest where what has been taken in is absorbed, can integrate. Just as important as gathering the information, it is importannt to make time so it can be incorporated, saved and prepared for access when needed.
Once we integrate, we make space for new information, for new apprehension.

Recharging can be anything from meditation to giving yourself and your body whatever it needs, this may also be, giving it into the hands of someone else to enjoy a massage, a treatment or a session. Recharging can be the practice of letting go, of giving in and of trusting, that what needs to be, will be.

I have recently re-discovered the power of ritual for myself. Rituals have been in all of our cultures for centuries and at least in Germany, have been almost entirely forgotten. Yet there are those that have remained, passed on from generation to generation and are still practised today.

In the North the winter brings cold darkness. The darker it becomes, the more we long for the light. It seems it has been this way always and I suppose, our far away ancestors had far less assurance that the sun would surely return, bringing it`s light and warmth, unfreezing the ground to again bring forth new life. Not having access to the knowledge we have today, rituals were the only power available.

One of these rituals of the North still practised today are the “Rauhnächte”, the 12 nights right after Christmas, ending with the night ot the 7th of January. Each day represents one day of the coming year. (25th of Dec. being January and so on)

These 12 days are sacred and especially the nights are used to oracle, a time to perform rituals with the intention of receiving revelations for the future. It is also recommended to pay specail attention to your dreams during this time, as the veil to the spirit world is especially thin and messages may be received.

As it was believed that lost spirits were roaming outside in the darkness, the dark time oft he day is to be spent inside. The long evenings are to be spent alone or with the family, paying special attention to what comes up when interacting with one another or when alone, as each night is said to reveal the general course of next years month.

Keeping the coming year in mind it is recommended to pay special attention towards our behaviour when interacting with family and relatives, focusing on good intentions and practicing gentleness and kindness with one another and oneself.

It is also good time to cleanse spaces with smudging to remove all unwelcome spirits and any negative energies that may have gathered in your home, office or any other space you spend time in throughout the year.

When lighting the herbs to cleanse your space, you can ask for protection from illness and negativity and open the space for new, positive energy to set the tone for the coming year. Typical herbs used are mugwort, one oft he most powerful herbs for protection in the North, but also Sage, frankincense and juniper work well.

I will take the invitation to recharge on these 12 days after Christmas, integrating all that was in 2018 and preparing for the coming of the new year and the light of the longer days. Like a 12 day Shavasana after a 12 month practice. A time of integration and reflection, of letting go of all that has become unnessary and is in the way. A time to focus and meditate on what I would like to invite into my life and to transform and heal all that is in need of transformation and healing. With gentleness and ease, softly making space and time to recharge.

I wish you all a gentle transition into the New Year, may it bring joy and prosperity.

With love
Charu