Morning Rituals that Balance and Revitalize

The beauty of feng shui and space clearing practices is that they can be used every single day to freshen and revitalize one’s living spaces and to create a feeling of balance and inner peace.

In Thailand, where I’ve lived for four years, people use simple, daily rituals to create exactly this sense of balance and revitalization.

Now, I’m not a morning person, but when I do manage to get up early I am rewarded with a glimpse of Thai tradition. Starting at sunrise, orange-robed monks make their rounds, collecting offerings of rice into their large metal bowls. The smell of jasmine fills the air. And, in the coolness of morning, people begin to sweep the steps and walkways of their homes and businesses.

All over the city, bamboo brooms make a gentle scraping sound on the sidewalks. Long, deliberate strokes create a clear, even rhythm. Some see this as a “sweeping meditation” that helps clear the mind and calm the spirit. When the sweeping is finished and the area is clean of dust and fallen leaves, they sprinkle water, light incense and put out offerings of food and flowers to honor Buddha, the ancestors and the nature spirits.

With these simple actions bad luck is swept away while good fortune and blessings are coaxed in. The home is renewed and cleansed. The prosperity of the business is ensured.

These morning rituals are incorporated into the fabric of Thai life in a way that is as commonplace as you or I savoring a morning cup of coffee or reading the paper. And, though we may not sweep our sidewalk each morning, I think it’s important for each of us to find ways to bring the sacred into every day life. Simple, heartfelt morning practices can help harmonize our environment, calm our minds, and set the tone for the day.

What would you invent?

Maybe watering your garden could become a focusing “meditation”. Perhaps you could start the day with some yoga. Or light a candle and take a quiet moment each morning to still your mind or offer a prayer. One friend of mine begins her morning by tending to her many birdfeeders. She then enjoys a cup of tea while reviewing her “to do” list and watching her feathered guests arrive for their breakfast.

Whatever morning ritual you create, let it fill your day with more peace, clarity and joy! 

Copyright Deb Swingholm, 2007.  All rights reserved.