Stay At Home In Style: Morning and Evening Rituals

Each day is born with a sunrise
and ends in a sunset, the same way we
open our eyes to see the light,
and close them to hear the dark.

Heartwork , Suzy Kassem

One of the things that comforts me in times of uncertainty is the continuity of morning and evening. There’s such reassurance that the sunrise and the sunset will mark the beginning and end of each day no matter what has happened in-between.

The rituals we can create around dressing in tune with this natural rhythm of the Universe can help ground us when everything else is topsy turvy.

If you’ve fallen into the habit, these last months, of wearing flannel PJ bottoms by day, consider changing into something a little more special at bedtime. Slipping into a silky neglige or a pair of satin pajamas trimmed with lace, or wrapping yourself in a silk robe can become a ritual that invites you to enter into a time of rest. Brushing your hair, cleansing your face, listening to soothing music, folding your clothes, are just some of the ways to let go of the thoughts and concerns of the day and join the rest of nature as she prepares to sleep.

Or perhaps you need a morning ritual to help you rise to meet the challenges of the day. Have you set an intention to walk more? Try laying out your walking clothes so that they greet you in the morning and invite you to keep your daily commitment. Do you want to start your day with a more meditative practice? A pair of cozy slippers, a soft blanket and your favorite journal and pen can call you to participate in a calm and contemplative morning ritual. Or perhaps your day begins with an early morning zoom call. What clothes will you wear to express your intention and support you for the business at hand?

We can also create morning and evening rituals in the way we approach our daily routines. Pulling back the drapes to let in the sunshine, taking an invigorating shower, applying your make-up, laying out the breakfast dishes with care, filling the kettle or feeding the dog can be routine tasks that take on special meaning if we choose. Our ritual for greeting the new dawn.

And the evening hours of lighting candles, preparing our dinner and tidying away the pieces of our day that remain strewn throughout the house can be ways in which we prepare for some relaxation in the evening, helping us to temporarily set aside the cares of our work.

“Then God separated the light from the darkness, and he named the light “Day” and the darkness “Night.” Evening passed and morning came—that was the first day.” Genesis 4:1

Have your morning and evenings, your days and your nights, your sunrises and sunsets lost their special demarkation in your dressing and your routines? A return to the rhythm that was created for us may be just what you need to ground and center you this year. What special rituals will you create for yourself, to start and end your day?