Evening Wind Down Ritual
What Is A Ritual + Why We Need Them
Rituals have never been more important than right now. Some of us are drifting and need some routine, others of us are busier than ever on zoom and needing to wind down earlier, otherwise we're buzzing of the EMF of our computer screens and feeling wired.
What is a ritual? It comes from the word rhythm or repetition - and something that gives us the space and opportunity to be conscious of ourselves. Some of the seemingly simplest tasks can be made into rituals if we chose. A fantastic place to start is morning and evening rituals.
For me they are an integral part of Spiritual Nutrition - just like brushing our teeth every morning and evening is good for our physical health - meditation is also just as important for our wellbeing. I've put together a very simple run through of some of my fav evening rituals to help you wind down, including putting my phone 'to bed', music and gratitude practices, magical bath and a meditation to close down the day and let go of others energies to enter in the dream state as much in my own frequency as possible.
I love bedtime rituals to really signal to my body “it’s time for sleep”. At the end of the day I’m conscious to have a ‘wind down’ ritual, and I think during lockdown I’ve really gotten into this routine even more.
Switching My Phone off, Switching My Wind Down Playlist On
The ritual starts with running the bath and then whilst the tub is filing I put my phone on aeroplane and do not disturb mode and put on my fav Evening Wind Down Playlist. This is signifying it’s time to switch off from the world and spend a few minutes coming back to myself to be grateful for all that’s come to pass during the day and letting go of what’s not mine and coming back into my unique energetic frequency. Whilst the bath starts to fill I use this time to tidy away any clothes or clutter in the bedroom as part of this winding down ritual.
Cleansing Bath
Then I head back to bath when it’s about mid way full and I add 2 handfuls of Magnesium Salt. I always add salt to my baths as it helps with your bodies on salt balance. A macrobiotic told me if I just bathe in plain water, that through osmosis it can draw out salt from my body, whereas we really want salt going in. You can also use Himalayan Sea Salt in the bath, but I like the Magnesium salts as they are extra great at helping me to relax.
I don’t use bubble bath that often as I haven’t found an organic brand that I like and not super duper expensive. I do however always add essential oils. My favourite oil blend right now is by Young Living and called, Release (perfect for ‘letting go’ after a long day. I just add a few drops into the bath after the salt.
I really love baths and whilst the bath is running tidy away any clothes or mess in the bedroom.
Before getting in the bath I wash my face with Young Living Orange Blossom face wash so the steam from the bath can help to open and cleanse my pores.
I then light some candles and and allow myself to sink deeply in the bath and soak up the smell of the oil and allow the magnesium to absorb through my skin and work it’s magic on relaxing my muscles.
Gratitude Bath Ritual
I have a bath pillow and so really sink in and allow the warm water to cover me completely and just feel myself slowing down and letting go. This is a really nice time to do some slow breathing. I have one hand on my heart and one hand on my belly and just be really aware of myself breathing. I also LOVE using 528hz track for this, here’s a link to my favourite ones.
This is a simple but powerful way to come back to yourself. I feel grateful for my body and mind getting me through the day. Grateful for all the great work my organs have done. Grateful for my beautiful bath. In this moment I feel so abundant - laying in the bath and feeling grateful. When I pull the plug I imagine anything no longer serving me from the day being washed away with the bath water.
If you don’t have a bath you can feel the water of your shower washing away your day and maybe lie down afterwards with your hand on your chest and belly feeling grateful.
Afterward the bath I rinse my face with warm water and apply jojoba oil that has a few drops of Geranium in it (all premixed in a brown glass bottle - 7 drops in a 30mL bottle -super simple). I have made different face serums but I seem to be loving the simplicity of this right now and my partner loves the smell. (By the way, his favourite oil is Grounding oil a really earth blend by Young Living. He uses it as a ‘cologne’ and loves it and is always asking me to buy more).
End of Day Meditation
After this I feel ready for a meditation. In our ashram we learn that it’s good to clean our body and energy before meditation which is why I do the bath and my gratitude ritual first.
My favourite meditation for the end of the day is the Calling Back Your Energy meditation from my Energy Recovery Course.
Before meditating I arrange the pillows I want to sit on, light some incense and set an intention that for the next few minutes I’m focusing on the meditation and everything else can wait. This meditation is only 10 minutes.
Foot Massage
After the meditation my last treat to myself is a short foot massage. I find this really soothing and also a way to show love to my organs through the acupressure points in the feet. I’m not a trained reflexologist, but have had it enough times in Bali to have learnt some of the points where I can get stagnant and tight and massage these.
My acupuncturist recommended I use Vetiver oil on my ankles to keep strengthen my kidney chi. I put it on the side of my inner ankle and I use Valor essential oil mix on my big toe which is great for really relaxing and calming the mind, ready for a deep sleep.
Pillow Spray
The final ritual is to spray my pillow with a spritzer of Lavender and White Angelica oil. This blend helps to calm and clear the space energetically before sleep. I use little brown glass spray bottles and an old fashioned label maker which I love - it’s black tape with white punched letters - so looks a lit old school but cool in my opinion). I fill the bottle 2cm deep with Witch Hazel, add 7 drops of Lavender and 7 drops White Angelica oil and then fill with distilled water and shake (witch hazel helps the oils to mix). Then I normally leave in a crystal grid on top of some paper upon which I’ve written an intention to be infused into the spray and leave overnight. I love making sprays like this and often gift them to friends as they are made with love and intention.
Most nights I then drift off to sleep feeling clean, clear, grateful and in my energy frequency ready for dream time.
Creating Your Ritual
You may only have 5 minutes to yourself in the evening, but you can still have a ritual. Washing your face feeling grateful for the day, grateful that it’s time to sleep. My partner and I do our gratitude ritual as we’re falling asleep - we each share what we’ve been grateful for that day, really feeling it in our hearts. It doesn’t take long and is a beautiful way to end the day. The fact that it’s done every day with rhythm and repetition and a space and opportunity to be conscious of ourselves makes it a perfect ritual.
So do what you can, and do with love, you have the formula now.
Much love
Belinda x
Front image from An Urban Village Ceramics who makes the most adorable incense holders, check out her etsy shop :)
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