Elderflower, Calendula and Hawthorn in a french press
I've been thinking about rituals lately. A very wise instructor of mine suggested that we as a population here in the US, don't have many rituals left in our daily lives anymore. She brought up ritual in the context of coffee addiction. Consider for a moment, your coffee ritual, if you are a coffee drinker. I always enjoy dressing my coffee, stirring it for a moment, smelling it and then taking that penetrating first sip. Some people conduct a more complex ritual involving grinding, boiling, percolating or pressing. Is it relaxing? Does it offer a sense of order to a busy morning? What other daily rituals do we still have?
Another enduring ritual that I can think of is reserved for smokers. There's something truly lovely about excusing oneself during a natural break in conversation to step outside into fresh air, and inhale deeply for a few minutes. It almost makes me envious of smokers.
Our instructor brought up ritual to caution us future doctors to be careful when we recommend smoking cessation or removing coffee consumption from our clients' lifestyles--we could inadvertently be removing something much more sacred to our client than just the substance. We can suggest, she pointed out, that our clients create new rituals with new, intentional meaning. Or maybe, at the right time, for the right person, tobacco leaf or coffee bean--two truly weary and abused herbs--can be replaced with another underappreciated, and eager herb or two.
Another enduring ritual that I can think of is reserved for smokers. There's something truly lovely about excusing oneself during a natural break in conversation to step outside into fresh air, and inhale deeply for a few minutes. It almost makes me envious of smokers.
Our instructor brought up ritual to caution us future doctors to be careful when we recommend smoking cessation or removing coffee consumption from our clients' lifestyles--we could inadvertently be removing something much more sacred to our client than just the substance. We can suggest, she pointed out, that our clients create new rituals with new, intentional meaning. Or maybe, at the right time, for the right person, tobacco leaf or coffee bean--two truly weary and abused herbs--can be replaced with another underappreciated, and eager herb or two.
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