Birthday Ritual
RITUAL
Birthdays are important.
I know not everyone agrees; many will say it's just another date, while others approach them with trepidation because they've been taught to fear ageing, believing that with time and the appearance of wrinkles, one loses value.
I disagree. I won't delve into a long monologue about life and death (because that's what most people actually fear—vanishing forever, reaching their expiration date), but with the accumulating years, we also amass wisdom, tranquillity, and serenity.
Yes, I know, I'm only celebrating my 29th birthday, it's easy for me to say, blah blah blah. Still, as nice as my 19th year was, I wouldn't trade it for the world! I'm happy where I am, ready to welcome whatever life has in store for me in the years to come.
Anyway, as I was saying: birthdays are important. They remind us that we are unique beings who have had the merit and courage to come and experience material existence and evolve on this Earth. They also represent another completed solar revolution, which is rather cool. Every being deserves to be celebrated and congratulated for simply existing. We all deserve this little annual moment to feel extraordinary. At the very least. And plenty of other days if you wish, but birthdays are the bare minimum.
Despite all I've said, my birthday is always a moment I approach with some apprehension. Partly because, in my family, we've often tended to take them very seriously, which is lovely, but it sets the bar relatively high. So, suppose nothing special happens on that day because I'm no longer 10 years old and live abroad. In that case, I might be disappointed (then again, if you isolate yourself on a Thai island with people you met a few weeks before, don't expect a massive treasure hunt and your entire tribe to show up, that's just logic).
And most importantly, it's always a time for me to assess my accomplishments over the past year. And here lies the real problem. It's only been a few birthdays since I managed to break free from this performance trap to justify my worth as a being, and I've managed to turn this assessment into something positive rather than a list of everything I haven't done and must achieve before the next April 13th to deserve to exist.
So, this year, I've decided to share with you a little ritual that will not only demystify all of this but also allow us to integrate this truth:
We are, we exist, and just for that, we have an immeasurable value that deserves to be celebrated.
You don't need much for this ritual, the list below is optional, to add some flair and extras if you wish:
A candle.
Incense.
Rose quartz and/or labradorite.
Your magic journal or simply something to write with.
Tarot and/or oracle cards.
On your birthday, preferably in the morning, set aside about an hour to devote to yourself and this ritual. Turn off your electronic devices and make sure you won't be disturbed. This is your moment.
Sit comfortably after lighting the incense stick and candle.
Start by making a list of everything that brought you joy during the past year. You can write it down to anchor these sweet memories in the material world.
Now, I'm not talking about your material and concrete accomplishments, but about lived moments, achievements, and events that brought you joy and sweetness. It could be something as simple as "I started practising yoga" or "I watched a tit building its nest in my garden."
Of course, if you've brought a project to life that was dear to your heart, or if you feel proud of having earned a degree, that counts too! The nuance I'm trying to bring here is that it should be things that mattered to you. I say this because I used to always make a list of all the goals I had achieved within the framework of what society or my loved ones expected of me. Or simply what I had imposed on myself because I judged that it would make me legitimate and valuable.
So, if one year I had graduated, gotten my driver's license, gone skydiving, and visited two different countries, and another year I hadn't travelled or received any particular professional recognition, I felt like I had wasted my time and was worthless.
So, make a list of what resonates deeply in your heart, not what your brain dictates. List the decisions you've made that have been good for you, that have nourished you, that have calmed you.
Relive the emotions these moments brought you, and let a wave of joy and sweetness wash over you.
Rose quartz amplifies your connection to the energy of love and healing, and labradorite strengthens the bond with your soul.
So, when you're done, take the stones (if you have them, it's just a bonus) in your right hand and place the left on your heart chakra.
Take three deep breaths, and with each exhale, let go of all your thoughts.
Then, dive inside, project your awareness into the depths of your being, into the hollow of your chest.
Once there, ask yourself: Who do I want to be? What do I want to embody?
Let the images, sensations, sounds, smells, or even tastes come to you. The messages can manifest subtly and differently for each person. Just maintain a state of receptivity.
What comes to you? What truth do you want to live by every day? I'm not talking about social status or actions here, just the identity you'd like to claim as your own, the feelings you want to experience on a daily basis. How do you want to define yourself?
When you have your answer, practice feeling it as if it already existed, as if it were your reality right now.
Raise the vibration as much as you can and keep it there as long as you want.
Then, note your conclusions to materialise them here and now, and to keep a record of them.
If you're into cartomancy, you can finish by pulling cards that will give you a lead on how to start this process, and indications on how to materialise this new reality you choose to embody.
Again, keep a written record of what comes up. All your notes can serve as guides and accompany you on your journey during this new trip around the Sun, this new experience of your essence.
Then, blow out the candle, and go celebrate the treasure that is your existence.
❂ Happy Birthday, and thank you ❂
