A Loving Container Ritual

February is the month of love and our February Ritual is focused on making time and space for self-love throughout the month and - in fact - throughout the year.

We can often leave ourselves last on the list when it comes to care and attention, so this Ritual helps us focus to our own selves, and ensure we are getting our needs met too.

Your supplies for this month’s Ritual include:

·       A small jar

·       A pen

·       12 pieces of paper

·       You might also want to have some ribbon, pens, dried and fresh flowers, plus any other handy decorative items (Optional).

Begin by brewing yourself a loving cup of Ritual Cacao and settle down somewhere calm and comfortable. You might want to put a vase of spring flowers, or a bowl of winter bulbs on your altar, to help you focus on growth and change, as you undertake your ritual.

As you enjoy your cup of heart-opening cacao, ask the Cacao Spirit to inspire you, and show you what care and attention you deserve. Take the time to really tune into your heart and know you are worth the love and attention that you desire.

Then ask the Cacao Spirit to guide you, as you pick up your pen and the first piece of paper and write down a way that you can practice self-care in the month ahead: it might be a little treat, a special experience, a moment of bliss, maybe even a learning experience you’ve always wanted.

Continue in this way, asking to be guided towards the most loving actions you can offer yourself, until you have 12 loving actions, each on a separate piece of paper.

Fold each piece of paper - you can make each one into an origami heart if you feel creative - and put it into your jar.

Now decorate your jar so that it has spiritual significance for you: you might choose a favourite quotation, some pretty hearts and flowers or anything that will make you smile each time you look at it.

For the next 12 months, at the beginning of every month, choose one piece of paper from the jar and carry out the action of self-love that you’ve written on it.

This will give you something beautiful and fulfilling to look forward to throughout the year, and also ensures your personal growth and self-care.

You can keep your loving container on or beside your alter, or maybe set it beside a mirror to remind you that for this ritual, and for this year, your focus is on you.