Routine/Ritual: Get Clear

Musing…
"You say grace before meals. All right. But I say grace before the concert and the opera, and grace before the play and pantomime, and grace before I open a book, and grace before sketching, painting, swimming, fencing, boxing, walking, playing, dancing, and grace before I dip the pen in the ink." -- G.K. Chesterton

Charise’s Turn: 
I didn’t say grace before beginning this writing, but I did do something I call “clearing”.  Clearing is making the space for the best possible outcome. You may have heard of The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron and the technique of writing when you first wake up, writing without correcting, without stopping, emptying thoughts and feelings on paper. It’s basically a dump – it may be valuable in and of itself or it may be valuable to get the dump out of the way so something else can come through. My friend Debra also refers to a “verbal vomit”, where you spit out your thoughts even if they seem off track or unpolished in order for some organization to follow.  

Clearing is simple. It might look like this: I say to myself “okay” and breathe quietly for a few moments. It might be a matter of bringing my hands together in prayer fashion and ask that what I’m about to do benefit myself and everyone else involved. It could be lighting a candle to bless the moment. These are all rituals that put import on what I am doing and also honor the power my actions have to make an impact, however tiny or large.

Get Fired Up:

Choose a way to get clear before you engage in an activity/endeavor/pursuit – 

several deep breaths, saying an intention to yourself, lighting a candle, saying grace or blessings, spitting out thoughts (on paper or verbally) until you get to an “ah” or an "aha" that clears the air for something new!