Ritual of Purpose

Ritual of purpose: 

there's a ritual to my mornings, most days, and although I'm not compulsive on it being exact, I do enjoy the regularity of it's purpose, how it prepares me for day and most importantly of all, sets the tone for my early morning writing. Everything belongs just so to my mornings, a long practice of waking hours before dawn when it's still a silent world, meditation is always immediate, being my first priority as it extends me to this silence, my inner world as quiet as the morning. This is my true place of writing, not my office, nor desk, but the silent mental landscape that allows words to flow so easily to me. For me to write - meditation is essential. It's the most important aspect of my ritual of purpose. 

of course I have cats to feed, and my teeth to brush, morning chores that are essential too - these are handled in the moments that follow meditation and are usually performed with a certain quiet joy. Through years of meditation it feels as if I've reached a point of service, not that I'm mindful of my every action, it's more devotional than that, I am doing what's necessary for upcoming day, performing these small jobs with great care, with deep appreciation for all that needs to be done - indeed it's all an act of love and service. 

all part of my ritual of purpose.

and here's my favorite part, my single cup of coffee for the day, cherished from water boiled to its pour in a yellow mug I've held forever. Other cups will do, again this is about rituals, and the key to this is flexibility of the moment, to make do with what's available and at hand. But this is my preferred cup, stained from decades of fueling the purpose of my writing, holding memories as well as coffee (never tea, as there's a separate cup for that nightly ritual too) and with this my agenda is set, I'm ready to write, or perhaps more apt to say - I've made myself available for words to come, having performed the ritual of purpose, I'm here, open, listening...

and this morning, 

it's these very words that have arrived.

~

Peace, Eric