Have you ever wondered about adding some simple sea rituals to your trip to the water? Something to deepen the experience and your ocean connection?
Here are five of my favourite simple sea rituals to try whenever you’re in or by the ocean. This is the final part of the article I wrote for Kindred Spirit’s May 2020 issue, with a few special extra bits…
Whether you want to connect to the sea more deeply, ask for guidance, release something you no longer want to hold, practice creative flow and peaceful impermanence, or reconnect to your power to make positive change – there’s a sea ritual for you here…
1. Deep release – by the sea
Select a pebble from the beach around you. Bring your mindful attention to how it looks and feels, drawing yourself into the present moment.
As you feel the pebble’s weight in your hand, allow yourself to transfer any fear, anxiety, shame, emotional pain, a difficult memory – whatever it is that you wish to release – to the pebble.
You don’t need to go deeply into experiencing these emotions or memories as you do this – simply bring your attention to the edges of these, touching them lightly, and imagine these moving from your body into the stone, dissipating as they go, as if dissolving into water and becoming absorbed by the stone.
Thanking the pebble and the sea for holding these, release or throw the pebble into the water.
Watching the ripples of your pebble disperse, notice the space created within you. You might bring your hand to your heart and offer yourself self compassion.
Repeat as needed.
2. Beach mandala – by the sea
This is a ritual that I enjoy sharing with my family, and use often during retreats. It can take a couple of minutes, or the whole day. It moves us into a state of creative flow – clearing our mind and allowing insights to surface. It can teach ways to work together, and be inspired by others. Creating your mandala near the sea’s edge on a rising tide also allows you to witness the sea washing it away – a beautiful reminder of impermanence and acceptance.
Gather seaweed, shells, sand, stones, feathers, sea glass, whatever you are instinctively drawn to. As you lay these out in the repetitive pattern of a mandala, become curious about the stories that you create with these – What do you notice? What patterns or symbols can you see? What happens when you add a new element? How does this process and mandala reflect your life?
3. Beach clean – by the sea
When you’re in the sea or on the beach, pause to clear the area of man-made detritus. Taking even the smallest of actions towards positive change can empower and galvanise us – a ritual like this one is the drop in the ocean that bravely becomes a wave.
I aim to remove at least three bits of rubbish any time I’m on the beach. Often, sadly, it’s much more than just three pieces – micro-plastics, fishing debris, cans, plastic bottles, the list is endless.
But this simple clearing ritual, undertaken with love for the natural world, encourages a shift from despondency and inertia towards gratitude and compassion, bringing hope in a time of environmental crisis.
4. Source connection – in the sea
Walking into the sea and connecting to sea wisdom is about opening to what’s around you, and using your instinctual knowing to make meaning of what you find. Use that curious state of mind to create your own sea rituals. I love to connect to source in the sea – and this is the process I follow:
On shore, set your intention. Stay present as you prepare to enter liminal space.
Find self compassion for yourself, and courage alongside any fears.
As you step into the water, gently allow your body to soften and release into trust.
Looking around you, open to the experience of oneness and universal connection.
In the water, listen – what do you need today? This is an opportunity to connect to the sea within – to listen to your intuition and deeper knowing. You may wish to stand and feel the sensation of the waves, to float in a meditative state, to build dynamic energy by swimming, or to dive underwater and immerse yourself fully in another world. Or all four. Allow for fluidity and change.
Bring your awareness to the experience of being held. Release anything that you no longer wish to hold. As you move with the water, feel the expansion of your energy, allow your soul connection to the sea to grow.
Ask for what you need, and give thanks for all that is.
Your return to land is a chance to assimilate – to write or create in whatever way speaks to you. Allow yourself some time to gather the sea’s gifts, to notice and appreciate the lessons of today’s connection to the sea.
5. A Sea Soul Blessings or Oracle Card reading – by the sea
Take your Sea Soul Blessings, Sea Soul Journeys Oracle Cards or another ocean-themed deck to connect you to the sea any time you need some extra guidance.
Settle yourself quietly by the shore, and tune into the sounds, energy and beauty of the natural world around you – in much the same way that we do when we enter the sea to connect to source.
Bring a question to mind. It might be a request for a daily focus, or a specific area that you’d like to explore more deeply.
Allow your sea soul to awaken, releasing into trust and connection. Tune into your intuition.
Hold your cards in your hands, or lay them out on the sand. Notice where your attention is drawn, and choose your card or cards.
You might draw a single card, or use several cards to represent different aspects of my question. For example, I might choose three cards – past, present, future; work, family, self – whatever comes to me at the time – much as I do when I host a Sea Soul Session for someone else.
When you’ve drawn a card, take a moment to notice your intuitive response. What do these words mean to you right now? How does this answer your question? What is your gut feeling?
If you feel the need for some extra kindness, you could speak the blessings out loud as a soothing self compassion ritual – reminding yourself that you are worthy, and connected to all.
After your reading, spend a little time reflecting. You might continue to draw in the energy of the sea as support as you mull on what these messages mean to you today, or record your thoughts in a journal.
As you do so, observe the sea and the world around you. What aspects of the natural world do you notice here – do these add a deeper resonance to the message of the cards you have drawn?
Important note: the sea can be a mighty force. When spending time in or by the sea, always ensure you are well prepared, and consult expert advice on the sea and weather conditions.
If you enjoyed this, you might also like the first two parts of my Kindred Spirit piece – you can find the first part here: Sourcing Wisdom in the Sea, and the second part here: Listening to the Sea’s Messages.
I also wrote a piece for Kindred Spirit about ocean rituals to welcome in the new year in the Jan/Feb 2022 magazine, and hope to share that soon.
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