Personal rituals for a deeper connection to the wild
Three simple nature-led rituals
Over the past few weeks we’ve been writing about staying rooted amidst the changing seasons, and coming to ritual and rhythm as a way to navigate this transitional (potentially overwhelming) phase of the year. But staying grounded through the rising energy of spring is just one of the many outcomes of cultivating personal rituals. Weaving the wisdom of nature into the rhythm of our life can help us to deepen a connection not only with the wild world, but also with our wild self. For us, this is the aligned, authentic version of self - who we truly are at the core - and we’ve found that turning to nature can offer support and guidance to help us understand and unearth this identity.
However, it can often feel like there’s just not enough time in the day to create space for anything of this! So it’s important to know that forging a deeper bond with the wild doesn’t have to be complicated or time-consuming. Simple, mindful, personalised rituals can help cultivate that connection. Here are three ideas for how you might get started, and how you could make these rituals uniquely your own.
1. Wild Journaling
Wild journaling invites you to not only write down what you see, but also to bring nature to the page, whether creating a bark rubbing, pressing a flower, or staining the pages with berry ink. Agnes from We Are Stardust - who has a new wild journaling course which looks wonderfully nourishing - shares: “As you make marks on the page with feathers, seeds, mud paint and berry ink your journal will become your book of enchantments filled with spells that nurture the landscapes in your mind and soul so they grow wild and free.” How incredible does that sound?!
Make it your own: I (Eleanor) have found it difficult to sustain a regular journaling practice, but I now use the new and full moon as anchors and add a reminder in my calendar to spend some time outside with my journal on these days. Often I’ll collect a leaf or fragment from the tree of the month on our Rewilding Wheel, or sometimes I’ll seek out a particular shape or light that inspires me.
2. Lunar and Solar Rituals
The moon and sun have held spiritual significance for cultures across the world for millennia, and cultivating rituals around these celestial bodies can create a profound sense of interconnectedness with the rhythms of the wild world.
A simple solar ritual might involve stepping outside each morning to greet the sun as it rises (or whenever you wake), offering gratitude for a new day. You can close your eyes, breathe deeply, and visualise the sun’s golden light filling you with warmth, clarity, and vitality. Alternatively (or as well as), in the evening you could step outside under the moonlight, allowing its gentle glow to wash over you. As you look up, notice the phase of the moon, and just tune in to how you are feeling.
Make it your own: My solar ritual in the autumn and winter happens because I take my son’s porridge to the back doorstep and let it cool for a few moments! Try and find a similar anchor - something that you already do - and attach it to the ritual so that it’s easier to remember and make space for.
3. Creating a Sacred Space
Setting aside a small area in your home to display and honour nature and the changing seasons can be incredibly powerful (and simple, too!). Choose somewhere that won’t be disturbed regularly (so the kitchen table is probably a no-go) and think about what you might want to place in this sacred space, or altar if you prefer. You might gather stones, twigs, feathers, flowers, or other natural objects that you feel drawn to. When you visit your sacred space, you might light a candle, do some journalling, or simply sit in silence, welcoming the wisdom of the wild.
Make it your own: Focus on a particular theme, if that’s helpful. I have two sacred spaces in my home - the first has a blackboard with a seasonal message, plus a few items that capture the energy of the season (right now that’s a yellow candle, a blackbird sculpture my son made, a stone from a recent trip to Avebury and some daffodils). I also have another lunar-inspired sacred space which I refresh with each new moon - there’s usually an oracle card, a symbol of that month’s tree, and perhaps a print or card to honour the lunar cycle’s name.
Establishing wild rituals such as these doesn’t require special tools, elaborate plans, or hours of dedication. What matters most is your intention to be present and engaged with the world, and to know and trust that you are an interconnected part of the living, breathing ecosystem that surrounds you. Of course, this is just a starting point, but in honouring the earth through simple, mindful practices, you can begin to cultivate a deeper connection to the wild world, and to your wild self.
As always, we’d love to hear from you! What are your simple go-to rituals that help you feel more connected to the wild?
P.S. Last chance to book…
If the idea of unearthing your wild self is calling to you, you might like to join us for a Wild Essence Exploration - a 90 minute guided journey with Maddy and Eleanor to help you consider who you are, where you’re going, and what you need to get there.
Using your unique ‘wild essence map’ - created by us especially for you - we’ll help you gain clarity around the themes and questions that feel most present at this time, before sharing our ‘rewilding compass’ framework to support your next steps.
Booking closes for our spring explorations this Friday (14th March) and there are just a couple of slots left. Find out more via the button below!