Everything Under the Moon

What sorts of things have you found that make your practice better? I'm just curious what works for others.
Seasonal times?
Spiritual pursuits?
Specific routine? or the reverse - Spontaneity?
Certain set ups with altar arrangements?
Specific tools?
Specific supplies?
Definite goals?
Favorite furnishings?
Weather factors?
Familiar rituals?
Make it up as you go, by the feeling in your gut?
Indoors - A special room? Favorite chair? / Outdoors - A special place ?
Other ideas?

Xxx

I'm at a point of change--again & physical mobility is challenging. This effects rituals so I do more sitting than circling. Spontenaity has replaced much loved rituals. Gardening & brewing are history. I actually find tools for this & that & dithering around my altar has become distracting & boy I sure didn't see that one coming. My altar had always previously been my focal point. Im becoming minimalist & that's OK, just different. Now, I do find candles are more than illumination in that they set a mood & signal something magical is underway. A rock in my hand speaks to me. A moon lit night makes my soul sing. O.M.G. I think I've croned. I wasn't ready!

This is my kind of setting spirit!
I always wanted to be more ritual, because i actually Love it! But somehow i can't make it work for me. So spontaneity and minimalism is what rules my magical work.

What makes it work best for me is intense connection. I can do that everywhere and in every Position (standing, sitting, laying in bed)

I let my body root deeply into the Earth and connect my mind do the universe. When it "clicks open" in like a flash, i know i am in.

It's unified, if I get your meaning.

Yes

Day to day? Stopping. Thinking / realising, focusing then stretching outward.

All that other stuff is nice though... Candlelight and reflected candlelight in metal and glass I suppose. I guess John Boorman Excalibur left a big impression on me as a kid with all that high polish metal and mystical glowing lights

Wandering into the countryside far enough that I cannot hear traffic and the bustle of town.

As a person inclined to be a natural magician(active) rather then a natural psychic (receptive) it helps to switch the button to the 'on' position and turn the dial up.

For me I have found using my intuition and creativity has helped improved my practice greatly, since I was younger and I felt I had to almost go by the book.

Now a days I do and use whatever suits me and my immediate needs at the time. I have learned a lot this way, especially with using intuition as my guide.

My best to you SpiritTalker, and nice thread.

Thank you all. These are good thoughts.

Lately for me it's been the routine of taking this pill everyday at the same time, so I have created a ritual around it. Within in the hour of nine, I stand before my Altar erected just for this. I have the flag of Wales hanging behind the small oak desk. Simple items, candles, a solar disk, 4 acorns, with the pillbox in the center, a shaft of wheat, blessings waters, anointing oil, a black bowl of air and my black chalice of water (to consume pill...have to drink nine of these a day)
So I go through this ritual of being cleansed by the water, made holy and protected with the oil. Then a little visual with the flag, I take the pill and pass it over the teeth and then down his long tongue simulating the path to the stomach, all along with a little chant (which I will keep private) followed up with a positive affirmation and a wee meditation.
I have found this whole process very empowering. I had been afraid of missing a dose as it is really important not to or the whole treatment could be moot, this definitely helps and has made me stronger in other ways that were unexpected, in addition to drawing me closer to the Goddess.
love this topic

Flyingbird

The fall/winter months are my favored seasons as a quiet introvert (who can also be intense), since I feel most akin to the environment. Tend toward the extremes, with routine inside, and spontaneity outdoors. I do have an established setup on the altar, and seem to use a fair share of props/tools, even if I consider myself a minimalist. The best habit that makes my practice better is spending time outdoors, in all types of weather. I have to be active for my lifestyle, but would want to, even if not required. Otherwise, when chasing inpiration I look for the details, if I can't find it in the big picture.

Equilibrium. That's a biggie... When in equilibrium stuff "flows".

Nature and solitude really helps me. If I can stay calm and relaxed and put out good intentions, love and light, that sort of thing it helps greatly. Crowds tend to really distract me, I havnt figured that one out yet!

Juniper wrote:Nature and solitude really helps me. If I can stay calm and relaxed and put out good intentions, love and light, that sort of thing it helps greatly. Crowds tend to really distract me, I havnt figured that one out yet!

Crowds can take time, here's a trick I found useful.. that if you can center yourself in your own auric "bubble" and tend to consider / approach / view the crowd as individual presences such as other satellites or atoms (divine mobiles of light / consciousness / celestial bodies with their own centers and auric fields) tracing, interacting, exchanging, weaving; spheres dancing in patterns plotting their own trajectories and orbits. It brings about a certain altered perceptive state of calmness and flow; harmony within the cacophony.

I would also bring to mind an undercurrent, a familiar flowing piece of classical music like the flower duet from Lakme, as you observe people then become part of their flow.

Perhaps practice with earphones at first?

I drink a cup of Holy Basil tea before I practice. It puts me in a nice, calm meditative state