“Routine”…a foreign word to me. (For someone with a strong need for routine, I suck at keeping one.) Up until the last couple months, routine didn’t exist for me. I spent months in depression rot: wake up whenever, suffer at work in physical pain with a racing mind, zone out until I knocked back out for the night. I never lived until I incorporated grounding into my mornings.
All it’s taken is a little repetition, mindfulness, and presence to shift. I awake with gratitude and peace wafting over me. If I’m stressed, I know the Universe has my back as I navigate the rough waters; I don’t overthink myself into panic anymore. I wake up rested and not empty for the first time in a long time even as someone with chronic depression.
Here’s my routine; feel free to cherry pick whatever works for you!
Make My Bed
Once I open my eyes and run to the bathroom, it’s time to make the bed pretty. (This is one of those things I mocked Bachan, my maternal grandma, for in life that must have her sticking out her tongue at me now.) My room serves a stable invitation when the bed’s not strewn about with sheets pulling off the corners. This also gives me room for the next steps of my routine.
Smoke It Up
Not like that, you little witch you…too early for that.
Before I do anything else, I light incense. Smell is my most sensitive sense, so calming scents help me ground. I smoke cleanse my room, my altar, and my workspace with intention for the best day I can have. (For example, dragon’s blood for new beginnings/cleansing negative energy, green sage also to cleanse, cinnamon for abundance, etc.)
Mindfulness Through Tarot, Oracle, and Prayer
As a Gemini sun and Aquarius moon, I talk through feelings and use logic to understand the roots. (Sitting quietly makes me fester rather than progress.) Tarot and oracle cards are a visual way for me to trust my intuition and use that logical side of my brain to see what areas of my life need change, why I feel as mad/sad as I do, or how much unseen (by me) progress I’ve made.
My daily prayer begins with gratitude — for the opportunity to wake up, the food in my stomach and the roof over my head, and the people I love. I pray for support as I travel through life’s journey and trying times. I pray for the people I love to be watched over and blessed…simple things with no immediate expectations.
If you want to share your routine in the comments, I’d love to see your way of grounding!
The Soft Sea Witch 
Let’s Discuss!