Ah…this may be a difficult question! Are there symbols you have collected that indicate what you hold sacred? Are there personal rituals that honor what you revere?

There probably are, but you might not have thought of them in this way. Here are examples:

* A table of mementos from favorite trips. Touchstones to experiences we enjoyed with friends or family renew our memories and our connections to those we hold dear. Some would call these personal altars, to remind us of our roots, our values, our life experiences that have shaped us into who we are.

* Giving thanks before meals.   Perhaps this was a tradition you grew up with that has fallen into dis-use, or perhaps this ritual is alive-and-well in your home. Whatever our age or background, we expand when we are grateful. The habit of pausing to reflect on what you’re grateful for can be a personal ritual intentionally built into life.

* Sitting around the fire telling stories. As Summer shifts to Fall, campfires are blending into evenings around the family hearth. My husband and I recently remodeled an old deck and added a gas fire-pit. We sit outside and talk through the stories of the day while staring into the fire. The roots of this tradition are as old as humanity itself.  If we each “become our stories,” then it is very important to discuss those stories with those who love us.

* Going for a walk. Again, this can be important family time, or if you are alone, time for reflection. If it’s a regular occurrence in your week, this is a personal ritual that has resonated with you on a level that possibly reflects what you hold sacred. When I go for a long walk, I come back with a new and better perspective. Over time, I have come to hold my hiking time as sacred time for reflection.

* Time to be creative. Music is shared and discussed in our family frequently. The creative experience may take many forms – cooking, scrapbooking, reading to each other, telling stories, coloring pictures with the kids. In any form, time for creativity honors what we hold dear and opens the possibility of sharing experiences.

There is value in being aware of  the many personal rituals that connect us to what we hold sacred and to living them with intention. Honoring what we hold sacred defines and strengthens us as individuals and as families.