Rituals as Remedies and How To Start Your Own Practice with Mara Branscombe

On Episode 74 of Outside The Studio:

What do you do in the 30-60 minutes before falling asleep? Do you drift away peacefully or is there restlessness entwined with anxiety? Mara and Tessa chat about what a ritual is, what different energies mean, and what it looks like exploring them.

Mara Branscombe is a ceremonialist, spiritual-coach, yoga teacher, and meditation guide. She is the author of Ritual as Remedy, Embodied Practices for Soul Care .

Timestamps

(01:55) Fall rituals

(03:25) Negative connotations surrounding rituals

(05:55) Witches, black cats, and the black plague

(09:10) What is a ritual?

(10:15) Using creativity as a guide

(14:00) Anxiety and intuition

(17:10) Simple rituals

(20:00) Where did Mara start?

(24:50) Mara's first ritual experience

(26:55) Resources for communal spaces

(30:00) Differences of new versus full moon ceremonies

(32:55) Mara's moon rituals

(35:30) Intention shifts during lunar cycles

(41:10) Mara's background in yoga

(47:00) Last minute thoughts

Key Takeaways

1. A ritual is anything done with intention and being fully present both inward and outward. Welcoming the extraordinary, leaning into what lights you up, and creating sacred spaces are all aspects of practices. Ritual and rhythm are paired together hand in hand, yin and yang.

2. Anxiety and intuition are predictive and generative energies respectfully. Anxiety is predictive energy because we often forecast that we will fail or feel negative outcomes. Generative energy with intuition, "feels like a big yes" as Mara puts it as it, however, we are conditioned to not feel or follow that calling. Where will that "big yes" take us and what can we generate, develop, and achieve through it?

3. Mara's evening routine consists of no media consumption, a warm shower or ocean dip to wash off the day, working with plant energies such as lavender and acknowledging that your work for the day is done. We are sensitive beings, if we don't stop working even during sleep, we become endlessly tense.

4. Finding a community of like minded people could begin with asking if anyone is holding an equinox or solstice gathering or finding new and full moon circles. If finding that company is difficult to find, following the lunar cycles and simply observing the moon is powerful. Holding space for the new moon with new beginnings and full moon for wild, expansive powers is a beautiful opportunity for others to join you as well.

5. We are all born intuitive with the capacity to heal and self guide. Becoming attune to the environment and the rhythms of nature and aware of energy, we become more spacious and centric, embodied in being connected.

Connect with Mara Branscombe

Website: https://marabranscombe.com/

Ritual as Remedy Book: https://www.amazon.com/Ritual-Remedy-Embodied-Practices-Soul/dp/1644114240

Email: riseyoga@gmail.com Connect with Tessa Tovar

Website: https://tessatovar.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tessamarietovar/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tessa-tovar-baa27613

Twitter: https://twitter.com/TBenedicktus