Our theme for August is RITUAL. It was chosen by our Charlottesville chapter in Virginia and illustrated by Matt Smithson.

Rituals add meaning and a deeper sense of connection to our lives. They allow us to practice mindfulness and reflection. Unlike our daily routine and habits, rituals have the power to inspire us.

Brushing your teeth is routine. Going for a morning walk would be a good habit. And writing a gratitude journal could become your morning ritual. The key is to act with intentionality.

Our CreativeMornings events have their own rituals. Getting a cup of coffee creates an opportunity to say hello to someone new while you wait your turn in line. Reading our manifesto out loud reinforces our beliefs that everyone is creative and everyone is welcome.

What rituals do you practice in your relationships, your spirituality, and your creative work? How do they heighten your sense of purpose and belonging in this world?

INSPIRATION FROM OUR COMMUNITY:

Each month, we ask the readers of our Weekly Highlights newsletter to submit creative work inspired by our global theme.

Sidewalking by Harold McNaron in Chinook land, Portland, OR.

Since the early Covidtimes I’ve taken ritual walks to explore the everyday treasures around me. Following the lead of Aboriginal cultures and the Situationists, I use my senses and cameras toward knowing and re-knowing a city.

You can see more of Harold’s work on Foundwork and Instagram @haroldmcnaron.

Marking Lives by Dave Taschler in Washington, DC.

This watercolor was made during the #100dayproject2021 and specifically for #markinglivescovid19. I find the annual project is a great way to build enthusiasm for my own daily ritual and this piece in particular speaks to the repetitive nature of ritual and how it can provide space for mindfulness as well as experimentation.

The Old Ways Must Go by Moth Rodriguez in Brooklyn, NY.

A ritual game that explores how to imagine new paradigms, especially in spaces that hold tight attachment to known broken processes. It is a ritual designed to create new rituals.

You can read more about the game. Co-attribution to Samphire Savage and Jen Dixon.

With each bow by Sarah Taylor in Los Angeles, California.

I do a morning ritual that includes 108 prostrations with mantras from the Buddhist tradition. These are two poems that expand on two of the mantras that are recited while bowing, to reinforce the power of ritual and mental cleansing.

Walking by the River by Colleen O'Brien in Medicine Hat, AB Canada.

I am 80. I walk every day for an hour, that is my ritual. I also paint, this is a small painting of the area of my walk.

You can see more work on Colleen’s site.

Hays-Heighe House by Liz Miller in Baltimore, MD.

Using ritual to cleanse spaces from racial violence.

You can watch Liz’s ritual performance on YouTube. (Image by James Craig photography.)

“Fresh Start” and “Wash Up” by Ada Bucur in Vancouver, Canada.

I repurposed two small bathroom rugs that I initially intended to discard by transforming them into pieces of art. Using acrylic paint, I created symbols to designate the bathroom doors, especially for our guests. The chosen theme for these symbols is “RITUAL,” inspired by the daily practices of showering and hand washing. This theme encompasses a broad spectrum, from everyday habits that become second nature, to significant life events such as weddings, baptisms, and funerals, all of which are deeply rooted in cultural and traditional contexts.

Humor Me with Rituals by Asif R. Lakhani in Brooklyn, NY.

In addition to perfecting the craft by repeating the jokes over and over (10,000 hours:), I also follow the same ritual before each big performance: deep breaths, stretching, and light meditation to get into focus mode - and of course a combo of Olivia Rodrigo & Young Thug & in the headphones on the way to the venue.

Watch Asif’s three-minute standup routine on YouTube. (Footage captured by NY comic, Michael Miller.)

F-ck by Emily Schooley in Toronto, ON Canada.

F-ck is a silent short film that I made during pandemic quarantine - it is one part meditation, one part protest, and one part magic ritual to create a better future.

You can watch the film on vimeo. (Password is nonews.)

Ward Pound Ridge Chronicles by Allison Belolan in Mamaroneck, New York.

Ward Pound Ridge Chronicles is a mixed-media installation that documents my explorations of the Ward Pound Ridge Reservation in Westchester County, NY. The documentation includes photographs, sketches, and cyanotypes. My creative process starts with this documentation, as I spend time exploring and observing a place. This process of immersing myself in the environment is deeply nourishing, and recording the details of a place allows me to become fully present and connect with the space meditatively, making the documentation process a kind of ritual.

You can see more work on Allison’s site at her studio.

The Ritual of Building: Insights and Inspirations using LEGO® bricks by Elizabeth Wright Veintimilla in Stockholm, Sweden.

My submission is a closeup photograph of a LEGO® creation that represents what comes to my mind when I hear the word “ritual”. This theme inspires me to create intentional moments to connect with myself and the world around me. The process of building, revising, and finalizing the model shows how I see building with LEGO® as a thoughtful, repetitive practice that mirrors the intention and reflection inherent in rituals.

You can learn about Elizabeth’s work as a workshop facilitator with a focus on gender justice, collective action, migration and belonging on her site.

Want to see your creative work featured on our blog? Subscribe to our Weekly Highlight newsletter to find out when submissions for next month’s theme are open.