Morning Ritual, Grounded Life

Many ancient religions have long-established morning rituals. Now, psychologists say, their practice could be key to having a productive day and living a considered life. By making healthy and conscious decisions in those first few moments, you’re setting a positive tone and an intention for the day ahead.

- Ashleigh Roman

Writing & meditation

ANS DOKTER

Ans Dokter is an avid traveller. She had plans to travel widely in 2020 before Covid-19 put a spanner in the works. She is the owner of Amani House in Hout Bay, an ecofriendly lodge for retreats, and this is where she hunkered down for the better part of the year.

To channel her frustration, she started a process of meditation and writing, eventually signing up for a writing process with Christel Janssen, an author, speaker, medium and acupuncture specialist who is based in Hawaii. ‘I’ve known her for quite some time,’ Ans says. ‘I attended a retreat she had arranged in Hawaii a few years ago, which is how I got into contact with her.’

The two of them work through Ans’s writing every day. ‘At 7am and at 7pm, we have a video call and connect with my writing,’ Ans says. ‘Amazingly, I had started out writing about my frustration, but when I was reading it back, I realised that I had begun to change my outlook. I started seeing that, when everything is part of the bigger plan and the bigger picture, it’s okay. From that moment, I became calmer and more of an observer.’

Since Ans has been forced to stay in one place for far longer than she’s used to, her morning ritual has helped her to dive deeper within herself than ever before, allowing her to make better connections with everyone around her.