Earth-Based Rituals for Self-Love
I’m sure you’ve heard of the 5 Love Languages by Gary Chapman – the different ways in which we express love to those in our lives. Chapman outlines the idea that everyone has a different love language, meaning different people with different personalities give and receive love in different ways. These ways of giving and receiving love can be one of, or a combination of, the following:
Physical Touch
Words of Affirmation
Acts of Service
Giving and Receiving Gifts
and/or Quality Time
While this concept has been floating around since the 90s, in our current era of personal wellbeing, a new kid is on the block –
Self-Love Languages
Your self-love language is all about how you give and receive love for yourself – the things that you do to lift yourself up, take care of yourself, and bring yourself into a regulated state. This quiz can help you determine what your personal love language is.
Knowing this information is so helpful in understanding yourself on a deeper level, and ensuring that the things you do to take care of yourself are what you actually need.
In a time where we’re constantly looking outside of ourselves for answers (asking influencers what their morning routines are, reading endless lists on self-care practices), understanding ourselves truly is the ultimate act of reclaiming our personal power.
Taking the time to cultivate a better relationship with ourselves leads to the very things we’re all collectively seeking – stronger boundaries, healthier relationships with others, clearer decision-making, actually feeling nourished and taken care of, a regulated and calm nervous system, ease and alignment in our beings, lightness, happiness, joy.
Understanding our own self-love language gives us a compass, one that helps us navigate the unique terrain of our individuality.
That way, when someone says their self-care practice involves meal-prepping and staying organized, you don’t have to wonder why you still feel depleted when you do the same thing. Their self-love language may be acts of service, which fits with those activities, however yours may be physical touch, meaning a massage or warm bath is what you actually need.
Being in a better relationship with ourselves serves a greater purpose that expands beyond the self. When we deeply know, heal and love ourselves, we naturally create ripple effects that send waves of healing and love out into the collective. Healing ourselves is directly tied into the healing of others, and the healing of the land.
Like we always say: self-care is community-care, and community-care is self-care.
This list of Earth-Based Rituals for Self-Love Languages is our way of helping you come into a deeper, more loving relationship with yourself, and with the Earth, for true wellbeing.
Take the quiz to find your self-love language, and then return to this list to find ways to begin your practice.
Physical Touch
Let the Earth hold you, by connecting your physical body with the planetary body. Some practices to engage in include:
Grounding / Earthing
Swimming in a natural body of water
Sun-gazing, at either dawn or dusk
Moonbathing under a Full Moon to connect to your wild femininity
Tree-Hugging
Working with wild herbs and plants
Gardening and having your hands in the dirt
Feeling the sensations and textures of the Earth – silky stream water, soft moss, rough tree bark, squishy mud, crunchy autumn leaves
Words of Affirmation
Speak lovingly to yourself, and to the Earth, while engaging in rituals and practices that bring you outdoors.
Singing or humming while in nature
Writing affirmations in a journal while surrounded by nature
Mindful gardening, where you tend to plants, speak to them and to yourself with love
Collecting gratitude stones – find them in nature and write uplifting words on them. You can place them around your home or garden as reminders
Affirmation walks, where you really take notice of the season you’re in, while repeating a loving mantra to yourself
Outdoor mindfulness practice – meditating and deep breathing while in nature
Acts of Service
Practice reciprocity with nature, giving to the Earth and to yourself, for personal and planetary wellbeing.
Planting trees – on your own, through a community program, or by donating to a trusted, local organization
Going for a walk outside to reset your nervous system
Taking care of houseplants or a garden for a gentle energy exchange
Planting an herb or veggie garden that you can nourish yourself from
Participating in a beach or park cleanup
Creating pollinator pathways to help our fuzzy, flighty friends
Giving and Receiving Gifts
The Earth is so abundant and wants us to participate in an intentional exchange with her. Find ways to give yourself gifts from nature.
Foraging
Reciprocity with nature - bringing an offering when out in the woods
Gathering wildflowers to adorn your home
Taking yourself to a botanical garden or sanctuary
Going apple picking or berry picking and making yourself apple sauce or jam
Sustainable maple syrup tapping at a local farm
Collecting fallen autumn leaves and acorns to decorate your harvest table with
Creating an eco-friendly bird feeder for our winged-friends
Quality Time
Spend quality time by yourself in your favourite spots in nature, for an instant mood booster and nervous system regulator.
Forest bathing – quiet, tech-free time spent in nature
Watching the sunset or sunrise
Meditating in nature
Having a picnic outside
Reading under your favourite tree
Going for a hike or gentle walk in a nearby nature area
Visiting a botanical garden or conservation area
Painting or making art, using your local scenery as the inspiration