Earth-Based Rituals for Self-Love

White woman's knee and thigh that has small daisies taped to it, with the ocean in the background

January 7, 2025 | 2 minute read

Written by Arti Jalan

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

 

These mindful, gentle, and soul-nourishing rituals are a way to bring you back into relationship with yourself and the Earth, but in a way that feels the most intrinsic and natural to you, on a deeply personal level.

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