The Sacred First Hour

The Sacred First Hour: Awakening with Intention

Dawn has long been revered as a magical time – when the veil between worlds is thin and our consciousness is most receptive to spiritual practice. In this guide, we’ll explore how to transform your first waking hour into a sacred ritual that honors both Buddhist mindfulness and Celtic wisdom.

The Three Pillars of Morning Practice

Mindful Awakening

1. Notice you are awake.

2. Feel your bed beneath you and take 3 conscious deep breaths allowing your energy and wakefulness to arise.

3. Mindfully get out of bed and open the curtains feeling the sun on your face if it has risen.

Sit either in your sacred space or somewhere that is conducive to meditation. Close your eyes feel the sensations of the body and the weight of your body on your seat. Become aware of your breath, the actual sensations of breathing. Try not to control the breath just let it happen. Place a count after each out breath. If you get distracted that is fine just start again at 1 and if you get to 10 start again. After 5 minutes swap the count to the beginning of the breath and feel if that is different.After another 5 minutes let go of the counting and just spend a few minutes sitting without any focus.Set your intention for the day.

4. Nature Connection

   • If you can go outside and face the rising sun and feel its light on your face. Try barefoot feeling the earth beneath your feet.

   • Take in any nature around you.

   • Give thanks and gratitude for the Suns energy, Give thanks to the rain and the waters that are vital for life on this planet, give thanks, give thanks to the air for without it we cannot live, give thanks to the earth for it support,stability and the bountiful gifts it provides us.

   • Notice and spend a little while with any seasonal changes such as new buds coming in spring, leaves falling in Autumn, the stillness of a winters morning or the frost on the grass.

   • Give thanks to all the conditions that bring you your morning drink and breakfast; from the earth that provides to all the people involved in producing and bringing it to your morning

5. Integration Practice

   • Do some gentle stretches, simple yoga or Qi Gong excercises to awaken the body and its energies

   • Light a candle or incense in offering to you and your day and any deities or patron you might have with thanks for their presence and support in your life

   • Repeat morning affirmations such as ‘I will have a great day’, ‘I am love, I am grateful for life’, ‘I am enough’ setting your mindset for the day ahead