Body Rituals for Av

Av is a month of extremes. Tisha B’Av (the 9th of the month), the saddest day of the Hebrew calendar, revisits the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem, while Tu B’Av (the 15th of the month) celebrates love & relationship & creation. It’s a time when the wild pace of summer begins to wear us down, when we start to look forward to the more routine pace of autumn. 

The first part of the month of Av can feel like an uphill climb. Temperatures soar, resources dwindle, patience grows thin. Summer is historically a difficult time in the Hebrew calendar - a time when wars were waged and entire civilizations destroyed. In fact, most wars throughout human history have been waged in summer, which makes sense: better weather, bountiful food, etc… Days surrounding Tisha B’Av are infused with this energy, and tinged with grief. 

When the moon waxes full, the mood shifts. Tu B’Av was originally a matchmaking event for unmarried young women during the days of the Temple in Jerusalem. Under the light of the glowing moon, those seeking a husband (which at the time meant physical and material security), would dress in white, rich and poor swapping clothes so nobody could decipher one’s financial background, and dance. Tu B’Av is about hope for the future. 

Despair & hope. How are we to navigate the swing from one extreme to the other? By seeking comfort in little rituals. 

A NIA instructor of mine refers to the body as “your physical container.” I love that thought. Your body is what contains you, your spirit, soul, personality, mind; whatever it is that makes you, You, resides within that container. It deserves to be cared for, if for no other reason than that. 

This week I invite you to put some focus and energy into one of the things that you do to care for your body. By turning your daily physical activity into a moment of ritual (routine + intentionality = ritual) you invite the opportunity for it to be really grounding.  I did it today and I gotta tell you, it felt much better when approached from this perspective. Let me know how it works for you. 

If you'd like some more structured advice on how to turn daily routines into rituals, click here.