A Beauty Ritual

We all get those days/weeks/months where we just don't feel that confident or happy in ourselves. It can stem from many things; weight gain or loss, a flare up of skin conditions, lethargy, etc. We are currently in lockdown because of the Coronavirus, and I've been working at home for the past 9 months. I've always been more of a t-shirt and jeans kind of person, but not leaving the house and having no reason to 'dress up' has just left me feeling a bit...well, slobbish.


I designed this ritual as a bit of a pick-me-up. It is fairly quick and simple, and so can be done in a spare 10/15 minutes if you are short on time. However, despite its ease, it can help you take a look inside of yourself, find your inner beauty, and appreciate yourself more.


For this little ritual I called upon the Goddess Cliodhna, the Celtic sea Goddess, who is also known for her beauty. Other deities you could call upon include Venus, Aphrodite, Inanna, or any other deity associated with love and/or femininity. If you do not feel comfortable working with a specific deity, then you can just use The Goddess in your ritual.


The ritual is also light on tools. All you need is a mug/small bowl/small cauldron, some warm water, some rose petals (or you  can substitute these for any sort of flower petal), and a cloth/flannel/sponge. I also surround myself with some shells, to represent Cliodhna, so you could also include representations of the deity you are using. You could also surround yourself with other symbols of love, beauty, and femininity, such as rose quartz, moonstone, pearl, apple, hearts, etc., or maybe even burn incense of rose, apple, jasmine, etc.


Place your petals into the vessel you are using, and pour in the warm water. Make sure that the water isn't hot, as you don't want it to burn you.


Wrap your hands around the vessel, and connect with the deity you are using. Dedicate the water to this deity, and ask for their blessings upon your ritual - for example:


"Oh great Goddess Cliodhna, I offer this water in your honour. Please accept it as a token of the love that I bear for you, and please bless this ritual. So mote it be."


Now, meditate on what beauty and self-love means to you; you want to focus on inner beauty, not just outer beauty. Is it someone who is kind? Who is honest, or who puts others before themselves? See yourself exemplifying these qualities, living your life by these values, shining with a pink, loving light.


When you feel ready, take the cloth/sponge/flannel, and dip it in the water so it is damp. Was your face, neck, and hands with it, whilst you say:


"I am beautiful on the inside, and beautiful on the outside.

Light shines through me,

Love from within me,

I radiate the beauty of the Goddess"


Repeat this as many times as you feel necessary, as you take this beauty into yourself. Feel yourself as the person you want to be, full of love for yourself and others. Enjoy this feeling.


When you feel ready, thank your deity, finish the ritual, and pour the remaining water onto the ground outside.