Mastodawn

Day 2: My Morning Ritual — Learning to Water Myself Again

There is something sacred about the first moments of the morning. Before the world asks anything of you. Before the to-do lists and the responsibilities and the emotions you did not ask to carry begin to spill into your day. Those first minutes feel like a soft doorway. A quiet invitation. A chance to choose how you want to show up.

My morning ritual has shifted many times throughout the years, but one part has stayed consistent no matter the season of my life: I water myself.

It sounds simple, but it is everything.

Every morning, before anything else, I walk to the sink and let the cool water run through my fingers. I throw water over my face and let it wake me gently. I brush my teeth, take my vitamins, and drink water before rushing into the world. There is something grounding about that moment. Something that pulls me back into my body. Something that reminds me that before I pour into anyone else, I need to start by pouring into myself.

Water is cleansing. Water is clarity. Water is life.
And this tiny ritual reminds me that I deserve those things too.

Lately, though, I have felt the weight of the season. The stress. The worry. The pressure to keep going even when my spirit is asking for rest. And because of that, I dropped a habit that used to shape my mornings in the best way: journaling what I am grateful for.

I am not going to lie. I fell off.
Life got loud, and gratitude got quiet.

But this challenge is my return to the things that nourish me. Gratitude journaling used to be my anchor. It reminded me that even in chaos, there are small blessings that keep me going. It reminded me that my story is both heavy and beautiful. And it set the tone for my entire day.

When I start my morning with water and gratitude, everything shifts.
My mind feels clearer.
My body feels lighter.
My spirit feels supported.
And the day unfolds with more intention, more softness, and more hope.

So today, I chose to return to that practice.
Not perfectly.
Not aesthetically.
Just honestly.

I sat with my journal and wrote down three things I am grateful for.
The first was simple: “I woke up.”
The second was softer: “I am still here, even when things feel overwhelming.”
And the third was tender: “I am choosing to water myself again.”

Morning rituals do not have to be elaborate to be meaningful.
Sometimes the most magical routines are the ones that reconnect you to yourself in the smallest ways. And that is what today taught me.

If you are joining me in this challenge, I hope you find a ritual that grounds you, even if it is as simple as running water over your face and whispering a quiet thank you to the day ahead.

Because how you start your morning matters.
Because you matter.
And because watering yourself is the first spell of the day.

You Want to Join the Challenge?

30 days soft bruja challenge by Have a Cup of Johanny

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#authorLife #cozyBrujaAesthetic #dailySelfCareHabits #emotionalWellness #gentleWitchcraft #gratitudeJournaling #healingRituals #identityAndCulture #intuitiveLiving #latinaSelfCare #mindfulMorningRoutine #morningRitual #softBrujaChallenge #spiritualGrounding #theOrdinaryBruja

Ms. Que Banh Nov 24

Keep on, OhmOmOhming on ✌️🙏

#Buddha #Buddhism #zen #Ohm #Om #chants #spiritual #meditation #calmness #serenity #InnerPeace #SoulGarden #sculpture #art #monochrome #BWphoto #MonochromeMonday #SelfCare #EmotionalWellness #MentalWellness #InnerHealth #SoulBank

Johanny Ortega Nov 14

Friday Feature: 5 Self-Development Books That Heal Like Spells

There are books that teach you how to think—and then there are books that teach you how to feel.
The ones that hold a mirror to your spirit, call you out with love, and whisper, You’ve got this, mija.

These are the books that don’t just sit on your shelf—they live in your bloodstream. They remind you that growth isn’t about perfection; it’s about healing, reclaiming, and remembering your worth.

Today, I’m sharing five self-development books that heal like spells—guides for the mind, body, and soul that help you break cycles, nurture your inner peace, and reconnect with your roots.

1. The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz

A timeless spiritual guide based on ancient Toltec wisdom, The Four Agreements distills life into four deceptively simple truths:

Be impeccable with your word.
Don’t take anything personally.
Don’t make assumptions.
Always do your best.

These lessons are the foundation of emotional freedom. Every time I reread this book, I’m reminded how our words—especially the ones we say to ourselves—can either curse or bless our lives.

Why it heals: It helps you unlearn people-pleasing and reclaim your peace.

2. The Body Keeps the Score by Bessel van der Kolk

Healing doesn’t start in the mind—it begins in the body. This groundbreaking book explains how trauma physically embeds itself in our nervous systems and how movement, mindfulness, and connection help release it.

For those of us who grew up in survival mode—always “on,” always bracing—it’s a revelation. It validates the exhaustion you can’t explain and reminds you that you’re not broken; you’re protecting yourself.

Why it heals: Because it reminds you that rest, not productivity, is the real recovery and that even when you forget the body remembers so you might as well come to head with those memories so you can begin to heal.

3. Self-Care for Latinas by Raquel Reichard

This one feels like a warm cafecito with your best friend and abuela rolled into one. Self-Care for Latinas isn’t about bubble baths—it’s about reclaiming joy, setting boundaries, and building a wellness practice rooted in culture and community.

Reichard talks about the cultural pressures that often make self-care feel selfish for Latinas, and she flips that narrative on its head. It’s practical, affirming, and empowering in the most grounded way.

Why it heals: Because it centers you—your culture, your rest, your right to joy.

4. Mamá Didn’t Raise a Pendeja by Sandra Hinojosa Ludwig

This book is the pep talk every recovering good girl needs. Ludwig mixes humor, spiritual insight, and straight-up tough love to help Latinas reconnect with self-worth, intuition, and abundance.

It’s a reminder that generational strength runs deep, but so do generational wounds—and healing both is part of the journey. It’s bold, bilingual, and refreshingly honest.

Why it heals: Because it teaches you how to take up space without guilt and lead with both corazón and boundaries.

5. Break the Cycle: A Guide to Healing Intergenerational Trauma by Dr. Mariel Buqué

Dr. Buqué’s book is a masterclass in healing from the inside out. She unpacks how family trauma travels across generations and how we can stop carrying pain that isn’t ours.

For me, it connected so much to The Ordinary Bruja’s core theme—how silence and self-doubt pass down like heirlooms until someone decides to end the pattern. Buqué gives practical tools for emotional regulation, ancestral healing, and self-forgiveness.

Why it heals: Because it shows that breaking cycles isn’t betrayal—it’s love in its purest form.

Why These Books Matter

Each of these books offers a different kind of magic:

The Four Agreements – Spiritual clarity
The Body Keeps the Score – Emotional embodiment
Self-Care for Latinas – Cultural grounding
Mamá Didn’t Raise a Pendeja – Empowered identity
Break the Cycle – Generational healing

Together, they form a spiritual toolkit for growth—rooted in culture, compassion, and courage.

Final Reflection

Healing isn’t linear. Some days you’ll feel like a warrior; others, like you’re unraveling. That’s okay. Growth is messy, magical, and ongoing.

When I read these books, I don’t just highlight sentences—I highlight truths. They remind me that I come from strength, softness, and resilience. And they remind me that self-development, especially for Latinas, isn’t about becoming new—it’s about remembering who we’ve always been.

So, if you’re looking for books that don’t just speak to your mind but to your spirit, start here.
Each one is a spell for self-love, a prayer for peace, and a guide back to yourself.

#ancestralHealing #culturalEmpowerment #emotionalWellness #intergenerationalTrauma #latineSpirituality #personalGrowth #selfCareForLatinas2 #selfDevelopmentBooks #spiritualHealing

Samantha Kamstra Nov 4

The Weight of Quiet Days

breathing.” There are days that don’t look like progress — only quiet moments of survival. But even then, you are growing. You are resting in the in-between, learning to breathe through the ache and trust that healing has its own rhythm. It’s okay to slow down. It’s okay to simply be. 🌙 #HealingThroughWords #EmotionalWellness #QuietStrength #SoftHealing #MindfulMoments #InnerPeace

http://trumamama.art.blog/2025/11/04/the-weight-of-quiet-days/