All posts tagged: Rituals

Almost Every True Perfectionist Does 10 Small Rituals Without Even Realizing It

Almost Every True Perfectionist Does 10 Small Rituals Without Even Realizing It

Published by Jenni Sidey

While the pursuit of excellence and the desire to be great all seem like great things on paper, perfectionism actually stems from feelings of inadequacy and anxiety, which harm personal satisfaction and well-being. Much like other forms of anxiety, perfectionism is hard to unwind because it seeps into all the small instincts and behaviors of daily life. Almost every true perfectionist does certain small rituals without even realizing it, many of which perpetuate their inner struggles and unsustainable expectations. And unfortunately, over time, being so hard on themselves can lead to burnout and chronic stress. Almost every true perfectionist does 10 small rituals without even realizing it 1. They trade celebration for decompression Krakenimages.com | Shutterstock Many perfectionist people, who work diligently and without rest toward big goals, don’t actually celebrate once they accomplish them. Instead, they often need to decompress, as it’s only relief when they finally make it to the finish line. They’ve been operating from a place of fear and anxiety, so now that the goal has been reached, the release of …

Brits’ top 10 ways to ward off bad luck – and bring good fortune | Weird | News

Brits’ top 10 ways to ward off bad luck – and bring good fortune | Weird | News

Published by Sam Flores

Brits’ quirkiest superstitions range from never popping open an umbrella indoors to avoiding placing new shoes on a table – and even depending on a “lucky” outfit. Among the most common beliefs are crossing fingers (44%), knocking on wood (42%) and avoiding walking under ladders (39%). For those in search of an extra dash of luck, the survey of 2,000 adults revealed that 42% have a lucky ritual or charm they resort to for a confidence lift or a touch of good fortune. Indeed, 21% have a preferred “lucky” outfit they’ll don when they’re hoping for luck to be on their side – a figure that jumps to 38% among under-35s. In light of these findings, Mecca Bingo, which commissioned the research, has unveiled the ‘luckiest heels ever made’, with the design reinterpreting a pair of iconic red stilettos. The shoes boast a unique two-pronged horseshoe heel, constructed with authentic horseshoe metal integrated into the sole. Other custom features draw inspiration from the charms and rituals Brits swear by, including four-leaf clovers, and the 11:11 …

The tooth fairy is ridiculous but kids need rituals. I know I do | Anthony N Castle

The tooth fairy is ridiculous but kids need rituals. I know I do | Anthony N Castle

Published by Sam Flores

I held my daughter up to better see the passing parade. She was still small enough to lift high with my hands and I watched her reaction from below, her joy, growing in the morning light. The colour and noise moved past. “You’re missing it,” I heard someone say. But I had never seen something as beautiful as that; it seemed perfect, her smile looking down at me. My daughter appeared above me again the following morning, though something had changed. Her mouth, blood-streaked, opened to reveal a gap. She had lost her first tooth. We celebrated but I felt something else as well; it all changes from here. I wondered if it was grief. “Do we give this to the toothy fairy?” my daughter asked. I couldn’t quite remember. There can be something ridiculous about the ritual; invoking night imps, exchanging cash for body parts. Some parents hoard the teeth in tins or wear them on necklaces. Some argue it’s unethical; “You’re lying to children” or, my personal favourite, “This is how capitalism commodifies …

11 Unfortunately Common Humiliation Rituals That Happen At Almost Every Job

11 Unfortunately Common Humiliation Rituals That Happen At Almost Every Job

Published by Jenni Sidey

While constructive negative feedback can sometimes improve employees’ performance in certain contexts, far more research has found that when someone feels embarrassed and ashamed at work, they are less likely to learn from failures and improve. While there are several unfortunately common humiliation rituals that still seem to happen at almost every job, that doesn’t mean they should be normalized. Your boss isn’t your parent, and they shouldn’t punish you as though you were a child. Your humanity deserves to be respected, regardless of your position, power, or salary. Here are 11 unfortunately common humiliation rituals that happen at almost every job 1. Being corrected publicly Zivica Kerkez | Shutterstock.com Especially with someone in a position of power at work, having a safe space to lean into for feedback is important. However, if your boss or manager regularly corrects your behavior in a shameful, public way without ever taking the time to offer real constructive criticism, chances are you’re battling with resentment. It’s uncomfortable dealing with feedback on its own, let alone in a room of …

The Thrill of Childhood Rituals

The Thrill of Childhood Rituals

Published by José Betancourt

This is an edition of The Wonder Reader, a newsletter in which our editors recommend a set of stories to spark your curiosity and fill you with delight. Sign up here to get it every Saturday morning. When kids spend time together, they create their own rituals and traditions, Julie Beck wrote in 2022—“essentially, their own folklore, or, as researchers call it, ‘childlore.’” A child might think they made up the game of tag or the concept of cooties, but these pastimes and languages are shared across time and place. As we age, Julie notes, we start to forget the experience of childlore: “The rebellious thrill, the intense comradery, the urge to pass the knowledge along (and pretend you came up with it yourself)—all of these things fade with time.” The kids will keep that feeling alive for us, Julie writes. But today, take a few minutes to think back to your favorite game at recess, or the moment you learned how to build a cootie catcher—and take comfort in knowing that kids now and …

IKEA’s wellbeing guru on why home rituals matter

IKEA’s wellbeing guru on why home rituals matter

Published by Daniella Wilson

Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more They say the home is where the heart is, and as Life at Home Leader at the global headquarters for IKEA, Katie McCrory has written extensively about home life to be able to speak with authority. Having headed up the annual IKEA Life at Home Report since 2017, she says: “I think being so close to research that really unveils what life at home looks, and more importantly, feels like for people around the world…. I think it unlocked something in me. “Understanding what is we’re reaching for when we talk about wanting to feel more at home has completely transformed the way I think about homemaking,” says the 42-year-old mother-of-two. “It really encouraged me to reflect on what I need and want from my …

Severed head rituals were more widespread in Iron Age Iberia than we thought

Severed head rituals were more widespread in Iron Age Iberia than we thought

Published by Jenni Sidey

Get the Popular Science daily newsletter💡 Breakthroughs, discoveries, and DIY tips sent six days a week. Archaeologists have spent years puzzling over evidence of severed head rituals among Iron Age communities in the northeast Iberian Peninsula. Multiple groups of the Indigetes and Laietani peoples from present-day Spain and Portugal practiced these violent public displays at least as far back as the first millennium BCE. And sometimes, they did so with elaborate preparation techniques such as driving iron nails through the skulls.  While researchers previously believed the techniques were restricted to an area north of Catalonia’s Llobregat River, recently examined cranial remains tell a different story. According to a study published in the journal Trabajos de Prehistoria, at least two other Iberian groups further south—the Cessetani and the Ilergetes—observed severed head rituals as early as the 6th century BCE. “Bioanthropological and waste analyses have allowed us to identify injuries produced with sharp objects at a time close to death. Due to their arrangement, depth and location, they are compatible with the ritual of severed heads,” said …

Catholic rituals blend with Neapolitan folklore in pilgrimage for queer community

Catholic rituals blend with Neapolitan folklore in pilgrimage for queer community

Published by Sam Flores

MERCOGLIANO, Italy (RNS) — The pews of the Church of the Annunziata in Mercogliano, a town just outside of Naples, were filled with guests wearing lacquered nails, towering wigs and heavy eyelashes. The group known as femminielli — meaning a nonbinary gender identity with ancient roots — had gathered there for their annual pilgrimage, La Juta, honoring the biblical Mary and affirming the femminielli identity. The parish priest celebrating the Mass, the Rev. Vitaliano Della Sala, said in his Monday (Feb. 2) homily that “the Juta is a celebration of the encounter between the human and the divine,” stressing that these occasions are more important now than ever as violence, prejudice and war threaten rights around the world. The Juta dei Femminielli is an old Catholic event that combines the human with the divine and highlights an identity rooted in cultural expression and Parthenopean, or Neapolitan, mythology. It takes place every year on Feb. 2, when Catholics celebrate Candlemas, the feast commemorating the presentation of Jesus to the temple. During the Mass, faithful bring their …

The hidden power of grief rituals

The hidden power of grief rituals

Published by Sam Flores

(The Conversation) — In Tana Toraja, a mountainous region of Sulawesi, Indonesia, villagers pour massive resources into funeral rituals: lavish feasts, ornate effigies and prized water buffaloes for sacrifice. I witnessed this funeral ritual in 2024 while accompanying scholar Melanie Nyhof on her fieldwork. Families were expected to stage funerals that matched the social standing of the dead, even if it meant selling land, taking out loans or calling on distant kin for help. In my own work of studying communal mourning rituals, I take part in ceremonies to see how they unfold.At one of the ceremonies I attended in Tana Toraja, hundreds gathered as gongs echoed through the valley. Guests were served meals over several days, dancers in bright headdresses performed for the crowd, and water buffalo – the most valuable gift a family can give – were led into the courtyard for sacrifice. Mourners described these acts as ways of honoring the deceased. It wasn’t just in the villages of Tana Toraja that families and clans used rituals to express loyalty for people …

Horses leap through flames and pets go to church in Spanish animal rituals honoring St Anthony

Horses leap through flames and pets go to church in Spanish animal rituals honoring St Anthony

Published by Sam Flores

SAN BARTOLOME DE PINARES, Spain (AP) — Hundreds of Spaniards watched horses gallop through towering flames, hours before pet owners in Madrid on Saturday took their dogs and cats to church to be blessed with holy water. The contrasting Spanish traditions take place every January to honor St. Anthony the Abbott, the patron saint of domestic animals. And despite criticism from animal rights groups, the horse-and-fire spectacle draws loyal crowds ever year. Las Luminarias is a centuries-old tradition that takes place in the Spanish village of San Bartolomé de Pinares — population 500 — about 100 kilometers (60 miles) outside Madrid. Riders guide horses through bonfires in the middle of the street in an act believed to purify the animals in the coming year. “In the old days, it was held because it was believed that the branches and the smoke blessed the horses and donkeys, which were used for farming, as a form of healing to prevent them from getting sick and to ensure they continued working in the fields,” said attendee Antonio Patricio, …