committing to a daily practice for a full year

I turn 37 this coming Monday, September 16th and am eager to start my next trip around the sun dedicated to a daily practice. I’ve explored and experimented with a huge swath of spiritual and somatic practices for almost ten years now, but I often struggle with maintaining a daily practice. Maybe it’s because I get bored or perhaps it’s because I get busy (and by busy, I mean I don’t make the time), I don’t know exactly why my attempts at a daily practice seem to end up fizzling out and falling short. I’ve come to a place where I don’t need to know, I just need to claim that I want a daily practice and I’m ready to make it happen.

Surprisingly I feel ok with admitting all of this to you, my dear cherished reader. Past versions of me would have felt embarrassed or ashamed, or even like an imposter considering much of my work is centered around holding space and guiding people in healing practices. But alas, I am human, I have challenges, and I believe in authenticity wholeheartedly. So in the spirit of trying new things and taking risks,

Let’s lay out some logistics because, without some planning on the forefront, this would feel like I’m jumping off a cliff and I don’t love that feeling.

For starters, my brilliant friend and soul sister, Renee, had the wonderful idea of switching up my daily practice by trying a new practice each month. So rather than committing to one practice for 365 days, I’ll be doing the same practice daily for one month, and then switching to a new practice the next month, and so on for one full year.

You, my beloved readers and community, will be my accountability support. I know, I know, you didn’t consent to this, but by accountability support, I just mean that amidst my regular, free Substack writing,

I want to keep these writings real, raw, and vulnerable, no sugarcoating, no bypassing and that feels safer to do in a more intimate community of dedicated readers. If you’re not already a paid subscriber, you can become one for $5 a month or $50 a year (two months free) with the button below. If you’re already a paid subscriber, thank you for supporting me and my writing!

To begin sharing my daily practice journey, I’m going through the daily practices I’ll be choosing from for the next 12 months. They range from somatic practices to spiritual, creative, and ceremonial practices that weave in the elements, the body and senses, the seen and unseen, and so much more. If you’d like to see the list of daily practices I’ll be pulling from below, please become a paid subscriber.

Thank you for your presence and witnessing as I step into this next trip around the sun in a way that feels super exciting, a bit overwhelming, and like a long time coming!

ELEMENTAL

• water blessing - first thing in the morning upon waking, with a crystal water carafe at the bedside, thank the water and ask it for help with cleansing the earth, myself, and all beings

• pray over food while cooking/preparing and eating for at least one meal a day

• make earth offerings to our land

SOMATIC / BODY-BASED

• body touch practice and body scan - place hands on the body, scan from head to toe, check in with the body, and ask for guidance

• dance and/or stretch

• breathwork

• self-massage

RITUAL / SPIRITUAL

• surrender practice - lay face down on the earth or floor, palms to the sky, and say repeatedly, “I do not know, please show me”, listen and feel for what comes

• hapé and cacao rituals

• light a candle and/or burn incense

• energetic cleanse with feathers and burning dried herbs

• watch the sunrise or sunset each day

• below/above/within and heart light meditations 

CREATIVE / CEREBRAL 

• freewrite / morning pages

• bibliomancy

• pull an oracle card

• do a drawing

• read a poem

• make a mind map

SOUND

• sanskrit chanting with shruti box

• play instruments / sing / make music

• vocal toning / voo / humming

Well, there you have it friends! If you have any daily practices you love feel free to share them below in the comments or email me, waverly@waverlydavis.com. Thank you for being a paid subscriber and a cherished comrade on this yearlong daily practice exploration.

with love,

Waverly

1 — Anne Rice novels. I read her book, The Witching Hour, while living and volunteering in Mombasa, Kenya. It’s incredible and it keeps coming back up in my life lately. It feels like a synchronicity that I need to read it again, maybe you do too?

2 — You Are On Native Land hats by Urban Native Era. I wear these hats all the time, they’re a great way to start conversations with curious people. They have dad caps and beanies, I love them both. They’re also an indigenous-owned and operated company.

3 — Co-facilitating ceremonies more frequently. I’ll be co-facilitating several ceremonies this fall and winter in Virginia and Maryland. These ceremonies create a safe, trauma-informed, sacred space for deepened embodiment, connection with community, and potent transformation. The intention and prayer for this work is that it will support people in healing relationships with body, mind, and spirit and aid in aligning more deeply with heart and purpose. We work with powerful plant guides to support people in releasing all that is no longer for them and with the potent energy of the elements to call dreams and desires into being. Visit my website to learn more.

4 — Gun violence in the US and its impact on our youth. I recently listened to a Talk Easy podcast interview with the first Gen Z Congressman of Florida, Maxwell Frost. They dive deep into gun violence, how it’s become the leading cause of death among young people, and what we can do about it. This was hard to listen to but important to be aware of. I found myself walking away from this conversation feeling hopeful about the future. Give it a listen.

5 — Mikuna protein powder. Now that we have a kitchen again (!!!) and can make smoothies with ease I’ve been on the hunt for a great, not filled with crap, protein powder. I found it! Mikuna’s protein powder is made of chocho, a bean grown in the high Andes of Ecuador. It has the most protein of all plant-based protein powders without any of the processed whey, pea, soy, and other funk you don’t want. My family loves it.

Until next time ♡