Morning Rituals

Everyday in grammar school, we had a morning ritual of saying the U.S. Pledge of Allegiance, a short prayer, maybe some special intentions for others or sharing gratitude.  In high school, the morning ritual was less spiritual as we listened to morning announcements over the PA.  In college, the morning ritual was lost altogether as it became a rush out the door to classes.  After college, entering professional life, the morning ritual became a pilgrimage to the coffee temple and sometimes a side trip to the lesser bagel temple; filling a physical and sometimes social need rather than a spiritual one.

While living overseas in the last decade, I experienced the morning rituals of other cultures.  Here are some of my favorites:

Waking up in Istanbul at sunrise to the mystical call to prayer.  The giant, mysterious and melodic voice from beyond awakening the community and reminding everyone to take a moment and turn their body, mind and spirit towards God.  Google: “Islamic Call To Prayer” in YouTube to hear some examples.

In Mongolia, there is a nomadic tradition where the mother or grandmother of the household makes a morning offering to the “gods”.  She puts on her del and hat, goes outside with a small bowl of milk, and using a carved wooden spoon, tosses an offering of milk 3 times towards the sky.  In the city, I’ve seen women do this from their apartment windows or sometimes in an empty lot nearby.

My favorite morning ritual is the Balinese Hindu morning offerings.  These are small baskets made of palm or banana leaves filled with some rice or food from the family kitchen as well as flowers and petals from the family garden and a stick of incense.  Women make these offerings and place these symbols of gratitude at the family shrine, entrance to the home, entrance to businesses, in front of guesthouses, etc.  Birds, cats, insects and other animals will come by and nibble at them during the day.  The tiny baskets are symbolic reminders of gratitude.

While on a yoga retreat, we began our day at sunrise by taking a cup of warm tea made of fresh lemon juice and ginger root.  With three strikes of a gong, we descended upon the outdoor yoga studio surrounded by lush palm trees. With the sounds of a bubbling stream below, birds and toads greeting us from the bush, we began the day with a salutation to the rising sun.

How do you begin your day?  What are your morning rituals?  Do you begin your day in a mindful way?  

-Julie Pitzen 2021

#worldcultures #rituals #mindfulness #journey #transformation

Tangsuq: Vessels of Change

Blog Intro

I’ve wanted to write this kind of blog for quite a while now, well before COVID-19.  In 2006, I took a huge risk and quit a life-sucking job and moved to Mongolia to teach English.  I had no idea what I was in for.  At that time, I started a blog about my life there.  A lot has changed since then, and I had 2020 to reflect on life in general and the past fifteen years.  I wanted to blog again, but didn’t think people would really be interested in hearing about someone’s life in Mongolia.  It’s not Paris, Italy or some exotic island.  Mongolia may not fit everyone’s taste, but its’ redevelopment after Soviet influence, evolving economy and democracy, its Nomadic traditions and long, diverse history certainly are fascinating.  When I talk to people and they find out I lived in Mongolia, they pause and say, “Did you say Mongolia?!” 

Having been immersed in another culture for over a decade, my travel and diverse experiences, background in Anthropology and our ever-evolving world, I wanted to write about transformation and how big and small things transform our lives.  How through different experiences we can change and transform our lives and our world for the better.

I came across the word “tangsuq” while reading about Mongolian history. Its exact origin may be known to academics, but variations of it occur in Central Asia.  In some of these ancient Central Asian cultures and languages, it refers to a kind of small precious container carried or worn by a traveler or pilgrim.  I liken this to a Tibetan gau, an amulet, a relic, a protective medal, a talisman or lucky charm.  Legend has it that as the owner travels with the tangsuq, the container becomes more precious, gains more “power”, spirit or energy (for lack of a better term in English).  It’s not clear what that spirit or power is, but I relate it to wisdom, knowledge, maybe some kind of sacredness or spirituality.  

We as humans are containers of sorts absorbing all around us.  As we travel through life, we may gain knowledge or wisdom, strengthen our spirituality, some may receive other gifts, and some of these come from people and cultures we come into contact with.  We may also share from our own physical or metaphysical  “containers” with others, thus gaining an understanding of each other, building connections and relationships.  

I’ve experienced the world through the lens of an Artist and maker/collector of containers, Anthropologist, Museum professional, a Teacher and Lifelong Learner, Traveler, daughter, and friend.  I share here my experiences and how different things have transformed me in my life’s journey.  I also share new ideas and things I find intriguing that may also be transformative for you.  I hope you enjoy the journey! 

#worldcultures #Mongolia #transformation #lifechange #journey #women #travel