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It’s unfortunate how certain aspects of life have a tendency to dull our ability to savor, to slow down, to take things in: multitasking through nature, rushing through meals to get on with whatever comes next, skimming past experiences.
But remembering how to savour is part of our spiritual journey. Savouring is not indulgence—it’s presence. It’s how we honor the richness of being alive.
Michael Norton writes that rituals can amplify enjoyment and transform ordinary acts into extraordinary experiences. In The Ritual Effect, he explores how consumption rituals—like savoring a cup of coffee or engaging in a slow, deliberate walk —heighten pleasure and deepen emotional connection.
How can we start thinking about reclaiming the art of savouring:
- Is it in eating slowly, with intention—perhaps lighting a candle or saying a few words of gratitude?
- Is it in walking in nature without headphones, without phones, without tracking our steps, noticing textures, sounds, and smells?
- Is it in journaling after a concert, taking a photo at sunset, or naming what made a day meaningful?
- Is it in the treasuring of your weekly coffee date, walk, movie with a friend?
These are not habits—they’re rituals. And they help us feel more alive and that we’ve actually experienced something rather than assigned it no value, no meaning, no weight.
This doesn’t just happen for us individually, we can learn, relearn, and be re-enchanted by savouring ritual in community too. We know these times together have the power to foster belonging and shared identity, they have the power to help us process emotions together, and to create emotional resonance within our families, with our friends, in our circles of support.
Sometimes in community it would be nice to “Just Be” still and quiet. Most of our time together on Sunday is filled with vocal responses. Maybe we could do a silent “prayer” (reflection) at the beginning of speaking our intention- or perhaps before the candle is lit at the beginning followed by music.
That’s a great idea, Bonnie! We often fill silences with music or talking, and then we gradually forget how to be quiet with each other without it being awkward or uncomfortable.