Introduction

The Ritual.

Buddha:
The thought manifests as the word. The word manifests as the deed. The deed develops into habit. And the habit hardens into character. So watch the thought and its ways with care. And let it spring from love, born out of concern for all beings.


Every day you wake in a certain way and you find sleep in a certain way.  You encounter strangers in a certain way, and you experience routine in a certain way.  You have a certain fixed opinion of your role in this world, and you have a certain space for creativity and new idealisms.

Which of our rituals have real value, and which of our rituals do we appreciate for the beauty they truly hold?  Each of us acts on our idiosyncratic impulses with every decision we make, and each chooses according to the forseeable favourable outcomes of each potential choice.  The humour in life comes from the unforseeable, often unfavourable outcomes of each ritualistic gut-decision.  My most recent over-indulgence came in the form of a dozen or so cocktails, quickly, though in the context of a brilliant conversation.  Another point-of-view came when a newly-extinguished flame unwittingly brought her mother for a drink in the bar at which I work.
As we grow older our gut-decisions become ritualised, and we each devise a certain way of doing things from day to day, moment to moment, context to context.  Now a great fear exists in me, and that is of making decisions based on erroneous perceptions.  This can lead to a hestitancy in making decisions at all, and at worst a lack of knowledge of decisions that need to be made.  Recently I realised the beauty of sound sleep and privacy in a lifestyle of late nights and entertainment, and turned to my local green-grocer.  The result has been superb, and my sleep and dreams have been more pleasant than ever.

The recipe for a hot-buttered-rum is a simple one, and a simple one to modify.  My ritualistic night-cap is a simple twist on this, and suits those wishing to act with love in their final moments before dreaming, during dreaming, and upon waking, naked, with a smile upon their face, as God intended.

"Prophet's Delude"
60ml, or a good measure, of Bourbon Whiskey,
2-3tsp Rapadura, Muscovado, or Brown Sugar,
120ml Hot Water,
7.5ml Valerian Tincture,
2ccm Cocoa Butter.

Method:
Pre-heat a mug and add Bourbon, Sugar, Valerian, and near-boiling water. Stir in sugar, then layer Cocoa Butter on the surface of the drink and allow to melt. At this point the drink will be cool enough to sip - enjoy the rich chocolate aromas until then.

Sleep is an underrated tool for growth, and the valerian is the important constituent in this drink that encourages peaceful repose.  In my experience I've found that increasing the amount of Bourbon has accentuated the relaxing effects of the valerian, though I'm yet to discern exactly why this is.  Do not fear though, for I shall keep my ears pricked and wits keen for any clues.

Ritually.


Angus.