Routines & Rituals with Realm of Experience
In this month’s Routines & Rituals, we sit down with Rachel Guest, the founder of Realm of Experience, a new online directory that aims to connect trusted healers and practitioners with those seeking their services. Rachel is also the Editorial Director of THE FULLEST. Through both these roles, she has developed a love of healing arts and rituals that clearly comes through in her own daily routines. And if you’re interested in finding a practitioner or healer to help you hone your practice or introduce you to a new ritual — make sure to check out the Realm of Experience Directory or Instagram.
Q: Please introduce yourself!
A: My name is Rachel Guest and I’m the founder of Realm of Experience, an online directory and home to the healing arts, its practitioners, and those who love to explore them.
Q: Do you have a consistent daily AM and/or PM routine? Or do you mix it up?
A: Mix it up and keep it consistent. I’m a chronic experimenter. It’s part of the reason that I founded Realm of Directory — I love to try on different modalities and holistic practices. However, I have found that there are some parts of life that do benefit from regularity. Is it better to do five minutes of meditation daily than a week-long retreat? Probably. Do I do that? Not always. To me, it’s about really mastering yourself — and being super honest with the medicine you need. Maybe that’s showing up on the mat or at your journal every day for 40 days and pushing through resistance to remind yourself you can follow through. Maybe it’s cooking breakfast one day, doing pilates the next, or giving a creative project some love before work. As a teacher once said to me, you have got to figure out your own scene.So on that note, some things I’ve figured out that rarely fail me are morning walks, evening yin yoga (even if it’s only 15 minutes, actually especially if it’s only 15 minutes), and quick hits of Kundalini or self-administered Reiki throughout the workday for energy, calm, or focus.
Q: How does the natural world support your modern life?
A: Healers of all lineages and practices often remind us the importance of connecting with nature — and as a city dweller, I used to interpret that as trying to get to the ocean or mountains in my spare time or on weekends. However, I view it differently now. Nature is food. Nature is sunshine. Nature is my house plant. Rather than hold out for a hike or a swim in the sea to let nature heal me, I make sure to get outside daily, eat, and appreciate nourishing food, and to also tell the flowering trees on my morning walk that they’re stunning.It’s also important to me, to remember (and to meditate) on the fact that we are nature — I think once that really lands in your bones, there’s a deep understanding of our interconnectedness, and it changes you. Although you don’t need anything (spiritual practices included) to deepen your connection to the natural world, Mama Medicine has many subtle but profound teachings on this — definitely check her out if you are looking to expand your communication and dialogue with the elements.
Q: Do you have any rituals that you practice daily, weekly, or monthly?
A: Setting intentions with the full and new moons has been something I’ve grown to love. Astrology has been a blessing and a curse for me as sometimes I’ve become too obsessive, too granular, or used it too prescriptively. However, as the lunar cycle goes through each aspect of the zodiac it covers the full spectrum of the human experience. It also gives me a couple of weeks to really work through an issue and uses broad strokes and themes that creates space to bring my own interpretation and insights — rather than getting caught on the nuance of my personal chart.Also, Thursday night dinners with my partner at our local pub and a glass of wine is a weekly ritual that brings me much joy.
Q: Why do you think routines and rituals are an important part of modern life?
A: Conscious or unconscious, we all have routines and rituals. To me they are important functions that help us mark the passage of time in a way that is meaningful to us. They are stakes in the sand that can help us measure our progress, celebrate our wins (or the wins of others), and process our losses. Although some are shared, they’re also incredibly individual. I have found that exploring routines and practices outside of the ones I inherited has allowed me to know myself better and actively steer my life in a more chosen direction. If you’re curious about picking up new modalities — check out our The Realm of Experience Directory for a ton of guides that can gently get you started.
Q: How does THE FULLEST play a role in your day-to-day life?
A: Most afternoons, you’ll find me sipping on a Warm Feelings™ saffron latte. As the Editorial Director of THE FULLEST, I’ve read all the clinical research there is on saffron and its mood-boosting and healing benefits — but honestly, it’s the taste for me. Also each day THE FULLEST boosts my mood and supports my emotional wellbeing through the ever-inspiring and endlessly hardworking people on this small but mighty team. It may sound cheesy but it is true. Community is one of the biggest healers of them all — and this one is the absolute best.Rachel Guest is the Editorial Director at THE FULLEST, founder of Realm of Experience, and a forever student of all things connection and healing. You can follow the Realm of Experience here or sign up for their newsletter here.
