I wouldn't call myself a very spiritual person. I used to be very religious, but I think those times are long gone and I have been keeping to the rational part of mind ever since.

And yet I have a tarot-themed tapestry in my house where the cross used to hang. You'll find Florida Water stashed in my wardrobe. I observe the Wheel of the Year; I don't necessarily follow any particular rituals but at I'll at least burn incense on the festival dates. I have performed cord cutting rituals.

Heck, I recently even acquired a tarot deck.

I think a lot about what all of this means to me since I don't tie it to any belief system. I think I treat it more like an assorted collection of tools that help me with processing things.
Maybe it's the impact of being quite newly diagnosed with autism, but I could see all of those practices as coping skills??

Like for example the messed up interoception makes it sometimes difficult to identify my emotions in the moment. Therapy is helping a lot with that, but I'm still struggling with rationalization a lot. My interpretation of my ritualistic and tarot work is that due to their symbolic nature I can revisit subconscious emotional connotations I have with certain topics. I don't view those practices as explaining what is/will be happening in outside reality, but rather showing what is going on with me internally, with my emotions.

Similarly, I feel like following the flow of the Wheel of the Year helps me with transitional periods between the seasons. I like the cyclical nature of this way of viewing the time. Also it gives me a predictable structure of points of focus for me. Maybe I'll write more about that in the future, but my main approach is that in different seasons I'm focusing on different aspects of human experience - for example February to May is about laying foundations and sowing new seeds, May to August is about growth, August to November is about enjoying the fruits, and November to February is about rest and death.

Also some things are about intentionality and sensory regulation I guess?? In tough times I often put on Florida Water near my hands and neck as 'protection against bad energy'. Mainly probably because I'm a perfume lover, but often even my favourite/regular perfumes are too sensorially overwhelming, and this is such a lovely, non-offensive, sweet cologne. And also having something this pleasant to smell is a great way to ground oneself on emotionally challenging days. And stimming with crystal pendants is the best with how they interact with body heat.