A Ritual for Procrastination

by Deborah Globus

I. Am. Procrastinating.
 
At least, I think I am...

What else do I call what I’m doing, or rather, not doing. I’m not posting to my blog. I’m not marketing my latest offering. I’m definitely not re-writing that sales page – the one for the offering I most love and want to do, but can’t seem to find the words for.
 
That’s procrastination, isn’t it?
 
Is it?

I could be wrong.  Maybe what I’m calling procrastination is something closer to Divine Timing. Or maybe Practical Protection. 
 
I don’t know what to call it if I don’t go with the one I’m familiar with, but maybe there’s something more to it.
 
Maybe, just maybe, there’s a reason for the procrastination.  Maybe it’s serving a purpose I can’t see.

• Maybe there’s some piece missing that I haven’t discovered yet.
• Maybe it’s not the right time for what I think needs to happen and a better time will present itself.
• Maybe it’s not the right thing. (I committed to a completely different blog post weeks ago that just refused to be written. This is what’s actually flowing instead.)
• Maybe I’m not ready to move ahead.
• Maybe ego thinks it knows better. (As it so often does…)

There are so many things these actions (or lack thereof) could mean. To know which one is most accurate will help me choose my approach going forward. How can I tell?
 
What’s called for is discernment.
 
Discernment, from the French root meaning to separate and distinguish. 
 
I need to separate what I think to be true, from what is actually true. 

I need to distinguish between what I’m afraid of and what is best for me, regardless of what my ego has to say about things.
 
It’s hard to practice discernment with a slippery topic like procrastination which comes with so many stories, so many judgments, so many cultural connotations.
 
It needs space to be explored. And it would help if it were more concrete, too.
 
This needs a ritual!

Space for an altar
An altar cloth
Sculpey clay (or play dough)
A plate

Clear off the space for the altar and add the altar cloth and the plate.

Focus on your breath for three full, deep breaths.  Unwrap your Sculpey clay; begin to knead it and work it into a lump.

Say aloud: “I am procrastinating and I need to know why.”

Say aloud to the lump of clay: “This is my procrastination.  I do not like it. I do not understand it. But. I am willing to make space for it. I am willing to let it be what it is. I am willing to explore what it really is, to hear what stories I am telling myself about it, and to entertain the idea that it might be serving me in some way.
 
“Little Lump, I am willing. Here is your space. Teach me.”
 
While still in sacred space, engage with your procrastination.

Journal with your procrastination while looking at it.  You’ve created a symbol of it, made it into something concrete. It’s a thing you can interact with now. Use that to your advantage. Play with it physically – knead it or make it into simple shapes. Talk to it. Talk with it, and listen to what it has to say.

Put the lump on the plate on the altar. Say “Thank you” (however begrudgingly) aloud to your procrastination lump.  

Focus on your breathing for three deep, full breaths to finally close your sacred space.
 
Note: This ritual is the start of a practice. Continue to work with and explore your procrastination. Keep it up until you discern the answer or until your procrastination has passed.

Hey!  Would you like this ritual in a printable PDF? You got it!

Ritual for Procrastination Write-Up