Welcome to Incantations & Ink - the podcast, where we gather to conjure brave, magical, and meaningful spaces for learning and transformation.
I’m your host, Jess. I’m an educator, creatrix, word witch, and believer that teaching is a radical, sacred act.
This is Episode 1: Rituals, Not Routines: Starting the School Year with Intention.
I know, I know, it is STILL summer. It feels like we have barely had time to rest, recover, and relax, so how can we be thinking about the school year just yet? Listen, I totally get it - I’m all about the holiness of rest and recovery - but I’m also all about getting my head on straight before some district-level person or better yet, an outside consultant comes in for first day PD and starts telling me what to do with my students.
You know how it goes at the beginning of the year - we are all told how to run our routines.
“Greet them at the door.”“Hit the ground running - do nows for the first 5 minutes.”“Post objectives. Make sure the students know what they’re learning.”
But here’s the thing - a routine is something you do because someone told you to do it. It is something you do without thinking.
But a ritual - a ritual is something you do because your soul said: This matters.
Rituals aren’t about control - they’re about connection.
Rituals aren’t compliance - they’re care.
In a world where many classrooms have become sites of burnout, overwhelm, and standardization, ritual might just be one of our most powerful tools for reclaiming joy, presence, and purpose.
So in our first episode, I want to talk to you about the important difference between routines and rituals - and how I plan to start my school year this year - with intention.
Let’s start with some word magic —
The word ritual comes from the Latin ritualis, meaning "that which relates to rite or ceremony." But at its core, ritual is simply patterned meaning.
Ritual is an act imbued with purpose. A repeated moment that says: You are here. You are held. This is sacred space.
In schools, routines are framed around efficiency.
“Maximize instructional time.” “Start strong.” “Set the tone for rigor.”
Ritual, however, asks us: What is worth making sacred?
When you light a candle before journaling.When you play the same song as your students settle into the room.When you offer a moment of breath before the bustle of the day.
These are rituals. And they matter.
Ritual brings rhythm. Ritual regulates the nervous system. Ritual roots us (and our students) in a sense of safety and meaning.
For students navigating trauma, transition, or just the stress of being human in today’s world, rituals are how we say to our students: You’re safe here. You’re seen here. This moment matters.
I know, I can hear it already: that’s great Jess! I love it, but it seems really whoo-whoo. How do I actually make it authentic?
So, how do we reframe our classroom space and mindset to begin this school year with meaningful ritual? Make it simple - and most importantly, make it your own.
Here are five guiding principles for your first week of school:
1. Lead with Humanity, Not Logistics
Ditch the syllabus dump. Ditch the "rules and procedures first" model. Start with story. Start with connection. Start with soul.
Try asking your students:
* “What does a brave classroom feel like to you?”
* “What helps you feel most like yourself at school?”
* “What do you wish grown-ups at school understood?”
You’ll learn more from those answers than any icebreaker bingo game.
2. Create Opening and Closing Rituals
Ritual bookends change everything.
Opening idea: A shared breath. A short reflection prompt. A daily intention (hint: this could be tied to your objective)Closing idea: A gratitude circle. A grounding quote. A class affirmation.
Examples:
* “Let’s inhale something we need and exhale something we’re ready to let go.”
* “Name one thing that surprised you, one thing that challenged you, and one thing that lifted you today.”
These don't have to be long. They just have to be consistent and meaningful.
3. Make Your Space Sacred
This doesn’t mean crystals and incense (though hey, no shade if that’s your vibe - I wish I felt like I could bring some crystals to my classroom!).
It means noticing how your room feels. Do you create cozy corners? Do you have intentionally chosen colors? Are there invitations to be curious? Even if your budget is $0, you can build sacredness through intention.
Put up quotes that empower. Play calming music. Create a “Peace Table” or “Reflection Station” with affirmations, grounding tools, or journal prompts.
Let your space say: You matter here.
4. Use Language Like a Spellbook
Words create worlds, so be intentional with the language you wield in your classroom.
Instead of “rules,” co-create agreements.Instead of “expectations,” invite shared hopes.Instead of “consequences,” talk about community care and repair.
The language you use will echo in your students' heads far longer than you think.
5. Honor Your Own Rituals
What centers you before the school day?When the emails pile up, the parent phone calls become absurd, and the exhaustion creeps in - how do you remain centered and rooted?
Maybe it’s:
* Deep breathing and intention setting at your desk before students arrive
* Pulling a tarot card or oracle card for the day
* Playing a song that brings you into your body and breath
* Journaling a single line that reminds you: I am enough.
Ritual doesn’t just help students - it can be a life preserver for teachers.
Now, you might be listening and thinking:“This all sounds beautiful, but my school is not like this. My students will laugh at this.”“My admin wants test scores, not breathwork.”“My colleagues will roll their eyes if I talk about sacred space.”
And I hear you. Truly. I get it - being the resident witch in my building has brought me my fair share of eyerolls and spell requests. Everyone thinks the witch can predict lottery numbers in October and February when students and teachers alike are just over it.
But remember this: You do not need permission to create magic.
Your care is a form of protest.You are the flame-keeper. The hearth-builder. The spell-caster.
You are not just teaching standards - you are teaching souls.
And if all you can manage to start this year is 30 seconds of breath before your students arrive, or a sticky note affirmation on every desk - start there.
Start small. Start sacred. Start authentically.
As you step into this new year, may you remember:You are allowed to slow down.You are allowed to lead with heart.You are allowed to build something brave, and beautiful, and wholly your own.
This is not about doing more - it’s about doing what matters most.
In these last few weeks - take a bit of time to craft your rituals, to set the tone, and to invite the sacred back into your classroom space.
And allow your classroom be less of a factory and more of a sanctuary.
If this episode first spoke to your teacher soul, I’d love for you to share it, subscribe, or leave a review.
You can also find written posts, reflections, and soul-centered resources at Incantations & Ink on Substack.
Until next time, keep creating brave, magical, and meaningful classrooms.
Because teaching is a radical—and sacred—act.
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