“How you start your day is how you live your day,” queen of positive thinking Louise Hay said years ago.

Morning routines are essential for us Beacons because we are a source of light for so many people, and we won’t shine unless we nurture our light.

I have consistently practiced Reiki and meditation every day since 1996. More than 1300 people have gone through our Reiki training, and most of them easily maintain a daily practice of giving Reiki to themselves.

Reiki is not the only spiritual practice you can develop when you want to set the tone for a good, positive day. There are five different morning practices that I present in this article that I wrote.

My students know that developing and maintaining a morning routine is essential for their wellbeing. And they also know the importance of changing those practices from time to time to keep the inspiration and excitement going.

Beacon’s tip: Develop and maintain a morning practice. But spice it up from time to time.

Ready to spice up your practice?

Light a candle every morning. Or at least a few times a week.

Make it sacred.

Have a candle and a lighter ready in a sacred area in your home. If you have a space for it, build a sacred altar. Place objects that are meaningful to you on the altar. Make it pretty. Add crystals, essential oils, colors, cards, inspirations, and incense.

I live in New York. My apartment’s space is limited. I don’t have a special place for an altar. I light my candle on the kitchen table every morning. I make my kitchen table my sacred spot, especially during the early hours of the day when my husband is still asleep.

Make it intentional.

Say gratitude: “I’m thankful for…” Say a prayer for specific people who are in need. Say their names: “I light this candle for…” When there is anything going on in the world, be intentional about the event: “I light this candle for the people in…” (If you practice Reiki, draw the Reiki symbols and the mantras on the candle or visualize them while chanting the mantras).

Make it meaningful.

A few months ago, we traveled to Europe for a special anniversary. We came across an art fair in a small town in Germany. I ended up getting two glass candleholders in an angel shape. When I light candles using these candleholders, it brings good memories from this trip. I also like to use a candleholder that my mom used when she was young. If you don’t have a meaningful candleholder, place meaningful objects around your candle.

Make it fun.

Sacredness, spirituality, and music go hand in hand for me. Music feeds my soul. Every few days, when I light a candle, I put on a song that touches my heart deeply, and I listen. I made a playlist called “For my heart,” and I filled it with songs that make my heart feel expanded and full. I light the candle. I listen to the song. I breathe. I make it simple.

You are a Beacon. Accept your responsibility—your sacred responsibility—to be a source of light and guidance for others.

Throughout the world, lighting candles is a sacred ritual. For us Beacons, lighting a candle is a necessary ritual that helps us feed our own light.

Creating a deeper connection with the light within us and allowing divine light to get in is our healthier way to live. If you’re ready to beacon in and to beacon out, read more in this article that I wrote, “Nothing Can Dim the Light which Shines from Within.”

Shine on, Beacon!