Some rituals shape us quietly over time, weaving a thread of intention through our days until we realize just how deeply they have guided our lives. For Marian Egan, author, artist, healer, and co-creator in the Magnifying Peace Project, the daily ritual of pulling a card from her card decks has become such a touchstone. Recently, Marian celebrated a milestone—pulling her 5000th card.
This practice began as a simple daily inspiration but has grown into something much larger: a source of clarity, grounding, and peace. Each card becomes a compass, setting the tone for the day. Sometimes the cards bring comfort, sometimes they bring a challenge, but always they invite reflection. Through this daily act, Marian has found healing from pain, release from anxiety, and courage to face uncertainty.
She shares that the cards have inspired her artwork, guided her writing, and even opened doors to new projects and relationships. They’ve been a companion on the hard days too—moments of grief, loss, or unwelcome news. Despite not always feeling ready to pause, reflect, or create, Marian persisted. And now, this milestone stands as a testament to the power of manifestation and intentional living—the ability to shape your life by nurturing your inner landscape.
Rituals of Inspiration
Many of us have rituals—some intentional, others unconscious—that help us shape our days. It could be journaling with morning tea, walking barefoot on the earth to ground, or beginning a meeting with a moment of silence. These seemingly small practices can profoundly shift our state of being. They remind us to slow down, reconnect, and notice the present moment.
Science supports this wisdom. Research shows that rituals reduce anxiety, increase confidence, and enhance emotional regulation. By anchoring us in mindfulness, rituals make space for peace to enter. They also create consistency in times of uncertainty, giving us a foundation from which to move forward with grace.
Marian’s ritual of daily card pulling is both personal and universal. It is an act of self-care and an act of creation—inviting the messages of spirit, intuition, and art to flow into her daily life.
The Magnifying Peace Project
This milestone also ties beautifully into the larger work of the Magnifying Peace Project, a collaboration of voices and practices exploring how inner peace ripples outward into the world. The project shares a 16-part video series on YouTube, featuring contributions from Marian Egan, Dr. Michelle Greenwell, and others.
Each short video explores peace in a unique way—through Tai Chi movements like Tor Yu, through artistic reflections, through connection with nature, and through remembering the wisdom that stillness and kindness bring us.
Together, these videos weave a tapestry of inspiration, reminding us that cultivating peace begins within ourselves. When we pause, breathe, and listen to our inner compass, we not only change our own experience of the day—we help magnify peace for the world around us.
An Invitation
Whether it’s pulling a card, moving with the rhythm of Tai Chi, or taking a mindful walk in nature, rituals of inspiration create space for transformation. They bring us back to center, back to truth, and back to the inner peace that is always available.
Marian’s 5000th card pull is a celebration not just of persistence, but of what becomes possible when we commit to small, daily acts of intention. Over time, they add up to a life that reflects our deepest values, and a world that vibrates with greater compassion and kindness.
✨ Explore the Magnifying Peace Project videos on the Greenwell Center YouTube Channel and discover your own ways of cultivating peace. Perhaps today is the day to begin—or recommit to—your own ritual of inspiration.
A Simple Tea Ritual for Cultivating Peace
Mission4Change CommuniTEA from the Cape Breton Tea Company
Rituals don’t have to be elaborate to be profound. One of the most powerful daily practices is preparing and sharing a cup of tea with intention. At the Cape Breton Tea Company, we’ve created Mission4Change CommuniTEA as both a comfort and a cause. With each sip, you not only nourish your body but also contribute to a global initiative that ripples peace outward to the Moyo Family and their village in Malawi, Africa.
This blend features rose and chamomile—two herbs long associated with emotional balance and gentle healing.
- 🌹 Rose invites the heart to soften, to open, and to reconnect with love. Its delicate fragrance is a reminder of beauty even in times of struggle.
- 🌼 Chamomile soothes the nervous system, releasing tension, easing anxiety, and inviting restful calm.
When used together and accompanied by the energy-lifting tools shared on the introductory video, rose and chamomile create a synergy that supports resilience and deep relaxation—an herbal mirror of peace cultivated within.
The Ritual
- Prepare with Intention
As you bring the water up towards the boil, but don’t boil the water, take a slow breath. Hold the herbs for the tea in the palm of your right hand and bring in their joy and inspiration. Then, imagine the energy of heat transforming the water—just as small acts of care transform your day. - Steep with Awareness
Place the herbs into an infuser and add it to your cup or teapot, pouring the hot water slowly. Watch the colors deepen. With each swirl of steam, let go of any tension or distraction. - Breathe and Receive
Before drinking, inhale the aroma of rose and chamomile. Let your senses awaken and your heart center open. This awakening of the senses goes beyond the nervous system to empower your limbic system and motor system in coordination. - Sip with Gratitude
As you sip, think of one thing you are grateful for and one way you can share peace with another today. Notice how the flavour of the tea changes with the temperature of the water, perspective and opportunity change so easily like this as well. Perhaps you notice how your thoughts and ideas continue to transform as you continue to sip to the bottom of the cup.
This practice aligns beautifully with our first video in the Magnifying Peace Project series, which explores how simple energy rituals while preparing tea can shift your state of being. Just as Marian’s daily card ritual sets her compass, a tea ritual can become a touchstone—a way to ground, reset, and expand peace within so it radiates outward.
With Mission4Change CommuniTEA, every cup is a reminder that peace is not just a concept—it’s a practice, one that begins in our own hands.
Movement Rituals
For those wanting to be mindful of how they sit, stand, and raise vitality throughout the day, consider our latest online class: Movement and Music. Our first day focused on understanding your posture cues and creating new posture to bring alignment, energy, pain relief, strength and more to your day. You can purchase the series of 12 and begin your journey of mindful movements for wellbeing, with the added feature of intuitive music created for you by Colin MacLeod, art for the experience created by Marian Egan, and connections with nature inspired by Tanya Levy’s photography and quotes. It is a NeuroArts approach designed to empower you and your wellness rituals.
