Cultivating Remembrance and Self-Care This Memorial Day

May sacrifices not be in vain, nor forgotten in our hearts!

As the sun rises on Memorial Day, we honor the brave souls who laid down their lives in service to our nation. This day of remembrance is not only a tribute to their courage but also a reminder to care for our own hearts and minds.

At BootieButtah, we believe that tending to our well-being—and honoring those we’ve lost—can go hand in hand. Here’s how you can blend heartfelt reflection with nurturing self-care rituals using a soothing candle or our hand-tied sage bundle.

1. Setting Intention: Remember and Restore

Why combine remembrance with self-care?

• Grief and gratitude often coexist. Pausing to reflect can stir deep emotions—letting yourself feel and then soothe those feelings is a gift to your emotional health.

• Rituals help us transition from busy lives into a space of mindful tribute. Lighting a candle or burning sage transforms a moment into a sacred moment.

2. Choosing Your In Memoriam

✨ Candle Ceremony

1. Select a calming scent. Lavender or frankincense evoke peace and clarity.

2. Find a quiet spot. A windowsill or altar with photos, flags, or small mementos.

3. Light the candle. As the flame flickers, take three deep breaths—inhale gratitude, exhale grief.

4. Reflect or journal. Consider a name of a fallen hero, read a poem, or write a brief note of thanks.

🌿 Sage Bundle

1. Prepare your space. Open a window or door for smoke to carry away stagnation.

2. Light the sage bundle. Hold it at a 45° angle, let it ignite, then gently blow out the flame so it smolders.

3. Circle the smoke. Move mindfully around yourself or your remembrance altar, while thanking God for their service and sacrifice.

   
   

4. Close with gratitude. When finished, press the embers gently into a fireproof bowl, offering a silent “thank you” to those who served.

3. Deepening Your Practice

• Guided Reflection: Play a recording of Taps or a favorite hymn. Let the melody carry your thoughts and prayers of thanks.

  
  

• Written Remembrance: In a small notebook, jot down one way you’ll honor freedom today—whether helping a neighbor or volunteering.

  
  

• Mindful Breaths: Between each ritual step, pause to inhale the fragrance and exhale tension. This anchors your mind in the present moment.

4. Honoring Beyond the Ritual

Memorial Day observance doesn’t end when the candle’s flame dies or the sage cools. Extend your care outward:

• Visit or Donate: Support veteran-service organizations or Gold Star families.

  
  

• Share Stories: Post a photo or memory on social media using #LestWeForget and encourage others to participate.

  
  

• Carry the Flame: Integrate a daily moment of gratitude—light a mini candle each evening or spay some essentials oils through your home.

5. A Moment of Collective Silence

At 3:00 PM local time, join the National Moment of Remembrance.

“Pause for one silent minute to honor and reflect.”

6. Continuing the Legacy of Care

True tribute lives in our actions every day:

• Serve Others: Volunteer at a local VA hospital or community center.

  
  

• Educate the Next Generation: Share the history of Memorial Day with family, emphasizing sacrifice and service.

  
  

• Practice Self-Compassion: Regularly return to your ritual of candle or sage when you need emotional grounding.

This Memorial Day, let the glow of a candle or the cleansing smoke of sage guide your remembrance. In honoring our fallen heroes, we also honor ourselves—nurturing the resilience and compassion that they fought to protect.

“In every flame we light, in every breath of sage we release, their spirits live on in our gratitude and care.”

Lest We Forget—and may we always care for the freedom they secured.