THE RITUAL OF LIGHT

THE R I T UA L OF L IGH T

Ramadan edition 2017

LIGHT U P YOU R WOR LD

®

How much time do you spend on your phone or other electronic devices? I recently read (on my smartphone, I admit) that the average person is actively online for eight hours a day. News, email, WhatsApp, online shopping – the whole world is at our fingertips. But for eight hours? That’s more than the amount of sleep most of us get each night. In that vast sea of online information and entertainment, we occasionally stumble upon a spark of inspiration; something that provokes us to reflect on what’s really important. Like an article I read a few weeks ago, written by a palliative nurse who had cared for people in the last weeks of their lives. It highlighted some of the regrets of those who were dying. ‘I wish I hadn’t worked so hard and had spent more time with my loved ones,’ and ‘I wish I’d stayed in touch with my old friends,’ were some of the comments. It’s true that some friendships slip away in the wake of our busy lives. We pursue successful careers in the hope of achieving the freedom to do what really make us happy. But this pursuit can often have the opposite effect, consuming all our energy so that we forget to make time for the things and people who matter, even though we know we should. In my own life I make an effort to stay in touch with my old classmates, by organizing a reunion each year where we catch up. I’m passionate about my work, have a busy life and I try to spend more quality time with family and friends. But I know from experience it doesn’t take much to tip the scales in the wrong direction. It’s hard to maintain that delicate balance.

O R I E N TA L E S S E N C E S the power of perfume The

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The Ritual of Light, the theme of this issue, is about inspiring people and places that illuminate the world with light and compassion. Because in the end, our online status, wealth or career won’t bring us comfort or peace – only friendship, love and meaningful moments will. So go on, share some light. Make time, pay attention, be thoughtful and kind. And really connect with the people in your life. For it’s your light that lights the world.

Oriental Essences, the new collection of Eau de Parfums inspired by our journey into the mystic Orient. AMSTERDAM

PA R I S ABU DHABI

LONDON DOHA

NEW YORK DUBAI

Raymond Cloosterman, founder and CEO at Rituals

RITUALS.COM

M U S C AT

Y O U R B O D Y. Y O U R S O U L . Y O U R R I T U A L S .

THE RITUAL OF LIGHT | RITUALS.COM 3

I N S P I R AT I O N

L ET YOU R LIGHT SHI NE How do we celebrate and share our inner light with others, and make it glow even brighter?

As living creatures, we thrive on light. Our most treasured source of light is the sun – and without its precious nourishment, all human, plant and animal life would wither. We depend on it for warmth, for food and water. Sunlight has positive effects on our circadian rhythms, too, triggering hormonal reactions in our bodies and keeping us happy and healthy. With the discovery of fire, our ancestors found a new source of light – one that became an important part of ancient ceremonies, guiding them through the darkness, literally and metaphorically. INNER GLOW

We all have our own special light. Inside each of us is the gentle glow of who we are, where we’ve come from and where we’re going. This ‘light’ within us can represent several things. It can be our soul, our innate goodness, the glow of inner joy, our compassion, our love and courage, our life force, and more. Before we can let our inner light shine, we first need to connect with it, rekindle it and discover it for ourselves. Regularly taking time to reflect on ourselves – physically and spiritually – can help us do this, letting us create more space for light and lightness. Here are a few small things we can do each day to bring our inner light out from the darkness: Smile at yourself. When we stop judging ourselves and start accepting who we are, our light shines a little bit brighter. A good rule for living is to be self-aware, but not self-conscious – as self-consciousness can strip away our confidence and stop us from enjoying life. Practice gratitude. Take a moment each evening to think about the things that happened that day, or that exist in your life, for which you’re grateful. This focus on positivity works wonders on our well-being, rekindling our inner light. It’s also how we share our light with others, showing gratitude for their presence in our lives. THE RITUAL OF LIGHT | RITUALS.COM 5

I N S P I R AT I O N

REFLECTION

Once you’ve acknowledged your inner light, it’s time to nurture it. One way to build upon the glow of our inner light is through reflection. Reflection is the art of thinking deeply. It’s the ability to reflect on our thoughts, feelings and actions, as well as to consider the thoughts and feelings of others. Call it 6 THE RITUAL OF LIGHT | RITUALS.COM

meditation, being conscious or even just sitting quietly. It’s time for you. Practicing reflection goes a long way towards helping us make good, thoughtful decisions. It’s not easy, since our lives are increasingly crowded with electronic distractions – smartphone, Facebook, Instagram and the rest. These objects and apps have also taught us to rely on quick – often

visual – gratification rather than on slow contemplation. We bombard ourselves with distractions: we think we’re multitasking but what we’re really doing is not being present. It doesn’t have to take long, but the benefits of reflection are many. PRACTICE LOOKING INWARDS

The short exercise below can help guide you through the art of reflection…

Relax: Find yourself a lovely private spot – indoors, outdoors… it doesn’t matter. Close your eyes, breathe deeply, slowly bring your focus to yourself. Relive: Take yourself on a journey back through the events of your day. What did you do? Who did you see? Focus deeply… Reflect: Think about how you felt: What made you happy? What brought you unhappiness? Was there any conflict in the

course of your day? What could have been better? Trust your instincts, which will help you improve your emotional intelligence, too. Taking a moment to reflect each day can help us think about the decisions we’ve made – or that we’re about to make – and it can help us to discover the positive changes we need to make in our lives. If you only make one

change, consciously showing appreciation and gratitude to the people around you is a great place to start. This gratitude then reassures and supports others – hopefully bringing light into their lives. So nurture your light – and share it with those around you – and maybe make the world a little brighter. Turn the page to discover our new limited edition The Ritual of Light THE RITUAL OF LIGHT | RITUALS.COM 7

R O O T S A N D R I T UA L S

SHOPPING

NEW L I MIT ED EDIT ION

FOTOGRAFIE PEGGY JANSSEN, STYLING LINDIVIDU, LINDA VAN DER HAM

Let your light shine a new with our limited edition body scrub. Pure and richly scented with sweet orange and cinnamon. AED110 / OMR11 / QR110 | 375g

Nurture your skin with this beautifully moisturizing, foaming shower gel, containing the seductive scent of sweet orange and spicy cinnamon. AED45 / OMR4.5 / QR45 | 200ml

In ancient ceremonies all over the world, the flame of a candle is often celebrated as a metaphor for the light within us – our human soul.

For hundreds of years, candle-lighting ceremonies – which often take place amid a sea of flickering flames – have celebrated hope, unity and blessing. They remind us that our world, made up of millions of different shining souls, can be a bright and beautiful place if we make an effort to share our light of compassion, kindness and love with others. Inspired by ancient traditions, we introduce The Ritual of Light. With its combination of sweet orange and spicy cinnamon, this mindful, peaceful ritual has a balancing effect on the mind and body, revealing an inner and outer glow.

Inspired by nature, our Light the Way scented candle will fill your space with a warm, golden glow. Burns for 50 hours. AED120 / OMR12 / QR120 | 290g

YOUR INNER LIGHT

Also available in XL, burns for 70 hours. AED225 / OMR22.5 / QR225 | 1000g

For a very special bathing ritual, rejuvenate your body and soul with our supremely luxurious bath foam. Leaves skin feeling silky soft. AED76 / OMR8 / QR76 | 500ml 8 THE RITUAL OF LIGHT | RITUALS.COM

DISCOVER THE R ITUA L OF LIGHT

Lighting candles is a ritual of reflection. It can bring serenity, focus and comfort; it can help with focusing the mind on meditation – with being present. We invite you to find a moment to reflect and kindle your own inner light. Because it is your light that lights the world.

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SHOPPING

I N S P I R AT I O N

NEW PR I VAT E COL L EC T ION

SCEN T SECR ETS

PHOTO PEGGY JANSSEN, STYLING LINDIVIDU, LINDA VAN DER HAM

Our sense of smell is inextricably tied up with our emotions, so the scents we choose for our living spaces have a definite impact on our moods.

Our Private Collection Green Cardamom luxury scented candle imparts a warm, sweet glow. Cardamom was prized by the ancient Egyptians, who used it in incense and perfume. 60 hours of burning time. AED165 / OMR16.5 / QR165 | 360g

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For long-lasting layers of scent, Private Collection Green Cardamom fragrance sticks will infuse your space with sophisticated warmth and woody, sweet spice. AED235 / OMR23.5 / QR235 | 450g

Why is smell so powerful? Just one sniff can send us off to another time and place. One of the reasons is because olfactory input – smells, as we know them – winds its way through other parts of our brain, including the centers for mood, memory and emotion, before reaching the thalamus, where our brain does its ‘processing’. This means that unlike our other senses, smells has an impact on our emotions first. Coco Chanel was right when she said, ‘The sense of smell is the only one that is still instinctive. It lives on nostalgia, the subconscious.’ SCENTS FOR THE SENSES

We humans are overwhelmingly visual creatures. Still, olfactory researchers seem to agree that our sense of smell is much more important than most of us realize. The average person is capable of recognizing around 10,000 scents – and women can generally detect more than men. Scents can have positive effects on our mood, our self-confidence, sleep, stress levels, and our physical and mental performance. By becoming more aware of the way certain scents affect us, we can work on enhancing our health and wellbeing

CHOOSING THE RIGHT SCENT

It’s a lovely idea to use the power of perfume at home – to vary our experience and moods as we move from one room to another. Think of scent like music. In your living space, you might prefer soft background music – a gentle floral could be its scent equivalent. But for a party or a fun social afternoon with friends, you’ll probably choose a happy, inspiring fragrance – something like vanilla, jasmine or lemon. For the kitchen, it’s best to avoid florals – try a fresh citrus scent for an uplifting, clean smell. In the bedroom, use scents that promote relaxation; ingredients such as white lotus and yi yi ren create a beautifully tranquil atmosphere. You can create different moods by placing scent diffusers in each room. CLEANSING YOUR SPACE

Have you ever noticed that certain rooms suffer from low energy? Physically and psychologically cleansing our living spaces can have a wonderfully positive effect on the rooms themselves and the people who dwell in them. Here are some tips to help you transform your space into a welcoming, beautifully fragrant environment that delights all of your senses.

1. Declutter. Get rid of things you don’t use – that are merely taking up space. Enlist the help of a professional if you don’t have time (or if you find it too difficult to let go!). 2. Clean up. Dust all the room’s surfaces, and wash the floors, curtains, blinds and windows to let the light in. 3. Feel the breeze. Open up the windows and doors and let a breeze flow through your rooms. Even if it’s just for a short time each day (especially in winter), you’ll get rid of stale air and your space will feel fresher. 4. Good scents. Place some good quality fragrance sticks and candles in your rooms. 5. Petals, please. Plants and vases of fresh flowers look and smell beautiful (be sure to include lots of green to add oxygen to your space). 6. In harmony. Background music can ‘clean’ the air and bring peace and happiness to your space – and therefore to you.

THE RITUAL OF LIGHT | RITUALS.COM 11

SHOPPING

SHOPPING

NEW L I MIT ED EDIT ION

TA K E A JOU R NEY TO T HE OR IEN T The memory of scent is a powerful one. We invite you to take a fragrance journey with us into the heart of the Orient, and discover our new exclusive Oriental Essences collection. FOR HER Voyage en Inde

eau de parfum for women seduces and captivates with patchouli, jasmine and amber AED225 / OMR22.5 / QR225 | 50ml AED50 / OMR5 / QR50 | Travel size

Our finest perfumers have created captivating, luxury eau de parfums that embrace the very essence of the Orient.

Maharaja d’Or eau de parfum for men is an aromatic homage to the ancient Maharajas, golden palaces and indigenous spices of India. This luxury fragrance combines the spicy freshness of cardamom, pine and uplifting patchouli.

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PHOTO PEGGY JANSSEN, STYLING LINDIVIDU, LINDA VAN DER HAM

New to our women’s collection, the limited edition Voyage en Inde eau de parfum takes you on a fragrant journey to India’s ancient royal palaces. Discover the powdery softness and velvety elegance of patchouli and jasmine absolute and the warm, sensual accord of luxurious amber.

FOR HIM

The luxurious Maharaja d’Or eau de parfum for men combines fresh cardamom, pine and patchouli AED225 / OMR22.5 / QR225 | 50ml AED50 / OMR5 / QR50 | Travel size THE RITUAL OF LIGHT | RITUALS.COM 13

I N S P I R AT I O N

BRING LIGHT INTO YOUR LIFE Come forth into the light of things. Let nature be your teacher William Wordsworth

L ET T HE LIGHT I N Connect with your beautiful inner light through the power of meditation. You’ll help yourself to relax, reduce your stress levels and increase the flow of energy to your brain – and you might even find that your dreams are coming true.

With this five-minute meditation, energy will flow gently through your mind and body. Try and practice it a few times each week (if not daily!).

1. Dim the lights. Light some beautiful candles. 2. Set your timer for five minutes...

There are many ways to enjoy meditation, but practices that focus on light can be especially beneficial. CANDLELIGHT

Candle meditation is very good for quieting our minds and helping us to de-stress. It’s a self-guided practice. Simply light a candle and gradually allow yourself to focus on it; let yourself relax, and allow your mind to become quiet. Depending on how busy your mind is, you might need to bring your attention back to the present from time to time. Do it gently and don’t judge yourself. Now focus on the flame of the candle. Think about the infinite nature of a flame – that is, when one flame lights another, and that flame lights another, and so on, we can see that the flame is endless and everlasting. Visualize the light and love of the flame and let it radiate outward from your heart: to friends, to acquaintances, to strangers. Visualize the light and love from your candle lighting the candles of every other person on earth. You can take this practice even further if you wish: try to visualize the flame lighting the way for those in need – physically or spiritually. Visualize the flame lighting the hearts and souls of people

consumed by negativity. Now visualize the flame lighting your way – guiding you, comforting you and bringing peace to your life. WHITE LIGHT MEDITATION

This meditation practice uses visualization to help us to make things happen in our lives – our wishes and aspirations are said to be transformed into our will. This is done by visualizing energetic white light from within us, flowing through our bodies and expanding out in all directions, eventually removing doubts, bringing clarity to the mind and removing obstacles that might be blocking the path to our goals. Regular white light meditation practice is intended to get rid of those negative feelings we all suffer from, and enhances our self-esteem and physical well-being. While these meditation practices might not change our lives completely, any practice that allows us to slow down and focus gently and positively on ourselves must be doing some good! Read on and discover our five-minute white light meditation…

3. Turn your attention inward, try to empty your mind and let your worries drift away. 4. Decide to be in the here and now–be present. Relax. Be aware of your body and the space around you. 5. Breathe calmly and deeply in and out of your stomach. Keep it slow and easy. 6. Visualize a ball of glowing white light above your head. 7. Now visualize light flowing from the ball, in through the top of your head. 8. Now imagine the light flowing right down through your body, through to your feet. As the light flows down, imagine that it glows as it reaches each of the different parts and organs of your body, cleansing them and giving you energy. 9. Relax and enjoy the moment as you finish your practice. 10. Slowly start to stretch and move and celebrate your light-filled self.

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SHOPPING

CHOOSE YOUR FAVORITE COLLECTION

Only by giving do we receive more than we already have

THE RITUAL OF SAKURA

THE RITUAL OF HAMMAM

THE RITUAL OF DAO

Celebrate each day as a new beginning

A purifying ceremony for body and mind

The ancient art of relaxation

THE RITUAL OF SAMURAI

THE RITUAL OF LAUGHING BUDDHA

THE RITUAL OF AYURVEDA

The art of perfect grooming

Smile and the world will smile back at you

Reach inner beauty and harmony naturally

CHOOSE YOUR PERFECT SIZE

EXTRA LARGE GIFT SET

AED380 / OMR38 / QR380

MEDIUM GIFT SET

AED160 / OMR16 / QR160

LARGE GIFT SET

AED225 / OMR22.5 / QR225

SMALL GIFT SET

AED110 / OMR11 / QR110 THE RITUAL OF LIGHT | RITUALS.COM 17

R O O T S A N D R I T UA L S

R IT UA L S C A R E S Caring about the environment while we care for you, our customers, is especially important to us. We want to continue to give you beautiful experiences while we look after our planet. Here are a few of the ways we’re striving to improve.

Our story

SUSTAINABILITY

NO ANIMAL TESTING

Founded in Amsterdam in 2000, Rituals began as a single store. Seventeen years later, we’re excited about expanding the brand into even more new territories, new countries and new continents. Did you know our range includes more than 400 home and body care products? They’re all inspired by an ancient Eastern tradition or philosophy. Authenticity means a lot to us, and with these authentic traditions come wonderful rituals. Rituals.com

As a responsible company, at Rituals we’re always aiming to limit our environmental footprint, from products to packaging to distribution. We look for new innovations that support sustainability; we offer recyclable and refill packaging as much as possible on selected products and intend to do so even more in the future. For example, our beautiful body cream comes as a refill container, saving on packaging, water and costs for our customers.

From the start, we’ve made it our priority never to test our products and their ingredients on animals. We don't allow third parties, such as our suppliers, to do so, either. Instead, everything we sell is tested on human volunteers, ensuring that cruelty is never part of our practice. Our full range of products is suitable for vegetarians.

We use organic ingredients whenever possible, but for all that nature can’t provide, we use safe alternatives. For example, there are no parabens in any of our products. At the same time, we always strive to ensure that the quality and usefulness of our products is never compromised.

OU R COMPLIM EN TA RY R A M A DA N GIF T Come to our stores and receive a mini Private Collection Fragrance Stick when you spend AED199 / OMR20 / QR199 or more on our total assortment*

GIVING BACK

We are very grateful for our customers’ loyalty, and feel privileged to do what we do in a world that is so often blighted by poverty and conflict. This is why we support and partner with charities such as the Tiny Miracles Foundation and War Child – a nongovernmental organization that works for a better future for hundreds of thousands of children affected by war.

Store locator: Dubai Mall of Emirates, Burjuman. Abu Dhabi Marina Mall. Qatar Mall of Qatar, Lagoona Mall. Oman Muscat Grand Mall.

• 70% less CO2 • 65% less energy • 45% less water

ECO CHIC Our body cream refill packaging is the first of its kind, and means less landfill - and more loving care - for our planet.

refill your empty jar D U B A I : M A L L O F T H E E M I R AT E S , B U R J U M A N ; A B U D H A B I : M A R I N A M A L L

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O M A N : M U S C AT G R A N D M A L L ; Q ATA R : L A G O O N A M A L L , M A L L O F Q ATA R

* Whilst stocks last. Not in combination with any other offer or on the purchase of gift cards. 1 per person.

It’s your light that lights the world