Dinacharya: The Art of Dwelling in Time with Consciousness. Part I.

This article is an invitation to listen to time and ritualize the everyday. Inspired by Ayurvedic wisdom, it proposes a journey through daily routine as a practice of presence, healing, and reconnection with the body as a temple.

In a world that accelerates without listening, the ancient wisdom of Ayurveda invites us to slow down, to listen to the rhythms of nature, and to inhabit the body as a temple. Dinacharya, the Ayurvedic daily routine, is not a to-do list, but a sacred choreography between the human being and the cosmos. Each gesture, each choice, each silence can become a ritual of presence, an anchor of healing, an affirmation of authenticity.

In this article, we explore Dinacharya as a practice of reconnection with natural time, with internal and external cycles, with the body, and with the earth. Through simple gestures, such as conscious awakening, tongue scraping, body oiling, meditation, and ritualized nutrition, we open space for a more coherent, more listened-to, more grounded life.

More than a routine, Dinacharya is a daily pact with holistic health, with the freedom to choose the rhythm that nourishes us, with the courage to resist imposed time. It is also a way to restore soul to gestures, beauty to the invisible, and meaning to the everyday.

Throughout these pages, we will delve into the recommended practices, adaptations to the seasons and Doshas, ​​and above all, the ritualization of life as a path to healing. May this text be an invitation to deep listening, to the alchemy of gesture, and to the celebration of presence.

🌤️ Awakening as Daily Rebirth.

Awakening is the first conscious gesture of the day. In Ayurveda, this moment is not just physiological... it is spiritual, energetic, and symbolic. The way you wake up determines the tone of the day, influences your mental, digestive, and emotional state, and can be a gateway to holistic health.

I. Brahma Muhurta: The Time Before Time

Ayurvedic tradition recommends waking up during Brahma Muhurta, the period before sunrise, generally between 4:30 and 6:00 AM. This interval is considered sacred because nature is silent, the air is pure, and the mind is more receptive to subtle listening.

During this time, the universe pulsates lightly. The predominant energy is Vata, favoring creativity, introspection, and spiritual connection. Waking up at this time is aligning with the cosmic rhythm before the noise of the world takes over.

Waking up early is not just a health practice; it's a philosophical choice. It's asserting autonomy over one's own time, resisting imposed acceleration, and creating space for inner listening.

II. The Impact of Awakening on the Dosha System

Each Dosha manifests itself distinctly upon waking. Recognizing this expression allows you to adapt your morning routine to individual needs.

🌬️ Vata

- Tendency to wake up anxious, with a scattered mind and a feeling of fragility.

- Practices of containment are recommended: warm oiling, prolonged silence, deep breathing.

- Avoid intense visual or auditory stimuli in the first few hours.

🔥 Pitta

- May appear with excessive focus, impatience, and internal heat.

- Gentleness is suggested: contact with cool water, refreshing breaths, mint or rose tea.

- Avoid immediate planning or demanding tasks right after waking.

🌿 Kapha

- Wakes up slowly, resistant to movement, with prolonged drowsiness.

- Encourage lightness: gentle physical movement, vibrant music, spiced tea.

- Avoid remaining in bed after waking up.

III. Waking Up as a Philosophical Practice

Waking up early is also an act of symbolic resistance. In a world that values ​​productivity above presence, waking up before the noise is a gesture of freedom. It is the possibility of choosing the rhythm that nourishes, of listening to the body before the world calls it.

This moment can be ritualized with simple gestures: touching the ground with your hands, lighting a candle, drinking warm water, repeating a mantra-phrase that will seal the day with intention.

“Waking up is not opening your eyes. It is opening the field of presence.”

IV. Practical suggestions for ritualizing waking up

- Prepare the environment the night before: leave a candle, a stone, an inspiring image.

- Avoid intense artificial lights: allow the body to wake up with natural or soft light.

- Avoid your cell phone for the first 30 minutes: preserve the energy field.

- Create a symbolic gesture: such as touching your heart, breathing deeply, or writing an intention.

- Repeat a mantra-phrase:

“Today I am fertile ground for the invisible.”

“I awaken with courage to inhabit the gesture.”

“I am the author of my rhythm, the guardian of my day.”

V. Awakening as the beginning of the Dinacharya routine

This moment marks the beginning of Dinacharya.

Upon waking with consciousness, space opens for the following practices: tongue scraping, oiling, meditation, and eating. Each of these will be explored with the same guiding thread: the ritualization of life as a form of healing.

👅 Tongue Scraping – Purification of the Word and the Bond.

Tongue scraping, a well-known Ayurvedic tradition called Jihwa Prakshalana, is a simple yet powerful practice that begins the morning care of the body and expression. More than a hygiene technique, this gesture is a symbolic purification ritual, a way to cleanse not only physiological residues but also the traces of what has been said, heard, or silenced.

I. The Tongue as a Mirror of the Digestive System

During the night, the body performs detoxification processes. The tongue, as an extension of the digestive system, accumulates residues known as ama, toxins resulting from incomplete digestion, imbalance of the Doshas, ​​or inadequate eating habits. These residues manifest as a whitish or yellowish film on the surface of the tongue.

Morning scraping removes these toxins, stimulates the taste buds, activates the digestive organs, and contributes to oral health. But in Ayurveda, the tongue is also a map of the body; each zone corresponds to an organ, and its cleansing is a way of caring for the whole.

II. The gesture as a ritual of listening and expression

Scraping the tongue is also a symbolic act. It is cleansing the word before speaking, purifying listening before hearing, preparing the connection before relating. It is a gesture that seals the commitment to the authenticity of the word.

“By scraping, one removes what does not belong. Space is opened for the word that heals.”

This gesture can be accompanied by silence, a deep breath, or a mantra-phrase that consecrates the day as a space for conscious expression.

III. Instruments and technique

Ideal instrument: copper or stainless steel scraper, due to its antimicrobial capacity and durability.

- Technique:

- Perform the gesture in front of a mirror, with presence.

- Gently scrape from the back of the tongue to the tip, 5 to 7 times.

- Wash the scraper after use.

- Avoid excessive force or plastic scrapers.

This moment can be integrated into the Dinacharya sequence, right after waking up and before oiling. It is a brief but profound gesture that prepares the body to receive and the spirit to communicate.

IV. Adaptation by Dosha

Although the practice is recommended for everyone, it can be adjusted according to the predominant Dosha:

• Vata: perform gently, avoiding very rigid scrapers; it can be accompanied by warm oil in the mouth (gandusha).

• Pitta: pay attention to tongue sensitivity; avoid scrapers that cause irritation; it can be followed by rinsing with rose water.

• Kapha: firmer scraping, focusing on removing mucus; it can be complemented with rinsing with warm salt water.

V. Scraping as the Beginning of the Animal Bond

For those who share awakening with animals, this gesture can be seen as a metaphor: animals also clean their mouths upon waking, lick, listen, and express themselves. Scraping the human tongue can become a gesture of preparation for bonding, like someone clearing the field before touching another.

“Purifying the tongue is preparing the heart to listen.”

🪔 Oiling (Abhyanga) – Nourishing the Body as a Temple.

The practice of body oiling, known as Abhyanga, is one of the oldest and most revered in Ayurveda. More than just physical care, it is a ritual of deep nourishment, tactile listening, and reconnection with the body as a sacred dwelling. The act of applying oil to the body with presence transforms into a daily offering, a gesture that seals the bond between the being and the earth.

I. The Body as a Territory of Listening

In Ayurveda, the body is not just an anatomical structure. It is an energy field, an extension of consciousness, an instrument of perception and expression. Oiling is a way of listening to this territory, of recognizing its needs, of restoring warmth, fluidity, and containment.

Applying warm oil to the skin activates tissues, nourishes muscles, and calms nerves. But it also awakens cellular memory, tactile intelligence, and embodied presence.

The touch with oil is a way of saying to the body: “I am here. I recognize you. I take care of you.”

II. Physiological and Energetic Benefits

- Stimulates blood and lymphatic circulation.

- Strengthens tissues and joints.

- Calms the nervous system, reducing anxiety and insomnia.

- Improves digestion and the elimination of toxins.

- Strengthens the immune system.

- Creates a protective layer against cold, wind, and overstimulation.

Energetically, oiling seals the vital field, reduces dispersion, and promotes stability. It is especially recommended during times of transition, vulnerability, or excessive mental activity.

III. Choosing the Oil According to the Dosha

The choice of oil should respect the individual constitution and the current state of the Doshas:

🌬️ Vata (cold, dry, unstable): sesame or almond oil, warmed, applied firmly and slowly.

🔥 Pitta (hot, intense, flammable): coconut or sunflower oil, cool, applied gently.

🌿 Kapha (heavy, moist, slow): mustard or sesame oil, light, applied vigorously and rhythmically.

The temperature of the oil, the rhythm of the touch, and the intention of the gesture are as important as the product used.

IV. Technique and Ritualization

Oiling can be performed before bathing, ideally in the morning. The environment should be warm, quiet, and prepared with reverence.

Suggested steps:

1. Warm the oil slightly.
2. Apply first to the head, then to the face, chest, arms, abdomen, back, legs, and feet.
3. Massage with circular movements on the joints and longitudinal movements on the limbs.
4. Leave the oil on for 15 to 30 minutes.
5. Take a shower with warm water, without completely removing the oil.

This gesture can be accompanied by soft music, meditative silence, or mantra-like phrases that consecrate care as an act of presence.

“Each touch is a pact of care. Each gesture is an offering to the dwelling I inhabit.”

V. Adaptation to the seasons

🍁 Autumn and ❄️ Winter (Vata and Kapha): daily oiling with nourishing and warming oils.

🌸 Spring (Kapha): light oiling with stimulating oils.

☀️ Summer (Pitta): gentle oiling with refreshing oils on alternate days.

The practice can be adjusted according to the climate, emotional state, and availability. Even if not daily, regular oiling transforms the relationship with the body and with time.

VI. Oiling as a gesture of reconciliation

In a world that separates mind and body, productivity and rest, oiling is a gesture of reconciliation. It is returning time to touch, soul to care, presence to the body. It is affirming that the body is not an obstacle, but a path, not an instrument, but an altar.

Each practice presented here opens a door to presence, reclaims the body as a temple, and returns us to the natural rhythm that heals, nourishes, and sustains.

This is only the beginning of the journey: in Part II of this article, we will delve into meditation practices, meals as rituals of awareness, and adaptations to the seasons and Doshas, ​​further deepening the art of inhabiting time with reverence, harmony, balance, and wisdom.

Taking care of routine is taking care of life—and taking care of life is remembering who we truly are. 🌿✨

👽 WRITTEN BY: Cristalina Gomes 🛸 AUTHOR'S LINKS: SPACESHIPS | UNIVERSE