We often think of love as something spontaneous and out of our own control. It can feel like an emotion that appears only when the conditions are right or when someone else initiates it. It can feel like something that happens to us, not something we inspire ourselves. But when you zoom out, love is much less like a lightning bolt and much more a behavior, a way of being. Love is not just a feeling you fall into; it’s a ritual you can practice over time.
When you begin to see love itself as a ritual, something shifts inside you. This is one reason why we at KIM+ONO love rituals in general. Rituals don’t require perfection, big gestures, or endless willpower. All they require is an intention you can repeat. They’re built through small, meaningful actions to reinforce what’s important to you. And once love becomes something you practice instead of something you wait for, it becomes much easier to fill your days with it. So in today’s journal, we’re turning ordinary moments into sacred rituals for love. Here’s how:
Photo by Ashley Streff
To Begin, Remember: Love Is Already a Ritual (You Just Haven’t Named It Yet)
Think about the people you love most. Chances are, you’re not constantly expressing your love through Shakespearean balcony speeches and wild gestures. You express it through almost invisible repetition: checking in, showing up, sharing space, noticing moods. These are rituals, even if you’ve never called them that. When you name love as a ritual, you remove the pressure to make it impressive. Instead, you focus on making it consistent and intentional. Rituals thrive on familiarity, like slipping into your kimono wrap first thing each day. They deepen because they are dependable. Love becomes something you practice, not something you wait for. So here are several rituals you can deepen to help bring more love into your life every single day.
Photo by @mariacalderon.art
The Ritual of a Warm Hug
A hug seems simple, but when done with intention, it becomes a powerful ritual of love. A warm hug held for a few extra seconds tells the nervous system: you are safe, you are seen, you are not alone. Try turning hugs into a conscious practice. A hug before leaving the house. A hug when reuniting at the end of the day. A hug that isn’t rushed or distracted. These moments of physical presence build trust and emotional closeness over time. You can also hug yourself. Wrap your arms around yourself, take a deep breath, and feel the self love radiate through you before you start a meditation or before sleep.
The Ritual of an Unexpected Gift
Unexpected gifts don’t need to be expensive or elaborate to be meaningful. Their power lies in surprise and specificity. An unexpected gift can simply be a note tucked into a bag, or a favorite snack brought home for no reason. Even just picking up a flower during your walk. When you make small, unexpected gifts a ritual you practice every now and again, you’re practicing attentiveness. When the people you love know they are in your awareness, it is sustaining and nurturing to them and you. Sometimes, you can give them something unexpectedly luxurious. Give them something soft, wearable, and nurturing like a silk kimono robe, and turn their ordinary evening into a physical reminder that a strong love is a soft love.
Photo by Ashley Streff
The Ritual of Annual Traditions
Annual traditions are beautiful times to practice rituals of love. They create a sense of continuity and shared meaning over time. Whether it’s an annual trip, a personal letter, or even just a holiday meal cooked the same way each year, these traditions become emotional landmarks to express love and togetherness. What matters most is not what the tradition is, but that it exists. Returning to the same ritual year after year reaffirms your commitment to each other. Even what you wear can become part of these annual traditions. Wearing the same long silky robe every Valentine’s Day morning or anniversary evening can quietly mark time, memory, and devotion to each other.
The Ritual of a Nightly Dinner
Eating together is one of the oldest rituals of love. A nightly dinner, no matter how simple, creates a reliable everyday way to connect. Try making it even more special by lighting a candle, or asking one meaningful question to everyone. You could try staying seated a few minutes longer than usual before clearing your plates. These small choices transform a routine meal into a ritual of connection before slipping into your long silky robe to mark the end of your day.
Photo by Ashley Streff
The Ritual of Morning Coffee
Morning rituals shape how love enters the day. A shared coffee or a quiet moment before the world rushes in can do so much for how you receive the rest of the day. This ritual can be shared or solo. Sitting with your coffee draped in your kimono wrap can turn an ordinary morning into a moment of grounding and intention. It’s a way of starting the day with softness rather than urgency. When repeated, these mornings become an affirmation of self love.
Photo by Maria Del Rio
The Ritual of Silk Against Your Skin
And speaking of self love, not all love rituals involve other people. One of the most overlooked forms of love is the love you practice toward yourself. What you wear at home sends a gentle signal to your brain that it’s okay to take a deep breath and be yourself. Choosing comfort and beauty for yourself is a ritual of self-respect. Slipping into a plus size duster kimono robe that moves with your body instead of restricting it sends a powerful message: every body is beautiful. Silk in particular invites slowness. It asks you to feel rather than hurry along to the next thing. It’s a beautiful way to treat yourself.
Over time, these small but significant rituals stack up. A hug here, and a dinner there, and a shared coffee all begin to mean something much more. An everyday garment like a silk kimono robe marks the moments of your day, from the magical to the mundane. Rituals are an invitation for love to find you in all those moments. And this is when you can feel a beautiful world open up at your feet.
