Looking for Rituals and Practices

Hey folks, I was wondering if you could help me out. I'm looking for some practices/rituals/habits that may help my growth. They can range from the smallest thing I do during the day, to a yearly or monthly ritual. I have a few already, but I am open to any suggestions, changes, or comments.

Firstly, I know that some rituals should be done in a group with other people. My spiritual practices have been pretty much solitary. I live in a mining city where it is difficult to find people of like mind. If it is, however, important to be involved with a group, I'll try my best to get something going.

So here's what I've been doing so far:

In the morning: I clean up my room. I do a smudge (burning sweet-grass and sage). This is to "clear the air," so to speak. I give thanks for my life, the day, the air I breath, teachings I've received, and for the plants I am burning. I give attention to each of the directions, from east, to south, to west, to north, to below, to above and to the center. Then sit in meditation for 20 minutes or so (this isn't timed). I have a special spot where I meditate. My meditation is in the Shambahala tradition, paying attention to the breath, and feeling the quality of an open sky above, and being firmly supported by the earth below. When I finish a meditation, I bow, with an attitude of giving away the benefits of the meditation.

When I'm out and about: I try to pick up at least one piece of garbage wherever I go, out of respect.

Meals: I thank Mother Earth for the food and water, and I thank the plant or animal from where it came. I don't eat factory farmed animals though, and I try to choose animal products that have been gotten respectfully.

Weekly: I have a meditation group. We sit together for about 30-40 minutes and have a discussion afterwards. The group members are of all kinds of people. Sometimes I don't attend, because of work or school or other things, but I try to make it as often as I can.

So, that is what I've been doing. If anyone can help me out, the aims of practices should be to:

-cultivate attitudes of compassion, love, good intention, patience, kindness and openness towards others
-open the heart
-reduce the intrusiveness of ego
-cultivate attitudes of respect
-develop an understanding of my place within the whole
-connect in a sacred way
-cultivate genuine speech and expression

I'm open to whatever people have to suggest.

Also, should I be seeking out a teacher? I hear that it is best to have someone to guide you on the journey, but I'm not sure how to go about finding a teacher who is right for me, and I'm worried about "fake" teachers too.