Written by Rich
Ok, to write an article about ritual, I’ve decided to start in a really clichéd way, with a dictionary definition (not the Oxford English I’m afraid):
1. A prescribed manner of performing divine services
2. Performance of rites and ceremonies esp. in an elaborate or excessive manner
3. Any formal or customary act or series of acts consistently observed.
Now, that serves as a basic definition, but personally I think it lacks a little depth!
So, what does ritual mean to me? Well, first off, I don’t follow a specific path, but I have general notions about the major paths of Paganism; Wicca, Druidism, Asatru, ‘Shamanism’, so you’ll have to forgive if my interpretations are a little haphazard!
To me ritual is, well, anything I want it to be! Let me explain a little further.
To me, walking outside on a bitterly cold day, feeling freezing patio slabs beneath my bare feet, feeling the wind biting my skin and embracing that feeling is just as much ritual as when I get out my altar, light some candles, incense and meditate for half an hour.
If you’ve already investigated the many different paths of Paganism, you’ll already know that there are so many ways that ritual is prescribed. Some paths asks that you have highly formal and elaborate ceremonies, with various implements, some ask that you lie on the floor and listen to a beat until you fall into yourself and the other worlds and some just ask you to feel where you are and to listen to the whispers on the wind. And what’s great about it all, is that these are all as equally ritual as each other.
When I go to celebrate a Sabbat, I usually decide what I’m going to do on the day. Sometimes, I go outside, sometimes I sit in my room. Sometimes I sing, or play an instrument. Sometimes I talk for an hour, sometimes I say nothing at all. Mostly, I listen. I listen to the wind and the rain, or I listen to the stillness and the nothingness. I let my mind and my heart work together, being neither overly erratic, nor too reasoning, when I perform ritual I just let myself be.
But here’s another great thing about ritual, if whilst reading this all you’ve been thinking is “this guy is chatting rubbish, this isn’t ritual at all” then you know what? You’re right!!! Ritual is whatever you make it to be! If for you, reading about the heroes and the gods of the ‘olden days’ constitutes ritual, then it is! If running around naked in your back garden (of course, trying to not to break obscenity laws at the same time) screaming is ritual, then it is! Ritual isn’t about what people tell you to do (though obviously, if you join a group you will have to toe the line to some degree), it’s about YOU connecting with nature, connecting with the Gods, connecting with the elements, the spirits and connecting with yourself.
So to get you started, here’s a really simple ritual for you: Live.
Blessings
Bio: My name's Rich, I'm 18 and I live in the suburbs of London (woooo!). I've been studying Paganism for about 2 years now, but haven't yet found a specific path, although my main areas of research have been Wicca, Druidism and Asatru. I like being sociable, going to the pub, reading (lots) and singing and when I'm not feeling lazy I like being outdoors!
