by Murray Barton
The Oxford dictionary defines ritual as
"the series of actions used in a religious or other ceremony".
In secular society the "or other" in this definition hides a wide
variety of rituals, such as the opening of parliament, which have no religious
connections at all. Ross Nicholls, poet and Druid defined ritual as
"poetry in the world of acts". Ritual is not black magic or
esoteric. If you have ever shaken hands you have performed a ritual, one
of greeting.
Rituals can be as simple as blessing food before you eat or as complex and full
of ceremony as the Catholic Mass. Whatever your beliefs there is a place
for ritual in your life. Rituals strengthen the bonds of belonging in
groups, they are the sign posts by which we navigate life and they can be the
islands from which we centre and rejuvenate ourselves. Simple rituals can
give us just the break we need to maintain a peaceful outlook on life, as said
by Druid and author Emma Restall Orr: "ritual is the fine art of taking a
break".
The effectiveness of any ritual is governed by a few factors; the degree of
safety and welcoming created by the facilitators, how well the players fill
their roles and the openness of the participants to the energies raised.
Magician and author Peregrin Wildoak says, "A good ritual will encourage
people to participate at the deepest level they can". The most
powerful ingredient and one every ritual must have is a clearly stated
intention. Having no intention for a ritual is like getting in your car
and driving with no map and no destination in mind; you will end up wherever
you end up. No intention means no predictable outcome, whatever happens
happens and you will get what you get.
Rituals can be broken into four broad categories: celebration, change,
connection and completion. The categories are helpful to see the ‘what
and why’ of ritual but they are not definitive and a ritual for change may also
have components of celebration and completion. All rituals have some
component of connection, with other people, with spirit beings, with nature,
with the sacred tools and space used.
Rituals of celebration are the easiest to start with as they are the most
commonly practised in our daily lives. Birthday parties are rituals of
celebration as is New Years Eve. Celebratory rituals are generally
informal and festive occasions. The ritual components are well known and
no particular facilitation or structure is required, as anyone who has been to
a New Years Eve party can attest - around midnight the countdown will
spontaneously commence followed by cheers, kisses and later, new years
resolutions.
Rituals of completion are the rituals we have to mark the loss or end of
something. A funeral is a good example of this type of ritual but a
graduation ceremony is also a ritual for completion (whilst being a celebration
as well). The completion and grieving process from any loss can be
facilitated by the creation of a ritual to mark its passing, symbolically let
go of attachments and simply allow what has passed its place in the past.
Rituals for change or transformation. All rituals have the power to cause
change, what differentiates rituals for change is intentionality. There
are three basic types of change rituals: cleansing, healing and initiations.
Cleansing rituals are the energetic equivalent of a spring clean. Any
physical cleansing can also have an energetic cleansing component added with
the inclusion of an intention and some simple ritual. For example, having
a bath with candles, incense and bath salts and a simple prayer will not only
be relaxing but will deepen the cleansing on all levels.
Healing rituals are rituals designed and intended to heal at some level of
being; be it physical, emotional or spiritual. A healing ritual could be
for any individual or being, in the green movement healing rituals for the
earth are becoming more common. A shamanic healing is a ritual for
healing.
Initiations or rites of passage mark the beginning of something and they also
mark a transformation. An initiation is always into something be it a
group, a level of training or a stage of life. In the joining there is a
becoming and the initiate is literally not the same person after. With
the abandonment of intentional rites of passage for our societies young, they
invent rituals of their own. This can be seen especially amongst young
men and usually involves drinking and dangerous behaviour.
Rituals for connection. The wedding is a ritual for connection. A
naming ceremony of a child is also a ritual of connection; it introduces the
child to its community and the community to the child. Rituals for
communion are in essence rituals of connection, to commune is to
"communicate mentally or spiritually". Any communication you
have with your god(s) are acts of communion. Rituals where you create
relationships with spirit beings and communicate with them are rituals of
connection.
Most of us are already participating in many rituals, the ones which are common
in our culture. You can heighten the experience of these rituals by
forming an intention around them. For example, the intention around the
birthday ritual of singing Happy Birthday, blowing out the candles and cutting
the cake might be "that Sally knows she is loved and cherished and all are
present to joy and celebration".
Nearly any everyday act can be turned into an act of worship and made part of
your spiritual practise by the inclusion of some ritual. It could be as
simple as lighting a candle or incense and saying a short prayer of
gratitude. In many ways these simple every-day rituals are the best
because they are repeated regularly and they are part of your life rather than
something you go and do. Whatever your beliefs they belong in your life,
not just for special occasions. The creation of every day rituals is one
way to bring your beliefs to life.
