Why Rituals? Why ceremony?

Generally people who gather have rituals. It can be religious but doesn’t need to be. It can be spiritual if one chooses. In both those areas there are so many established rituals to explore.

In my family we gather like ritual for the holidays the western calendar offers time off and we have turned them into our own rituals.

At Easter our ritual is blowing eggs and making quiche, then painting the eggs as a family and handing them on the egg tree outside. There is also the ritual of the egg hunt where you start as a hunter, graduate to helper and then to hider and finally as photographer.

At thanksgiving we always invite people who may not have a place for the holidays to join us. At the table our ritual is that everyone speaks what they are grateful for.

At Christmas we gather and as family & friends we have the ritual of finding a family in need to give to over the holiday. We also have the ritual of gift exchange with a set spending limit to keep it humble and thoughtful.

At meal times we have developed a ritual of thanks before eating. It started with my daughter when she was three and has evolved over the years.

I’m the morning I have the ritual of sending my adult kids a good morning text. This ritual reminds them I am thinking of them everyday and I care how they are and I love them. It takes seconds, but has great impact. It also makes sure I am there if they are in need.

To me all of these rituals are spiritual. They come from the heart and are about giving and receiving love. They are about making sure each of us know we are part of something and that they matter and belong.

So when I do corporate training, team building, classes at schools or retirement homes or out in community, I’m always creating and establishing ritual for those groups to exist in and discover from when they learn with me. I find it ensures safety and intention, humility and mindfulness which is golden when working together. It moves the group away from the superficial and immediately into deeper connection and more authentic relating.

It’s been said that in life that you need a place to belong, a purpose and unconditional love to avoid addiction and disease. Rituals get us in the habit of ensuring these elements are minded.

Ritual appears everywhere in our lives if we choose to look and choose to see it that way. Anyone can make brushing their teeth, cleaning their home, making a meal, washing their car, going to work, being in service in any way, a ritual.

If you see all repeated behaviours from the heart with purpose and value that serves good then it is a ritual of love & care and is a joy to do over and over.

If repeated behaviours are not mindful they can be from fear or sadness and usually unconscious and start as habits and may turn into bad habits and then addiction. This is seen with many behaviours like around food, hygiene, cleaning, physical care, mental care and emotional care.

So what will you reposition in your life from addiction to ritual? How willing are you to be mindful and to choose to walk this life in conscious love? Where in your family, friends, work and self can you develop rituals as insurance policies for love, community, self care and service in your life?

Please share some of your personal rituals. It may give some of us some ideas.