A ritual is an activity that is performed with conscious awareness and intention to bring a bit of the sacred into everyday life. Many rituals are tied to specific rites of passage in one’s life within a culture or community. Other rituals are tied to the seasons or the cycles of the moon and sun.
Rituals related to illness, healing or conversion to a new spiritual tradition are performed on an ad hoc basis. They might include simple prayer, reading of scriptures, immersion in water, or more complicated rituals performed by shamans or other healers, including potions, and sacred objects like rattles, bones, and herbs.
In our signature program, GraceFull360, we encourage the practice of simple, personal rituals that can infuse a ‘regular’ day with gentleness, mindfulness, and sanctity. Our rituals honor and celebrate nature and are designed to connect us with the energies and gifts of each season. We encourage participants to embellish them in any way that brings meaning and joy.
All rituals embrace three phases. The ‘before’ phase allows us to prepare and to give thought to our intentions. The ‘during’ phase is the actual doing. We may want to give voice to our intentions before we begin the ritual, and when it’s done, we might want to offer a little prayer of gratitude. The ‘after’ phase is the conscious re-entering into ‘regular’ time with the either the integration of positive feelings, the release of undesirable thoughts or feelings, or both.
Simple rituals can move and inspire us, creating blessed moments of grace, beauty and sanctity.
Photo of prayer stick ritual at one of our “Sacred Santa Fe” retreats.