I have always been fascinated by rituals. I often wonder if it’s because with a ritual there are often definite parameters to follow, and I often function my best with good boundaries.
Right now we’re in the middle of the ritual of Lent. Lent is the six week period leading up to Easter. It’s one of the most important times of year for many Christians around the world, particularly those within the Anglican, Catholic and Orthodox traditions, held at a similar level of importance to Advent. A time to look at your life and ponder whether you’re practicing the things Jesus taught us before his death and resurrection on Easter.
Advent is my FAVORITE ritual of all time. There’s just something special about the peaceful unity at a candlelight service. It often makes me cry…
`
While I was doing some pondering about rituals the other day, I got thinking about personal and family rituals. Things that make life deeply meaningful. For example, when our kids were growing up, every year at Christmas his nibs (who wishes to be referred to as the “Big Kahuna” now because he just bought two Hawaiian shirts to wear on our cruise — can we say “tourist!”) and I would each write a letter to the kids and stash them away for the future. We’d review their year, encourage them, and tell them how much we loved them — and often how much we had learned from them.
Stef got all her letters in a leather box on the eve of her wedding. Bran found his in his suitcase when he moved to Florida to marry Mariel. When they moved in with us a year later he gave them back to me to give to him later. He had only open and read the first one and cried all the way through it. They’re in our safe deposit box at the credit union now.
Christmas brought it’s own rituals. There was always a new velvet dress under the tree for Stef and a sweater for Bran. And as a family we would bake pumpkin breads and visit the shut-ins from church. Bran would play the trumpet while the other three of us screeched along to Silent Night or O Little Town of Bethlehem.
We also made it a point to watch movies with the kids on Saturday nights (until they got old enough to date!). They took turns picking them out and we’d talk about them. And Easter eggs! I wonder how many of them we’ve colored in our 47 years???
As for me personally, when I have those special moments in life where I’ve been touched deeply by something or someone, I always find a small reminder to add to my box of remembrances — a tiny, unopened pine cone, a rock, a glass bird, a pink ribbon with a sterling silver toe shoe on it that the “Big Kahuna” gave me one year when I was having a horrible time. He made a card to go with it that said: “Dream of Dancing. God knows your heart.”
I could go on and on, but I’ll shut up now (did I mention journaling?). And I will invite YOU to share on here any rituals YOU have had in your life over the years! And feel free to share why they were so important to you…
`
(Another ritual I LOVE! Handfasting at weddings…)
(Ok, shutting up…)
`
`
Picture Sources:
Rituals Sticky Note — Big Yellow Sticky
Candlelight Service — Bethany Bible Church
Handfasting — Etsy
Fimnora Westcaw said:
Ah rituals! There’s so many aspects of my life that include ritual. Of course, the real rituals that relate to my inner pathwork are year round. My own spiritual life comes from the Gaian Tradition, and follows “The Wheel of the Year.” It is basically celebrating the seasonal changes; the four cardinal days are the Vernal Equinox, and Summer Solstice, the Autumnal Equinox and the Winter Solstice. The other four days are Imbolc (Midwinter celebration which includes personal initiation or renewal of pathwork), Beltane (my wedding anniversary, but also represents the time of the rituals of creating new life), Lamas (begins the Harvest season and is the first of these celebrations), and Samhain (the new year). Each of these have rituals of their own. The monthly Moon days also have rituals as the celestial bodies that grace the night sky hold great meaning and help guide us through our Earth Walk.
Within my own family, Mr. Quantum and I have created rituals involving movies and/or series which hold great meaning for us, and we call these annual viewings “Wheel Movies” beginning on the Gregorian New Year and ending on New Years Eve. To date, we have 22 where we watch a Wheel Movie. We’re in the middle of watching one right now.
Of course, birthdays are also a personal new year that hold their own rituals.
Great Saturday Sound bite post from you, Calen! Thanks for the opportunity to remember special times.
LikeLiked by 1 person
calensariel said:
I don’t think anyone could “out ritual” you, Fim! 😀 Sorry I missed your call the other day. We’ll talk tomorrow!
LikeLiked by 1 person
LuAnne Holder said:
I love what your husband wrote in your card, “Dream of Dancing. God knows your heart.” How sweet. I also love how you two wrote letters to your children each year. How very special.
As far as rituals, we don’t have many. When my kids were young, every November I would cut leaves out of colored paper and a bare tree out of brown paper bags and hang it on a wall. Then all of us and any one who came into the house during the month was required to write at least one thing they were grateful for on a ‘leaf’ and hang it on the ‘tree’. I liked that one.
Of course we watched “Groundhog Day” every Feb. 2 much to the chagrin of the kids, but my husband and I keep up that tradition still. We don’t do much for Christmas or Easter but I do celebrate winter solstice with some women in my writer’s group each year. And I always make black-eyed peas for New Years.
Hope all is well in your world, Cheryl. Take care.
LikeLiked by 1 person
calensariel said:
Well you have some cool rituals going there, LuAnne. I may have to adopt that tree one! Love it!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Judie Sigdel said:
The letters you and your hubby wrote to your kids made me all weepy. What a beautiful ritual! I’m sure that they’ll cherish them forever.
I’m big on rituals, though I’m too tired to think of any right now! I’ll try to remember to get back to you! ❤
LikeLiked by 1 person
calensariel said:
Lordy, can I identify with tired and not being able to think! Sigh…
LikeLiked by 1 person
Soul Gifts said:
I used to have a ritual of reading Calensariel’s posts – until they stopped for ever so long. Now I can get back to it, thank goodness xxxx
LikeLiked by 2 people
calensariel said:
LOL What a hoot, Raili!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Soul Gifts said:
My tail is wagging in happiness to see you back on WP 🐶
LikeLiked by 1 person
Kim Echammaal Coull said:
Dearest Calensariel, so beautiful to see you here and your wonderful post. It is so beautiful the way you have made the meaningful things in your life so incredibly and sweetly sacred. Such an inspiration and reminder to treasure every moment. So much love to you. You are our ritual here!
LikeLiked by 2 people
calensariel said:
Well, my dear, I’ve been called MANY things in my lifetime, but THAT’S not one of them! I’ll ave to do some pondering on that. 😀
LikeLike
bcparkison said:
It is when they come to an end that remembering brings joy.
LikeLiked by 1 person
calensariel said:
Absolutely… They’re like trail makers because sometimes you need to find your way back for awhile.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Opher said:
Good to hear you again Cheryl!!
We are sure suckers for ritual and pageant. I think it’s inscribed in our DNA.
LikeLiked by 1 person
calensariel said:
I’ll bet YOURS have to do with books and record albums! Right?
LikeLike