The Power Of Ritual
By Cate Cavanagh
People do not realize that everything is ritual- getting ready to go to work is a ritual or rite especially when we follow the exact routine everyday. Why do we do this? Is it because we believe that this will ensure a good beginning to our work day.
At night we have rituals to get ready for bed. Since I live on a farm, my evening routine is just as hectic as my morning one. It is a cold winter up here in upstate New York this week so in addition to walking my dogs, I also check on the horses out back. I give them their bedtime snack and de-ice their water buckets making sure they have fresh water to drink. I feel good after doing this and I love the dark quiet of night. Most of the time, I can see constellations in the sky and when the moon is full, it casts luminescent beams on our property as if spotlighted by Broadway lights. What does all this have to do with ritual? Everything. My personal goal for ritual, aside from paying homage to my deities, is to feel connected, to feel at peace and relaxed. Like most Pagans and Witches, very little time is spent on spell work. Like most Pagans and Witches, my 'spells" are prayers.
My purpose for prayer, a spoken ritual, is to remember my blessings. It also helps me keep my inner warmth during the cold weather of this season. My prayer rituals remind me of the Wheel we observe and that as we draw closer to the longest night of the year, we are also drawing closer to the beginning of longer days and then Spring.
As I prepare for the upcoming Solstice, I reflect on my rituals. I know I will honor my beloved dead, human and animal alike, I will of course give my thanks to my deities for the strength they continue to give me and I also reflect on continuing to plant my personal seeds and my hopes that they will give birth to more creative projects.
This is all ritual. Ritual is important. We have to make time for our rituals and this preparation in and of itself is a ritual. We think, we gather our tools for hope and we honor. Of all, prayer has been my most beneficial tool. I have learned that when life is challenging if I stop and offer the ritual of prayer, these challenges do not bother me as much and I usually can find solutions.
All rituals, including prayer, enable us to tap into the cosmos and absorb energy from it. One ritual I have begun this winter is the blessing of an afternoon nap! Rituals are good, rituals are my friends.
Blessed Solstice!
Written and Submitted By Cate Cavanagh, Author, Poet, Columnist and Activist |
Free Forum Hosting
Important Announcement
First 
