Creative Ritual

The first thing you may think of when you hear the word 'ritual' is of horror movies where someone, or something, is sacrificed for the greater good of all, whether for good or evil, which is not what is being referred to here, at all. There are many types of rituals.

 

A wedding ceremony is a ritual. Blowing out birthday candles on a cake is a ritual. Baptism is a ritual. If you give it some thought, you can probably come up with many everyday rituals. Even brushing your teeth and combing your hair in the morning, after getting out of bed, is a form of ritual. One of the most popular rituals you can perform is the ritual of exercise. Most do not think of exercise as a ritual, but it is, and a powerful one, in that it heals your body, mind, and soul all at the same time.

 

Think of ritual as a physical form of thought or prayer. It is something that you can do in the physical and material world that parallels, and symbolizes your intentions. Our thoughts, or intentions, go out into the universe as energies. Everything we think, say and do effects ourselves, and others, either positively or negatively. Rituals are powerful in their own 'rite' because of the intentions or energies that fuel them.

 

You don't have to believe in ancient gods and goddesses or change your spiritual viewpoint, to enjoy and find value in rituals. There are no rules to follow, except perhaps one. Never intend to harm anyone through your intentions or prayers. Whenever you involve yourself in a creative ritual, do so with an attitude of hope, love, and gratefulness.

 

 

When and How Often Should You Practice Creative Ritual?

 

You can practice intention and prayer wherever and as often as you like. However, a creative ritual is more than just having a daily heart-to-heart talk with God. In creative rituals, objects and tools send the message. Your prayers become active, rather than just spoken, when you use materials, such as flowers, candles, incense, and stones, for specific purposes.

 

 

How Can Creative Ritual Be Used?
 

 

  • Communing with God
  • Refreshing a dwelling, or hotel room
  • Symbolizing an ending or a new beginning
  • Harmonizing and boosting the energy in your home
  • Releasing your home from energies of illness or death
  • Attracting more positive energy into your life
  • Clearing out the energies of a guest

 

 

The 8 Major Festivals of the Year

 

Some folks like to correspond their rituals with the eight major festivals of the year, as shown below.

 

  • Samhain (pronounced 'Sow'-in) is celebrated on November 1st, the day after Halloween (when the veil between the physical and spirit worlds is thinnest and we can communicate better with the dead). It represents the festival celebrating the harvest and welcoming the darker days of the year. 

 

  • Mid-Winter Solstice (the shortest day and longest night of the year): Yule (December 21st or 22nd) or Christmas (December 25th). Yule and Christmas are not the same, but some refer to Yule as a season with Christmas being a part of it. Decorating the home with pine branches, mistletoe, and holly, the Christmas tree, and Santa have their origins in paganism. 

 

  • Imbolc (beginning the evening of January 31st) or Ground Hogs Day/Candlemas (February 2nd). Imbolc marks the midway point between the Winter Solstice and Spring Equinox and honors the Celtic god Brigid and the Christian Saint Brigid (Ireland's first nun who died 524 A.D. at the age of 71) and the return of light after the darkness of winter.

 

  • Spring Equinox (approximately March 21st) is when the day and night are equal in length. Spring comprises parts or all of March, April, May, and June. During this time, Easter (celebrating the resurrection of Jesus) occurs between March 21st and April 25th (usually the 3rd Sunday in April in the USA). Eostre is the German goddess Easter may be named after.

 

  • Beltane, or May Day, marks the beginning of Summer and is celebrated between April 31st and May 1st. Rituals related to fertility are performed to protect livestock, people, and crops.

 

  • Mid-Summer Solstice: Litha (the longest day of the year), which honors the marriage between god and goddess, or First Day of Summer, which is June 21st

 

  • Lammas, Lughmass, or Lughnasadh is associated with the first harvest festival (the threshing of grain) celebrated August 1st or 2nd

 

  • Autumn Equinox: Mabon is associated with the mid-harvest festival and is celebrated between September 21st and 22nd in the northern hemisphere and March 21st in the southern hemisphere.

 

Where does Thanksgiving fit in? Thanksgiving is a tradition passed down since families began celebrating harvests in general. While the first Thanksgiving was recorded in 1621 between the Pilgrims and natives, it's neither Christian nor Pagan and doesn't fall into any of the eight festivals mentioned above. Instead, Thanksgiving is celebrated on different dates during the harvest season according to country and culture. In the United States, Thanksgiving is celebrated toward the end of November, between Samhain and Winter Solstice, which, to be sure, was taking place well before 1621. 

 

 

Creative Ritual Tools

 

Those who practice rituals regularly usually have some common ideas about where to place objects on alters or ritual trays. Does that sound scary? It shouldn't. It is no different than designating your dishes to the dish rack once cleaned.

 

Is it necessary to have an altar or a tray? Of course not. But you may want to have some special place to put the things that you will be working with, and it helps if that something is portable just in case you want to move to another room. Most of the things you will be using are already lovely decorator items in the home. A dresser top, fireplace mantle, or small cupboard will usually do for storage. Think of it as being no different than gathering together all of your manicure equipment and arranging it on a tray before you begin your weekly toe painting ritual.

 

Imagine a coffee table with beautiful river rocks, a copper bell from India, scented candles, and incense in a lovely container. Add some fresh flowers and chakra music to the environment and who would ever guess a half an hour ago you were buried in a personal ritual, tapping on your drum, placing sea salt in the corners of your home to reduce negative energies, or planting a prayer note in a flower pot. And the few drops of water on the carpet, do you think they will guess that it is stellar water?

 

There are certain directional placements of tools and the meanings of colors, stones, and flowers in ritual to consider (see below). Some folks like to be dazzled by the preciseness of everything; But if too much information places you on automatic overload, stick with simplicity and convenience. It is enough to know what color or smell you might want to use in your celebration of life and in offering up your prayers. If, on the other hand, you are one who loves details, then you might choose to study the subject of rituals by researching symbolism or mythology.

 

 

Useful Corresponding Days, Planets & Rulings

 

I've never been one to delve too deeply into planetary rulings. I'm not into astrology (other than to learn about common health concerns and natural remedies for the zodiac signs) but the following correspondences may help you determine which day of the week might work best for sending your intentions into the universe.

 

  • Sunday - Sun - Health & Success
  • Monday - Moon - Magic & Travel
  • Tuesday - Mars - Military & Conflict
  • Wednesday - Mercury - Study & Communication
  • Thursday - Jupiter - Luck & Wealth
  • Friday - Venus - Love & Beauty
  • Saturday - Saturn - Calmness & Spiritual Ideas

 

 

Directional Objects & Placements for Altars & Rituals

 

If you would like the objects on your tray or alter to symbolize the four directions of North, West, East, and South, you shall want to place them accordingly. Certain philosophical groups who are more than willing to give you their interpretation of what elements correspond to what directions. However, none of these groups seem to agree with each other. Try using your geographical location as the basis for the four directions when it comes to placing objects on your altar. For example, if you live on the north side of your city or town, you should be able to figure what direction south is, then east and west. Or, if your loved one is in the east, you may wish to place an object of love, or a picture of the both of you, in the eastern corner of your altar. 

 

Since we all have come from Spirit into the world, you could use an altogether different rendition by arranging the altar contents in the shape of a tree, The Tree of Life. The philosophy of Tree of Life comes from the teachings of the Jewish Qabalah (or Kabbalah). Place your objects in the following order.

 

At the top of the tree (the Northern section of your tray or altar) place Fire symbols, with Air below Fire, followed by Water, and with Earth following Water, which represents the Four Worlds, beginning with Spirit and ending in Physicality. It is your job in this lifetime to find your way back up through the four worlds from Physicality back to Spirit. The following tools can be used to represent the four worlds.

 

Fire/Spirit (Spirit): All blades forged in fire, red or orange stones or candles, wands from trees, gold, matches, brooms, torches, and ashes.

 

Air/Thought (Breath): A sword or spear, arrows, slings, fans, incense, a book and pen (symbolizes written thought), letter opener, feather, and wind instruments.

 

Water/Emotions (Blood): Hollow horns, rings, tea and kettle, chalice, cup, bowl, wine, holy water, juice, Silver, seashells, seaweed, and stones with holes in their centers.

 

Earth/Physicality (Body): Animal pelts, dirt, carved bits of wood, clay, drums, roots, wheels, pentacles, crystals, stones, grain, and fruit.

 

 

Color Meanings of Ritual Objects

 

An altar or tray is often placed in the center of the room where you will be working unless it is in a fixed position, such as over your fireplace. Before you place your objects on your workspace, you may want to place a colorful cloth on it. 

 

  • Black: Unifies physical and spiritual and absorbs negative vibes. Use only when you feel negative energy surrounds you. Burn only for as long as you feel the negative energy, then switch to a color that better suits your goals.

 

  • Blue: Creates inner peace, patience, spiritual understanding, loyalty, honesty, and faith.

 

  • Brown: Is grounding, heals the earth and the animals.

 

  • Green: Heals, balances, creates abundance, financial increase, eases stressful situations, persistence, fertility, and growth

 

  • Gold: Brings wealth, charisma, and employment.

 

  • Indigo: Helps to enhance love and create a more spiritual state between family members and in the home.

 

  • Orange: Optimism, expansiveness, confidence, enthusiasm, friendship, community, and improves immunity (nutritional issues) and female sexual problems

 

  • Pink: Encourages love, attraction, affection, peace, close friendships, harmony, and softness.

 

  • Purple: Adds personal spiritual perspective (as well as between friends), intuition and is calm, soothing, and comforting.

 

  • Red: Strength, courage, steadfastness, stamina, passion, sexuality, and sensuality

 

  • Silver: Produces enlightenment during lunar rituals.

 

  • Violet: Lends healing, better sleep, and communication with higher beings.

 

  • White: Stands for purification, fidelity, transformation, and love of all life. Use White when you are unsure of another color to use.

 

  • Yellow: Lends expression, freedom, playfulness, clarity, study, organization, and detail

 

 

The Use of Symbols in Ritual

 

  • Circle: Wholeness, protection, and perfection
  • Cross: Time for decision-making and personal sacrifice
  • Spiral: Cycles of Life (the ups, downs, and flows). Triangle: The divine, a third element or angle, and procreation
  • Square: Balance, security, optimism
  • Star: The five elements or five parts of being, guidance, insight
  • The Pentagram (not considered the star as mentioned above): Protection
  • Sigils: Your own personal symbol(s) used to trigger your subsconcious to make decisions that will promote manifesting your dreams and intentions. One of the most popular sigils in history is the Seal of Solomon, the Ring of Solomon, or Seal of the Prophets.

Plants, Flowers & Grains for Altar & Home

 

  • Apple: Health and vitality
  • Black Tea: Strengthening
  • Chamomile: Calming
  • Corn: Harvest, abundance, fertility, and blessing
  • Daffodil: Childlike joy and laughter
  • Daisy: Innocence and happiness
  • Grains: Prosperity and renewal
  • Green Tea: Health and energy
  • Iris: Delicate sensuality
  • Lily: Purity and perfection
  • Lily of the Valley: Springtime and new life
  • Marigold: Joy and longevity
  • Peach: Immortality, marriage, and emotional tenderness
  • Pomegranate: Fertility and unity of diversity
  • Rice: Good fortune
  • Rose: Love
  • Seaweed: Employment opportunity
  • Sunflower: Optimism and joy
  • Thyme: Strengthening
  • Tulip: Vitality and sensual love
  • Violet: Trust and tenderness
  • Wheat: Abundance and harvest intuition

 

Also, see The Metaphysical Properties of Foods & Herbs.

 

 

Essential Oils & Incense for Rituals

 

  • Bergamot: Calmly uplifts
  • Cedar Wood: Relaxes, draws good things
  • Eucalyptus: Tonifies, heals, cleanses, protects, energizes
  • Fennel: Warming, definite success
  • Fir: Cleanses
  • Frankincense: Spiritual Clarity and Will Power
  • Geranium: Balance
  • Honeysuckle: Encourages eloquence
  • Juniper: Purifies
  • Lemon: Alertness, alertness, purification
  • Lemongrass: Cleanses
  • Lime: Invigorates
  • Lavender: Soothes
  • Myrrh: Inspires
  • Neroli: Reduces stress
  • Orange: Uplifts
  • Passion Flower (herb or tea): Overcomes negative feelings
  • Patchouli: Sensuous, grounding, stabilizing, wards off negativity
  • Peppermint: Refreshes
  • Pine: Cleanses
  • Rose: Increases loving energy
  • Rosemary: Stimulates
  • Sage: Purifies, drives out evil
  • Sandalwood: Releases fear
  • Vanilla: Sensuality and happiness
  • Ylang Ylang: Comforts

 

Also, see The Metaphysical Properties of Essential Oils.

 

 

Elemental Water

 

To make elemental water, you can use bottled spring water placed in a glass or ceramic bowl, but not a metal one. Metal belongs to another element, Earth. On a starlit night, set your bowl of water outside, or on the windowsill, for at least an hour to absorb the starlight. Stellar (star) water makes dreams come true and brings joy into your life.

 

You can store water on your altar, but make sure it stays fresh and re-energize it every so often by spiraling (stirring) the water. You can do the same for Lunar (moon) water when the moon is bright. Lunar water is good for healing. It is gentle.

 

You might also add some flower essences to the water, such as Bach Flower Essences, especially if you would like to use a flower in your ritual that is not readily available.

 

For Solar (sun) water, do the same while the sun is bright. Leave your water in the rays for at least an hour. You can even drink it if you need a lift (see below), but make sure to have kept it covered in some way, for sanitary reasons.

 

To sprinkle your holy water around the house, use a twig or your fingertips to flick the water.

 

 

Rainbow Water

 

One way to internalize color is to drink it. Gather together at least 7 or 8 glass jars or bottles (with covers). Colorful wine bottles will work just as well. You can wrap clear bottles in colored cellophane. You may also purchase colored filters from color therapy suppliers to wrap your bottles in if you can’t find the right colored bottles.

 

Fill your bottles with pure water and place them upon the windowsill for at least one hour in daylight. Make sure the bottle tops are covered so insects can’t get in. Bless the water with a prayer of thanks for its healing properties (as indicated below). After your hour is up, drink it down. You can also store it in the fridge for later, but it is best to discard it after 24 hours.

 

  • Red or Orange Water help sciatica, cold extremities, anemia, and lethargy. It is not for those with high blood pressure.

 

  • Yellow Water helps constipation, motor nerves, and digestion.

 

  • Green Water helps to relieve head colds, allergies, skin rash, and a broken heart.

 

  • Blue Water helps with kidneys, throat and mouth problems, colitis, hot flashes, and sunburn.

 

  • Indigo Water helps headaches, tired eyes, and tension.

 

  • Violet Water helps rid the body of tension and the mind of emotional difficulties.

 

  • Magenta Water helps with energy and circulation.

 

 

Rain, Sand & Willow

 

Rain: Spring rain is for love and attraction, Summer rain is for playfulness and sexiness, Fall rain is for enthusiasm, thankfulness, and closure, and Winter rain is for courage and endurance. Use left-over rainwater as a hair rinse after shampooing (for all hair types). It makes hair so very soft and smooth.

 

Sand: Use sand to bring like-minded people into your life. Sprinkle it in your plant pots and watch your friendships grow, or place sand under candles as an attractive centerpiece.

 

Willow Tree: Have you ever seen those wonderfully curly, naked branches they have in gift shops that have crystals or tree ornaments hanging from them? Most are Willow branches, although Grapevine branches are used similarly. Although dead flowers and plants can bring negative energy into the home, Willow helps us to adjust to new situations. Use a branch or two in your ritual, perhaps as a wand, to dispense holy water. When out in nature, standing under a willow tree can strengthen you. Tell the tree about your problems. Trees offer much wisdom. Be sure to thank the tree if you pull off a small branch or a few leaves.

 

 

Also, see Smudging Away Negativity and A Space-Clearing Ritual.