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I think ceremony is a basic part of our lives - so ingrained that we sometimes don't even think of it as such. Birthday cakes are a form of ceremony. Christmas celebrations are a form of a ceremony. Having coffee in the morning is a form of ceremony.
Ceremony is our own sacred way of marking cornerstones in our days and our lives, of defining the sacred in our lives and establishing boundaries. It is a celebration of life and living. It is filled with joy and reverence is equal portions. It is where our physical and spiritual worlds meet and shake hands.
Each time we perform ceremony we invite the ancient ones, the Grandmothers and Grandfathers, to join us. We clear our minds for a few seconds of time and allow the whispers of ancient wisdom to surround our being. We come away refreshed and ready to reenter our worlds, to share the peace and joy that surrounds our hearts.
Ceremony should be a simple thing, not a complex, perhaps rigid system of words and actions. Ceremony needs to fill our personal needs, to support our belief in ourselves and the in world around us. Traditional ceremony can certainly be used if it is still alive - if it still represents the people and places that it is intended to reflect. If traditional ceremony no longer has a life of its own - then restructure the ceremony to reflect you and your life.
If you want to take an existing ceremony and put "life" back in it, the first thing that you want to do is become clear on what the ceremony is for. What is the intended purpose? Decide where the ceremony will be (inside or outside, in a small room or in a larger room). Decide whether this is to be a personal ceremony or one meant to be shared with others. Find a time that will work for all parties. Think about what tools/symbols you want to include. Is there going to be an alter or centerpiece? Are you including an alter scarf or a runner for the table? Are you including flowers? Are you including candles? Scented or unscented? Are you including text? Are you going to write/co-author the text?
Each decision that you make in the creation of ceremony takes you deeper into the tone of the ceremony, and takes the intent of the ceremony deeper into your personal psyche. One thing that I include in all ceremony that I do is honoring the seven directions (North, South, East, West, Sky, Earth and heart) and the four elements (Fire, Water, Air and Earth). This grounds and centers my life and the manner in which ceremony reflects the sacred in my life.
Ceremony is an open line to Spirit and the spiritual in our lives. Thank you for sharing this with me.
Mitakuye Oyasin - For All Of My Relations
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