Ritual In A Modern Spiritual Lifestyle

Rituals, rites and ceremonies are the oldest forms of spiritual practice and essential aspects of all religions and belief systems. A ritual is a meaningful or symbolic action or series of actions that has a standardized format or sequence and can therefore be repeated in exactly the same way by individuals, groups or even communities.

The metaphysical energy generated when we focus our intent using symbols, tokens and metaphoric activities during a ritual that has special meaning for us personally can be highly transformative! Whether you practice ritual in a group or solo, it can supercharge your manifesting ability and aid in any mental, physical, emotional, and spiritual healing processes you may be going through.

When some people hear the word ‘ritual,’ they tend to imagine darkened, smoke-filled rooms with mysterious people in long robes, chanting strange refrains perhaps, all choreographed with everyone knowing their roles. I’m sure there are people who practice rituals in this way and elements like incense and chanting can indeed be party of a rite or ceremony. But a ritual can also be more simply crafted in a way to fit into a modern lifestyle and everyday spiritual practice.

In my own practice, I created a little ‘altar’ for myself. A small sacred space where I have placed a few candles, some incense, crystals, feathers and a few other symbolic tokens which hold special meaning for me. I also added a picture of my mother and a statue of an angel given to me when my grandpa passed away. In this way I created a sacred space that has deep meaning for me personally and brings me into a spiritual mindset.

You don’t need to have a lot of room for this in your home. So, you can even create a small sacred space for yourself on the corner of a dresser or table top. As my practice has evolved, I now find that any spare surface or quiet corner in the places where I have lived can become a nook for little spiritual treasures that I find during my adventures. Once you start creating a sacred space, the Universe will send you little gifts to help you along.

By participating in a ritual, participating in the myth, you are being, as it were, put in accord with that wisdom, which is the wisdom that is inherent within you anyhow. Your consciousness is being re-minded of the wisdom of your own life. I think ritual is terribly important ~ Joseph Campbell

Once you have created a sacred space, the idea is to regularly spend time there to engage in spiritual practice. Your sacred space is meant to be a place where you come to pray, or meditate, or just to think and reflect. It is also where you perform your own rituals. For example, a daily or weekly ritual can be as simple as lighting a candle and saying a few words of affirmation. Rituals are a form of spiritual expression. The rituals you create are yours to enjoy as you choose and should be calming, centering, and grounding.

This is not to say that you absolutely need a sacred space or an altar to include rituals in your spiritual lifestyle. If you truly have no space for this sort of set-up in your home, you can simply find a spot where you won’t be easily disturbed (even if it has to be in your car, or the bathroom!).

Taking a few moments for yourself, even just once a week to start, is an incredibly valuable ritual to incorporate into your routine. One night before bed each week, go to this quiet space and spend just 5 minutes doing what feels right to you. Reconnecting with yourself consistently like this has many benefits.

So, I mentioned earlier that ritual can super charge your manifestations, and help in healing. As you become more comfortable with your own style of ritual, you can begin to use this spiritual expression in a more focused way.

It is best to have an intention and a framework for your ritual before your begin. Keep it simple. Know your intention before you start and have a plan for how you wish to express that intention. This is where you get to have a bit of fun and be creative.

For example, if I want to manifest more financial abundance in my life I would start by releasing any limiting beliefs that might be holding me back from achieving this goal. I will also set a clear intention for exactly what I am seeking to manifest. Finally, it will be a good idea for me to use affirmations in my manifesting ritual, which in this case it will focus on prosperity. I like to also consider the moon cycles, as full and new moons are especially potent times for releasing and manifestation.

The most practical ritual technique is to write everything out first, and then take the symbolic action based on the written words. For example, start by writing out a list of limiting beliefs you want to release; things like “I release the belief that I am not worthy of abundance.” Then read this list aloud to the Universe. Once you have done this, place the paper in a fire-safe spot and burn it, symbolizing the destruction of those things holding you back. This is also an example of how ritual can be applied for the purpose of healing and growth.

We all need such places of ritual safekeeping. And I do believe that if your culture or tradition doesn’t have the specific ritual you are craving, then you are absolutely permitted to make up a ceremony of your own devising ~ Elizabeth Gilbert

Once you’ve finished with the list of things you wish to release, it’s important to fill yourself back up with things you wish to manifest. Write out precisely what you want to manifest in your life. Integrity and ethics are important here. We must never attempt to infringe on another person’s free will. Spirit always knows what is in our best interest and for our highest good, so I find it is wise to always include this aspect in my manifestation practices. I do this simply by adding to my intention: ‘however it may be in the highest good and best interest of all parties concerned.”

I like to conclude these kinds of rituals by stating positive affirmations aloud that have meaning for me at that time. I also express my gratitude for all the blessings in my life, for the miraculous nature of the Universe, and for the magic that is present in every day.

These kinds of rituals can be done on your own, or in groups. In most cities, it’s not difficult to find a group or a circle, often scheduled based on the lunar cycle. Ceremony and ritual done individually can be incredibly fruitful, but in my experience rituals done in groups are even more powerful.

The most important element of any ritual is being honest, open, authentic and vulnerable. Being able to identify areas where you hold limiting beliefs, or where you need to improve can be uncomfortable, but it is spiritually necessary to ensure personal growth. Admitting what you really want can also be surprisingly difficult! Doing this in front of a group of people is exceptionally vulnerable. And this is where the power of transformation lay – to be truly seen or witnessed.

This is what ritual gives us. Individually, it is the willingness to be seen by that power you identify as greater than yourself, yet part of yourself. In a group, not only are you seen by the Divine, you are also seen by your peers. Having another human being acknowledge you and accept you regardless of that which you see as your weaknesses and shortcomings, is where the healing and growth becomes even more powerful.

However, it’s important to find a group that is supportive and inclusive. In my experience this has not been an issue as the purpose of these kinds of practices are to develop our spiritual voices, but I always advise caution and encourage people to do their homework before getting involved with any groups.