"How else but in custom and ceremony are innocence and beauty born?"
___ W. B. Yeats, "A Prayer for My Daughter"
Ceremony enables transition. Rituals of initiation, such as baptism and graduation; seasonal rituals, rituals of prayer and remembrance; dedication rituals, such as marriage; protective rituals in which we invoke our guardian spirits - all these help create a sacred link between us and Spirit, conferring special grace. Ceremony does not have to be dramatic or wordy, and it need not involve a cast of thousands. The constituents of a ceremony are simple:
* The need or impulse for ritual
* Space and time dedicated to the ceremony
* The intentioned, sacred use of objects, elements, and expressive and apposite means of music/speech/silence/meditation
* A role for everyone participating, if appropriate
* A space of silence or emptiness in which divine interaction can happen
* A clear statement of the purpose at the beginning and a thank-you afterward
* A point at which celebrants remember and include the rest of the universe, especially those who share their needs.
Ceremony can happen in any suitable place: our own home is our hearth and shrine, and as such is quite suitable for personal ceremonies. In times of transition, new ceremonies that meet the needs of a society are urgently needed, so that innocence and beauty - the currency of Spirit - can flow into our lives.
"Choose a real need in your life. Devise a short and simple ceremony that will address that need practically. (Examples of needs include beginning a new job, preparing for retirement, cleaning the home after a burglary, adjusting to children leaving home, and entering the hospital.)
[From: "The Celtic Spirit" by Caitlin Matthews]
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