When you are walking with someone, do you “split” the pole and reverse so you can walk the same route the person you’re walking with took? Around New Year’s time, did you make a special dinner that included a dish or cooked leafy green for “your money”, a bean or black-eyed pea for your “change” and cornbread or some type of yellow bread for your “gold”? If you did that, Congratulations! You did a prosperity ritual for the New Year!
When you play the lottery, do you have a prayer that you say before you bubble in your numbers? As a Catholic, do you cross yourself in prayer for any reason? Again, you did a ritual.
A ritual (noun) is described as “a religious or solemn ceremony consisting of a series of actions performed according to a prescribed order. Take note of the definition. It says a “a religious OR solemn ceremony….” A set of actions that you take every single time you want a specific outcome for an event or circumstance is a ritual. There are literally rituals being done and ones that you do all around you.
In that sense, then, every single of us is a “witch” or “magician” because we all do rituals. We cast spells using our words to uplift or damn people. We all have things that we do before an event each and everytime. The word “ritual” is a very stigmatized one. Generally, it denotes the use of some type of witchcraft or black magic that is outside of Christian traditions.
However, it’s simply not true. Coming from the religious tradition of the Methodist Episcopal church, the church services I grew up attending were rife with ritual. Coming up to the altar to be prayed over, taking communion or reciting a pledge to the church, or God is ritual.
Being a member of the Order of the Eastern Star, P.H.A., there are all sorts of rituals performed in the ceremonies. I live for that structure of rituals, what they represent and what they will bring.
When Muslims engage in prayer and have to bend over the knee, kneel down, place their forehead to the prayer mat, rise up, look left, look right and recite prayers, that is a ritual.
Rituals are performed at birthday parties, anniversary dinners and baby showers. There’s a cake, there are gifts, there are games to be played. Bar Mitzvahs contain ritual. Drummings that take place in African Traditional Spitituality circles also have rituals in them. And you know what else has ritual in it? Weddings from every culture in the world. Even something as simple as “battling” in the dance world are rituals of sorts. Sports events contain rituals. Plays and performances contain rituals.
Putting your hand over your heart and reciting the “Pledge of Allegiance”…. even standing while the “Star Spangled Banner”is ritual as well.
Don’t hate on rituals that are performed outside of the confines of your particular religious or cultural practice. The truth is, rituals are everywhere. It’s okay to use them. They work with the correct intention in place.
Whether you use candles, prayer, words, physical movements, stones, meditations, the erection of an altar or other tools of divination–I see you! Keep up the good work. What you’re working for is surely coming toward you!
From Now Until Infinity,
