As evening falls, a child stands at her bedroom window searching the
sky for the first star to wish upon.
Thousands of miles away, a Shaman doctor blesses herbs thrown into the
fire in a ceremony to attract spirit.
What do these seemingly unconnected individuals have in common? They are
both practicing magic and rituals.
Magic and rituals have long been connected.
There is magic in any ceremony that we do, whether it of a routine nature,
such as making a wish on our birthday, or whether it is a sophisticated
ritual involving all kinds of movements, lights and music.
In both cases we are using the power of the ritual in order to create
magic in our life.
An actual definition of magic is difficult.
However, as Scott Cunningham states: "Magic is the projection of
natural energies to produce needed effects."
In other words, every time that we consciously connect to the universal
energy in order to direct it to a specific result that we wish to manifest
in our life, we are utilizing magic.
In the same way, a child, focused on the light of the candle whilst
making a wish, then blows it, thus releasing that energy into the
universe.
From that point it is manifested later as a physical object.
Magic, therefore, is not an unnatural incidence; it is actually
utilizing and therefore harnessing the power of nature.
Rituals are the tools by which we do so.
The purpose of rituals is to demonstrate this connection between nature
and its laws.
Rituals are a reminder to us that we are an intricate part of this vast
universe.
Ritual is the form and structure that enables our spirit to fly free.
It is the safe space that allows us to open to the deepest part of
ourselves.
Ritual is the magic that you do for yourself.
Ritual is transformational. You commence a ritual in one state of being
and end in another. The result is major or minor shift of consciousness.
Ritual contributes to your wholeness by allowing enough safety and
freedom for all the parts of yourself to be expressed.
Rituals are important in our daily life, because they allow us:
1. to be as creative as we wish;
2. to enjoy ourselves and have fun;
3. to experience beauty and pleasure in our life.
As rituals are connected to nature, they are also connected to the
changing of seasons, and the wheel of the year.
31st of October is the day that has been marked for thousands of years
as the beginning of winter. It was called "Samhain".
Winter was interpreted as a "small death", when the land is so
visibly barren, the trees naked, and the animals in hibernation.
Therefore it is associated with death and dying.
However from that "death" life will re-emerge in the spring.
This period was worshiped as a time of "going within" and
contemplation, as in preparation for a new birth.
In many of the ancient traditions, Samhain was also a day in which the
veil between this physical world and the world of the dead is the
thinnest, and therefore a time associated with insights and ancient
wisdom, a time to honor our ancestors and our loved ones that passed away.
Today's Practice offers you a ritual to celebrate this date, this
Sabbath called Samhain.
This ritual is only a suggestion; you can use it as a framework and put in
it all your creativity and joy, put your pleasure and fun, so it will
become your magical ritual.
Have Fun with it.
Article by: Vered (Tanmayo) Neta, trainer, coach and
lecturer, specializes in relationships and women issues.
To learn more about her workshop, Art of Relating, click
here.
