Celebrate!

Humans are drawn to ceremony to experience a sense of peace and give more meaning to daily living. Ceremony brings us into intimate contact with the sacred in a very personal way. Not every ceremony speaks to individuals in the same way, but if we allow it to touch us, we will feel that deeper connection to the spiritual world. That is the purpose of ceremony, to make a profound impact, to pull us into a new place we may never have gone before, or to return us to a place of meaning. Ceremonies are more formal acts celebrating important life events. Rituals are either a series of actions prescribed by a particular group or personal actions done in a sacred way to bring meaning to our lives. There are religious and cultural ceremonies, family, community, national and global ceremonies. There are traditional and non-traditional ceremonies, ceremonies to encourage ideals, healing and honor ceremonies, and many other kinds. We even have our own personal ceremonies and rituals that affect us in subtle ways without our being conscious of them, such as where and when we drink our first cup of coffee in the morning. We have a vague sense of unease if we don’t follow our personal rituals every day. All these rituals and ceremonies impact us in profound ways. Even if ceremonies and rituals use different words or symbols, they all contain these essential elements. First, the ceremony is always done in a sacred way. It is a sacred bridge to allow participants to cross over and experience the spiritual meaning of the ritual. Second, each ceremony has a single intentional focus. Third, each ritual has symbols (lighting candles, sharing bread, exchanging rings, etc.) Symbols are the language of the heart and soul and are necessary to convey meaning without words. Fourth, spoken words, music, and actions are used to draw us into a different kind of experience. They help us pay attention, to be in a different reality where the sacred is working in and through us. And lastly, there is an element of blessing and thanksgiving that opens our hearts to be a channel for the Divine to work through to bring us to wholeness. The ceremonies included in this book also draw on elements of traditional religions, Christianity, Judaism, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism and other spiritual paths, as well as personal experience. They are meant to touch a deeper part of you and bring you healing. Whatever name you wish to use for GOD is exactly right for you, but the element of the Divine is important to include in the ceremony. Every ceremony is a song and it is your voice that brings it to life. If you can add music or drumming to the ceremony, it will touch the heart in a deeper way. Many of the more formal rituals are based on Native American traditions that speak to our connection to Mother Earth. From the deeply personal ceremonies to strengthen your own connection to the Divine, to the community and special ceremonies that bring people of all ages together, you will find at the heart of each ceremony a way to make each one meaningful to you. At the end of the book, you will find some tips on how to write your own ceremonies. Ceremonies and rituals are gifts to encourage the sacred parts of us to come alive and join in the dance that crosses the bridge from the physical world to the spiritual and back again. Let them speak to you through the language of your heart.