Today I'd like to take a little departure from the usual, here. I've been thinking a lot about how rituals and spirituality play a role in my creative process. I don't know if others feel this way, or not. I would like to share some thoughts on this topic. I hope you get something out of it!
Part of our nature is to embrace rituals. We look forward to
rituals great and small. Holidays, Graduations, and seasonal chores are all
externally taught rituals. Other rituals are ones we create for ourselves. They
bring us comfort, give us something to look forward to, and help us define our
social circles. From decorating the Christmas tree to brewing a cup of tea,
rituals are comforting and familiar. I am a big fan of rituals. I embrace them
and use them to bring comfort and structure to my life. I bet you do the same.
In this post, I am asking you to think about your rituals.
Most of what we think of as rituals are taught to us, handed
down from our ancestors. Having had another person created the ritual, then
pass it on, gives it value and legitimacy. Consider for a moment the fact of
this. Someone developed the sequence of events and passed it on. Some have
meaning, some don’t. In many instances, it is more the repeating of a familiar
pattern that brings comfort than a firm belief, or commitment to, the act. This
doesn’t make the actions good or bad. I’m just saying that we should really
think about how we spend our time, what we devote our energies to.
So far, I’ve only talked about the positive rituals that we
embrace. Think for a moment about any rituals you have devised, or capitulated
to, that are negative and harmful for you. Do you beat yourself up emotionally?
Condemn your motivations? Or, maybe you’ve fallen into a pattern like drinking
to excess or smoking? Simply using negative language on yourself by way of
self-talk can be a very destructive habit. Oddly, these bring comfort similar
to positive rituals, but they tear down and destroy. “Living life on purpose” includes rejecting
what doesn’t serve us as well as developing what is uplifting. Beginning to
recognize those negative habits, and starting to eliminate them, will help you
feel better about yourself in so many ways.
Rituals can help us set our intention for just about any
activity we choose to engage in. Getting ready to go on a trip, going to work,
headed out to school… each activity has a list of behaviors we engage in before
we begin. These help us transition from one activity to another.When I create
art, I have a little set of rituals I usually go through. I get a beverage, put
on some music, sometimes I light incense… That’s just me. I’m sure you have a
ritual of your own. It helps to define the space and time as “creative.” Taking
the time to define our intention, through thought and action, helps us to focus
our energies on a specific intended purpose.
I don’t believe that we are stuck with just our own taught
rituals, or making up our own. I love to learn about other cultural rituals and
adopt those that feel right for me. For instance, I have adopted the custom of
smudging to bring a positive vibe to my space. What can I say? It makes me feel
clean and light filled. It’s a form of prayer to me. Another ritual handed down
by my ancestors, and probably yours. J
To wrap this up, I just want to say that I, like most every
person, embrace rituals for their ability to bring comfort, celebration, and
help me to define my intent. My message here is simple.. Become aware of your
rituals, embrace those that empower, let go of any that don’t. Feel free to invent
rituals for yourself, too. They can be fun! As long as you’re choosing your
behavior for the value that it brings into your life, you’re on the right
track.
Blessings!
Laura P.
