The 11 Intentions: The “Why” of Ritual (Part 3 of 3)
Credit: CJOnline.com
Truth Seeking
We all have times when we feel lost, foolish, and adrift. This can include struggling with finding our life’s calling, whether to invest our time in a relationship, or simply making wise daily choices. Rituals of Truth Seeking help us tap into various sources of wisdom to help us discover knowledge, uncover who we are meant to be, and make better decisions. These types of ritual may involve discovering timeless sources of wisdom, looking at modern sources in a new way, or using challenging experiences to learn more about ourselves.
Connection
We have all experienced situations where we felt alone, separate, and excluded. As social creatures, we desire to thrive when we are full-fledged members of a family and community. Rituals of Connection include initiation into these clans or tribes and the ongoing ritual we use to solidify our standing, to welcome new initiates, and the symbols we use to identify fellow members. When we are connected to our tribe, we feel stronger, lighter, and resilient. In a culture with more social media yet struggling with a pandemic of loneliness, finding and bonding with our tribe has never been more important.
Legacy
Where do I come from? There can be times when we feel anonymous, separated, and as though the structure of our life story has no foundation. More dramatic examples of these challenges may be found in those who are orphaned or seek asylum, but all of us can struggle with being disconnected from our familial, cultural, and spiritual identity. Rituals of Legacy help us learn and instill the foundation of our identity. This includes acknowledgement of family or cultural trauma along with accomplishments and sources of pride.
Creativity
We have an innate desire to create. Your creativity may be baking the perfect sourdough, bending steel, decorating a room, planting an amazing garden, crafting prose or poetry, lifting your voice, writing code, dancing to the music, stitching with needle and thread, composing a song, or acting in local theater, among many others. Inevitably there will be times when we feel blocked or uninspired. This can be frustrating for anyone; but if you make your living from your creativity, this can be terrifying. Rituals of Creativity move us back into our creative zones, renew our inspiration, and help us stay in the flow. These rituals remind us of why we love our creative pursuits and restore our joy and passion as we practice them.
Transcendence
Most of us have a sense of being connected to something greater – something beyond ourselves. This happens in two realms. One is our connection to our concept of a higher power. The second is our connection to the natural world. For many, these two realms are one in the same. Regardless of your personal definition of “higher power” or “natural world,” all of us have times when we feel disconnected from one or both. At these times we can feel small, disconnected, shallow, and fragile. Rituals of Transcendence reconnect us to timeless and universal forces. When we are in touch with these forces, we feel calm, contemplative, tranquil, and connected.