Summer Solstice - A Ritual Inspired by My Dying Husband
Ritual Recipes
Whatever spiritual path we follow, whether we follow any path, we're far more alike than different. We all understand the importance of hard work and the value of sacrifice. We know how good it can feel to finally lay a burden down. We know how it feels to give or receive comfort. We know what it is to grieve. In this Summer Solstice ritual, I showcase the partnership between the Sun as the exhausted provider and the Moon as the nurturing caregiver. Knowing the Moon was about to enter Capricorn, the sign of the elders, I opened the ritual by calling in the Grandmothers of the four...
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The Charming of the Plow - A Norse Winter Festival to Honor the Dwarves and Prep Your Tools
Ritual Recipes
Are you an artisan, a craftsperson, a maker? It's February. It's time to affirm your faith in your talent, prepare your tools, and get to work on your big dream. If you lived in the Old World in the land of the Norse, you'd be preparing your iron plow. You'd be honoring the Dwarves whose skill and knowledge are forged into your plow. You'd cleanse your plow. You'd charm it with herbs. Listen for a ritual to charm your tools.
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Hope and the Parliament of the World's Religions
Ritual Recipes
After 2 challenging years, I found hope attending the virtual conference of the Parliament of the World's Religions. Presenters came from 244 faiths and spiritual paths. Also sharing their wisdom were an Inuit shaman, a Curandera Esperitu, an African elder, and a Lakota grandmother -- and more.
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A Thanksgiving Ritual for Your Home
Ritual Recipes
Think of your home as a living entity. A simple gratitude ritual can change your perspective on what your home really means. Your walls provide structure, shelter, and a sense of security. The floor supports you and keeps you grounded. Running water helps you get in touch with deep emotions.
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Self-Care Rituals When Your Spouse Has Dementia
Ritual Recipes
My husband and I have been married for 40 years. He has Alzheimer's Disease. Late stage. I'm his full-time caregiver. I'm fortunate to have a social worker on our medical team, and to be a member of an online dementia support group. Still, there are potholes in the emotional road we're traveling.
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Everything Happens for a Reason - A Folktale
Ritual Recipes
Imagine the story of your life. What happens to you after, "Once upon a time"? The ancient folktale of Fatima the Spinner is reimagined to support a woman's right to choose. Let it inspire your own story.
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The Wedding Ceremony Arch
Ritual Recipes
What does a wedding arch have to do with a king’s scepter, a flag planted on the moon, and a Thomas Kincaid painting? Weddings are filled with symbolism. One that has been lost over the years is the original meaning of the ceremony arch.
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Yemaya and Victims of the Middle Passage
Ritual Recipes
Yemaya, the Yoruba orisha, the Mother of All, is associated with cowrie shells, symbols of fertility, prosperity, and a woman's voice. This episode offers rituals using various shells, and a ceremonial ritual to discover your authentic self. Learn about the millions of Africans who died crossing the Atlantic Ocean in the horrors of The Middle Passage and why August 25 has been declared the Day of Healing.
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Sedna, a Ritual for the Inuit Goddess of the Arctic Ocean
Ritual Recipes
In the frigid waters of the Arctic Ocean, we find the Inuit goddess Sedna. There are several versions of her origin story, each one horrific. At the heart of each is the theme of betrayal. The rituals I created for Sedna are designed to help us reframe childhood beliefs, especially those beliefs that can keep us from thriving as adults. That's the message in the language of the Pink Mouth Murex shell. (See "Ocean Oracle: What Seashells Reveal about Our True Nature" by Michelle Hanson.)
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The Language of Shells - Beach Wedding Rituals
Ritual Recipes
Mother Nature always leaves messages for us. Unfortunately, we don't always know how to read them. What messages can you find in seashells? The answers are important if you're having a beach wedding.
info_outlineWhatever spiritual path we follow, whether we follow any path, we're far more alike than different. We all understand the importance of hard work and the value of sacrifice. We know how good it can feel to finally lay a burden down. We know how it feels to give or receive comfort. We know what it is to grieve.
In this Summer Solstice ritual, I showcase the partnership between the Sun as the exhausted provider and the Moon as the nurturing caregiver. Knowing the Moon was about to enter Capricorn, the sign of the elders, I opened the ritual by calling in the Grandmothers of the four directions.
During the ritual, we recalled the seeds we planted the previous December at the Winter Solstice. What was it we wanted to nurture and grow? What came of all our hard work? Did we do a good job?
Of course, the deeper purpose of these questions and the ritual as a whole was to acknowledge our own burdens and admit our need for self-care.
My husband died two years ago. He had Alzheimer's. It wasn't until I created this Summer Solstice ritual that I saw the correlation between the astrological symbolism and my experience as a caregiver. I didn't expect the ritual to help me navigate grief, but it did. It still does. That's why I'm sharing the ritual now, almost three months after the Solstice.