Rituals

Often we tire of rituals that seem to have lost their meaning. When that happens, we may decide to release these forms in order to create new, more meaningful rituals that meet the needs of current society. Before we do, however, let’s consider if this is a wise decision.

Rituals and ceremonies go back hundreds and even thousands of years and have given spiritual strength and hope to millions of people. We should determine if it is the ritual that needs changing, or if it is our approach to the ritual. Religious Recovery is not opposed to new forms of worship — new rituals or ceremonies — but at the same time, we may also discover that the old can be made new again with a little bit of effort on our part. Sometimes all it takes is clearing our minds, letting go of the present demands, and focusing our attention on the meaning of the words and the actions of the ritual.

There is nothing wrong with experiencing different forms of rituals from different religions and cultures. In fact, we encourage the seeking of spiritual wisdom and insight from all paths, but we also respect the traditions that have worked in the past. Even if they no longer seem to work for us, they still have meaning to others, and that’s what matters.