What is the Purpose of Rituals?
Ritual can be heard as the dull and boring, or it can have a ring of magic, secrecy and power. The main purpose of ritual in the ceremonial sense is to effect a change of consciousness in those participating. Ritual gets behind the conscious mind to deeper levels. Ritual is important at times of life’s passage, such as birth, coming of age, marriage and death. At these times certain predetermined rites and activities can help a person to enter a new state of being, to celebrate that new state, to enter it wholeheartedly in full and deep appreciation of what it means, and to feel this is understood and supported by others in the community.
The only rite of passage that we come close to ‘doing’ in a proper, ceremonial fashion in our culture is marriage. This is because the romance of the situation appeals to us and it is a magnificent excuse for a large and expensive party! Even so, much remains unacknowledged in the marriage ceremony, such as the demanding nature of the bond, the radical change in commitment and, today, the very alive possibility of divorce! Gypsy weddings, where blood is mingled and the broomstick jumped, mark the rawer aspect of the union and its sexual and fertile connotations, where the old vows made ‘for a year and a day’ were rather more realistic in terms of human inconstancy. ‘
Virtually no rituals exist in our culture for young girls reaching the menarche, or boys becoming young men. It is this age group that gives society the most trouble. Adolescent rebellion is accepted, even regarded as a sign of psychological health. However, in more ‘primitive’ societies it is relatively unknown, as the young take their places with honour, beside their elders. For death, despite funeral arrangements, we have inadequate systems, that do not give room to the bereaved to grieve fully and move on, nor accord to the dying person the means to ease their passage into the next stage of existence. For all these immense changes in life, we are hungry for the right ritual.
Spells and Rituals: A Beginners Guide To Spells And Rituals
Gabby Benson
Witches Of The Craft® 