Creating Personal Rituals

During times of personal transition, it can be both inspiring and motivating to create a personal ritual focused on the outcome you wish. Here is a simple outline that you can use for your ritual once you have decided on the intention of the ritual. Remember to have fun! Ritual does not have to be serious, but it does need to be focused. 

1. Create your environment.
Here you gather together the tools that you will need during the ritual. This might include objects to represent each of the 4 directions or elements (air, fire, water, earth) a candle for focus, things that are important to you. The space should be a place where you can be uninterrupted for about an hour. Use music, incense, candles.

2. Call in your helping spirits or allies.
Using a rattle or drum is great, but you can also use any musical instrument which calls attention to the beginning (and later end) of your ritual.

3. Do a meditation or drum to help you move into a deeper state of consciousness.

4. Set your intentions.
Here you would say what it is that you intend to do.

5. Make your ritual action.

6. Sing a song, say a poem, bring something creative into your ritual. Be spontaneous!

7. Say thanks and give gratitude.

8. Close the circle. ( Sound the chime, or say "It is done.")

Sample Ritual:  A good place to begin would be in a natural setting. Find a tree. Sit with your back up against the tree and listen. Let your mind become still and clear. The tree will remind you that you are a very ancient being with many lives and many experiences. There have been times when you have been filled with love and there have been times when you have been filled with fear. Let yourself remember some of these times. Breathe. Then let yourself remember a time in the recent past when you were very afraid, a time when you were unable to stay clear of negative energy. Breathing deeply, let the energy flow down your chakras into the earth, Say 'I now release all negative and distracting energies for the benefit of all concerned'. Breathe. Listen to the tree again. Remember that you are loved. Be grateful.


c. 2011 Victoria Marina-Tompkins