On Rituals and Their Importance

[mlerules]

Someone recently asked me what rituals were important to me. This triggered something... I understand the importance of ritual, of taking note of transitions, of confirming/affirming whatEVER's important/special/in need of confirmation/affirmation...yet I balk at using the term "ritual." As I balk at engaging in "ritual" on my own, although I've liked being part of ritual(s) designed/done by others. I prefer "tradition(s)" to ritual, prolly b'c of the latter's connotations of/connections w/organized religion.

But there's more here. Something else bugs me 'bout "ritual." Not easy to articulate, but here goes: if I get too used to something, to doing something special at a particular time or in a particular place or in a particular way, if this becomes meaningful to me, if it matters...then what happens when I canNOT do it...discordance, something goes missing. It's as if I don't want to start something that won't last. No. That's not quite right.

*takes a break as a huge wave of nausea rolls over me...gah...what was THAT all about?*

Okay. Full sentences ain't coming so it's gonna have to be phrases for now:

- don't wanna get too comfie b'c things shift
- wanna avoid w/a passion ritual as ritualistic and ultimately devoid of meaning and stuff being done for its own sake w/out the underlying meaning/passion
- I suppose intention's important...adding/making/creating my own meaning to whatever I do
- ritual as grounding?

Hmm. Checking LJ's a ritual. Ditto e-mail.

*ow...tummy...ow*

The turning on of the cat (light in my window) in the evening (and off again before bedtime) has become a ritual of sorts when I'm home, at least when LJ-less L reminds me.

One ritual I've engaged in whenever it's been relevant for the past quarter-century plus has been following 1annie1's lead by blasting "I'm Free" (by The Who, from Tommy) once I'm all done w/finals for a semester/quarter/term. "And freedom tastes / Of reality"

Going to RHPS as ritual.

Current one: whenever I drive by Alpacas of America on the way 'tween mi casa and Clan Sidhefire I call ebony_sphynx and leave her a short phone message, saying simply "alpaca," so she can track my comings and goings and imagine where I am then.

Ritualistic freedom. Is this an oxymoron? I'm thinking not, but parts of me argue/agree.

And as I reread what I wrote, this lines sticks out: "It's as if I don't want to start something that won't last." This corresponds well w/my initial life motto of Nothing Lasts Forever. What's shifted over the years (since I first came up w/this motto back as a teenager) has been the value judgment and how I deal w/this fact o' life. It's not bad/sad/horrid that nada lasts...it just is. And rather than choose not to engage b'c of fear of loss (which really I was unable to do so it's a damn good thing I've adjusted my attitude), I engage at/for the moment, fully aware that things shift 'n' flow 'n' change 'n' mutate...while also having hope and really, here's the crux of the matter: having FAITH that it'll work out okay/fine/well.

Wow. Can't quite fathom how a discussion of how much I dislike/suspect the term "ritual" (at least insofar as anything I "practice" repeatedly) ends up w/my affirmation of faith.

Must needs food now.

EDIT: Walking the fine line 'tween Rut and Rit...