First, let's have a definition, so we all know what we're talking about. Here is what the American Heritage College Dictionary has to say: "A ceremony is a formal act or set of acts performed as prescribed by ritual or custom." My proposal does not exactly fit this definition, because I want to modify and/or invent some ceremonies, which are not prescribed in any way, except by me!
So--why do I think ceremonies are important?
During the last 100 years, American society has lost many of the institutions that gave it cohesiveness and held it together. With immigration by people from a wide variety of cultures, fall-off of membership in religious and civic groups, and increasing proliferation with accompanying fragmentation of interests, many elements that provided structure have disappeared. Under the influence of increasingly pervasive and sophisticated mass media, we were in danger of becoming a purely consumer society, passively absorbing information and impressions. However, one good sign is that further development of those same mass media is bringing about a radical shift toward an interaction and participation by way of the Internet.
Since many rituals smacked of superstition and superficiality, rational thinking has discarded them, thus depriving us of the beneficial ones along with the nefarious.
So--what are the advantages of ceremonies?
Reinstating and/or revising those that are positive and helpful can help bring balance in our lives between right- and left-brain activities, between thinking and feeling.
Ceremonies created anew by participants can be fresh, fun, and stimulating.
They can add dignity and meaning to what otherwise could be simply mundane transitions in life.
I have made a list of possible ceremonies in another entry,"Life Passages".
I have also written up my idea of a possible "Croning", stimulated by my attendance at one recently. Comments, additions, and/or deletions are welcome.
1 comment:
Dear Tonia ~ you look beautiful, and what a wonderful offering! I'm about to move households to across the street from the Pacific Ocean, so will write more soon, but in the meantime (speaking of celebrations/rituals) here's a recent LTE from the local paper (scroll down ~ it's the last one):
http://www.venturacountystar.com/news/2008/may/29/no-headline---ob9wclets29-wc/
Civil rights and justice issue
Re: Richard Larsen's May 27 essay, "A matter of law and rights""
I thank The Star for publishing this important analysis of what must be viewed as civil rights and justice issues, and I'm very pleased to associate myself as a classmate in the 1957 graduating class of California Supreme Court Chief Justice Ronald George.
As a Unitarian Universalist ministerial candidate — once ordained — I will be delighted to offer the blessings of a wedding ceremony, yet, would not consider acting as an agent of the state in signing marriage licenses for any couple, whatever their sexual orientation or gender identity.
It is highly appropriate for the legal aspect of this contract to take place in public offices (as does most of the rest of the world), signed by an official of the government. These legal processes are often immediately followed by a religious ritual celebrated in a spiritual setting of the couple's choice.
Separation of church from state is essential to American liberty and justice for all.
— Theadora Davitt-Cornyn, Oxnard
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