Return to Ritual

We have always known that Mother Earth and all of her children are part of a beautiful intricate web. We are all connected and it is our purpose to live in harmony with nature. This "It" The being that gave us life and sustained it, was courted by making a place or action sacred to its worship. The earth was life. Treat her cruelly and risk devastating circumstances. She was fertile and potent. A mother who shared all she had with all her children. Shrines were constructed, and sacred items became a means of communication.

This Earth-based deity, Gaia, evolved over time into a variety of Goddesses. The Sun and Moon, and ultimately all of our solar system's planets, became Gods and Goddesses, all with their own rituals and patronages. The mother Earth and lunar goddesses slowly gave way to the Father Sky and warrior Sun Gods. Holy ones in charge of keeping the connection alive through various rituals, slowly changed their allegiance from one sect or cult to another. Moving from lunar to solar cycles. Feminine to masculine. Ceremonies commemorated events such as moving into spring from a harsh winter. Rites of passage that followed the seasons and the movement of animals gained spiritual focus. The changing moon phases, disappearing from the night sky only to be born again, became symbolic of the finality of our own deaths with the promise of a better tomorrow through resurrection. Each cycle, the promise of rebirth, spawned rituals to ensure the game was renewed. This guaranteed the survival of the village. Sometimes the sun died only to be miraculously reborn. Sacrifices were offered on behalf of the village to appease the gods, ensuring the suns return. There was no life without light! This was seen during the winter, when certain trees died back or animals disappeared, only to be reborn in the spring when the sun shone brightly again. A good hunt, fertile lands, and healthy children were of uttermost importance. At this time of our civilisation, a king and queen are chosen. The best and healthiest. The embodiment of the Gods on earth. The sun and moon. Father sky and mother earth. The royal couple were paraded in the streets. Treated to feasts and adorned them with every luxury. For a year and a day they reigned. The end of their reign was somewhere around midwinter. They were sacrificed, and their bodies scattered to the earth. This ensured a successful harvest and healthy livestock. Later on animals became the sacrificial victims. Emissaries to the divine!

These rites all created fertile ground for the seeds of spiritual questing to grow. The beliefs and myths of our forefathers offer a glimpse into how humans have tried to make sense of the natural world around them. The idea of the sun being reborn can also symbolise renewal, hope, and the cyclical nature of life. The moon changes the changes in our life from youth to old age and death.

Making space sacred or holy has been used extensively throughout our civilisation. This was a shift in thinking. To our forefathers the earth and all its inhabitants were holy. Smudging and using ritual anointing were a way of separating out the divine from the mundane. In many cultures tan important step in getting ready for a ritual. Many older societies put a lot of value on having good spiritual hygiene, but it seems like a large part of modern Western society no longer does. Rituals and ceremonies, which used to be the most important way for humans and spirits to communicate with each other, are becoming less and less important in modern life. We have become so detached from nature we no longer see the magic of connection. The sacred language of spirit. How busy everyone is in the devotion to the “absolute truth of science." The increasing stress and anxiety caused by modern life has eroded esteem and wellbeing. We have allowed ourselves to become overly preoccupied and involved in the unrelenting pursuit of professional and financial achievement. This glass and chrome building has evolved into a contemporary chapel. All is not lost. As is the cyclic nature of existence a recent resurgence in interest in spirituality and mindfulness practises has brought us back to mother earth and the magic of nature. This strongly suggests that people understand the importance of spiritual well-being and are doing something about it! Anthropologists and other scientists are starting to figure out how ceremonies and rituals in different cultures and religions work and what they mean for society as a whole. A step forward to be sure!

Other earth-based religions have also surged in popularity. Animism, the earth-based spiritual practice that recognises all animate objects contain a divine intelligence, has seen a resurgence in recent years. An interest in Druidry and the more modern religions of Wicca and other Pagan denominations have also enjoyed a boost in popularity. There is no longer a monopoly held by established religions in the West. The domain of spiritual or holy influence is now in the hands of the practitioner. There is a choice! The spirits are out and all around us. Our ancestors have been given a place of honour at the table. Westerners have begun to discover that, although they feel they have lost something, solace can be found in the routines and customs of other traditional cultures. This despite the fact that these cultures are strange to them and frequently at odds with their own. This rediscovery of traditional cultures has led to a greater appreciation for the wisdom and practises of our ancestors and has also sparked a desire to preserve and protect these traditions for future generations. As we continue to navigate an ever-changing world, looking to the past may be the key to finding stability and meaning in our future lives.