Can’t find the sunshine? Be the sunshine! Positive mind! Positive vibes! Positive life! Say no to your negative thoughts. This is just a sampling of the memes I encountered when scrolling through my social media …
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All Vibes Welcome!
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What Makes a Ritual?
Lately, I’ve been thinking about what makes something a ritual versus a habit or routine. Maybe each morning you drink a cup of coffee while reading the paper. Is that a ritual or a routine? …
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150 Decisions
Death, no matter how it comes, is unexpected. When my father died, after a year-long battle with ALS, his death surprised and overwhelmed us. Even though we knew it was coming, the reality of death …
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Holiday Ceremonies
The basic definition of ceremony is, “a formal event held on a special occasion.” The word ‘formal’ is a little misleading. A ceremony doesn’t have to be formal in the sense of it being a …
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Why Bless Your House?
One of the services I offer through Rites of Passage is House Blessing. A house blessing (also called a house cleansing) can take place when you move into a new home or anytime you want …
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Rituals Build Community
Have you ever been part of a group that just didn’t seem to gel? People weren’t on the same wavelength, there were unnecessary misunderstandings and distrust? We often think of community as something that happens …
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Going Through the Motions
One well-known criticism of rituals is that it is “just going through the motions.” While that can be the case, it doesn’t have to be. A recent Patheos article considered the average Christian’s understanding of …
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Graduation Rituals – Cultural and Practical
The season of graduation is upon us. This weekend the University of Vermont will be awarding degrees. Soon local high schools will be playing pomp and circumstance as the class of 2019 receive their diplomas. …
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Ritual in the Simple
One misconception about ritual is that it has to be fancy. While ritual can be elaborate and ornate, ritual can also be plain and simple. On Christmas morning in my family, we share a breakfast …
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Tidying Up as Ritual
Like many Americans, I’ve been intrigued by Marie Kondo‘s method of tidying up. I consider myself a pretty tidy person, but Marie Kondo takes it to a different level. I started watching her TV show …
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