Ritual Final paper outline and ideas

Welcome all to this ritual of transition! Let us gather in this space with open hearts and open minds. 

Go through grounding visualization and breathing. 

Set the intentions: On this day, in this sacred space, we move into this ritual to explore what transformations are we going through or what changes must we embrace to accept and live in the love and blessings that life brings us. Tonight we step through a portal to receive the messages of the divine through sacred journey. 

This may present and bring up vulnerable emotions relating to self worth, sense of identity, personal power and sovereignty, or even take you through time. This is a place of deep connection, open energy, and safety - you are asked to honor wherever and however you experience this journey with the knowledge that you are supported and loved. Together let us open our sacred space.

open with a calling of sacred space through the gods, the guides, and ancestors. 

Give an offering of gratitude. --- call and response?

Now, I ask you to take up one of the instruments from the center if you feel so called, as we join in music making. If you prefer to use the natural instrument of your body, of your voice, or your visualization, we thank you! I shall begin our song, and I ask you to join whenever you feel Spirit move you. 

tell the story of the maiden and the selkie - sing it while others add music. Perhaps there are people who wish to act out the story through dance.  

We have joined our energies together and blessed this space. Now let us enter into dialogue with the sacred, the divine, the gods, the spirits, The Creator, God, Spirit, The universe... 

"Where are you, when you step through the portal? Perhaps it is not the harbor and sea shore. Perhaps you will find yourself in a Forrest. Perhaps you will find yourself flying through the air. Perhaps its not something you but rather you feel - is it wind? the heat of a fire? Do you smell the earth after it rains? Remember, there are seven senses (list them) as you go through this journey, you can engage all of them or maybe only one or two. There is no wrong way to experience.... just wipe your mind clear of expectations and try to find yourself open to whatever Spirit has to tell you. You may find yourself in unexpected territory! I ask you now to take a position that is most comfortable - that could be sitting or laying down. If at any time you feel called to movement, you are invited to do so!"

Begin the journey with light body exercise

Establish a home base, this is where you can return to if you find yourself overwhelmed. Your ancestors and guides are here, supporting you. From there... we open a portal. I invite you to step through this portal.  

The ritual leader drums, hums, and moves throughout the group as directed by spirit while music plays - helping to encourage

***Books that will be very helpful:

• The power of ritual: chapter 1 and intro
• Quinn - Chpt 1&2: power of voice, power of stories - chpt 4 - archytype 
• Callie Ore - Chapter 4 - the risk of ritual becoming theater, just reading a script (pg 37). This has less to do with theatrical performance as a part of ritual, but rather being disconnected. There is a risk of being disconnected, and so to help circumvent this I have tried to have as little formal script as possible as well as including a means to foster the deep connection to Spirit that is needed for the whole part to bypass the risk. PERFORMANCE vs PERFORMATIVE 
• Orr - chapter on setting 
• Orr - chapter 7 -- uber helpful. pg 78-79 questions to ask before ritual
• Quin - myth to magic. 6 key points of the story
• Ritual book - framing!! Time!! -- new  moon for the beginnings. when you enter the space of framing it centers you and makes you more respectful. alters, shrines, aid in as a focus lens. "effecting and affecting emotions" and "flow" section especially!!!!  

How does it express the thoughts, values, emotions, experiences?

How does it shape those participating?

Use of space? Use of voices? Week 3 lecture powerpoint. 

Whats the meaning of the myth and ritual? Whats the function?

what are the ritual drivers? intrinsic shifts into altered states using focus and intention/internal drivers; breathing exercises, trance,   and extrinsic drivers are external factor like candles and drumming. Polyphasic--- dreams, trans, visions, and altered states are reality and can lead to learning and healing. Western culture is monophasic and so to be polyphasic is weird and discouraged. the time to journal after the journey helps hold on the polyphasic experience since we are monophasic so we do not possess the tools to hold on to it.   Portal - mark boundaries, heighten anticipaition and focus, and prepare participants for altered states, and provides a narrow framework for transformation... liminal marker that you are leaving the ordinary and entering the sacred - incesne, herbs, candles,and alters can be used as gates. 

RITUAL - 149 - people believe with their emotions. story telling as healing. 

****In the story witchcraft book it talks about how there are stories that mirror our lives or what we want to embody. WHY I chose THIS story. Archetype. "The Romantic" -- also Chapter 7: pick a story that resonates with you and embodies the goal of ritual.