Easter was just upon us and Mother’s Day has come and gone. These are special times of the year which we tend to mark with some kind of significant ritual. Rituals help ground us, bring us together and create meaning in our lives. Here are a few:

Chinese New Year rituals
1. Light firecrackers and wear red to scare off the evil spirits.
2. Eat sticky rice cake to “glue” the family together.
3. Eat fish because the sound of “fish” in Chinese is similar to another word meaning “excess or left overs”.
4. Adults give money to children in red envelopes.
5. People hold open houses, pay visits to each other and special traditional snacks are served for good luck.

Brazil – Umbanda ritual
This one involves the Umbanda religion. Go to the ocean wearing comfortable clothes that you wear often and that have lots of your energy. Go into the ocean and take off all of your clothes (leave on your underwear, if you’d like). Then turn around and walk out of the ocean without looking back. This is a cleansing ritual so that you may receive new, good energy and situations coming into your life.

Bohemian Summer Solstice ritual
The Summer Solstice is the longest day of the year and the day with the most sunshine. This ritual is for fertility and abundance. During the exact time of the solstice, pray a prayer of gratefulness, then pray for guidance to recognize the ‘good things’ when they come your way. Meditate, allowing an opening to the Divine. If your situation allows, do this ritual in a beautiful spot that you find calming, like the beach or in your own garden. As an option, you may do this ritual with a good friend. When 2 or more are joined in Spirit, the intentions are amplified. Make an afternoon of it and have a bite to eat afterwards in communion. If you can, in the evening find a space to dance in celebration of the bounty that’s headed your way.

Jewish ritual
Historical significance of matzah. Matzah is flat, unleavened bread made of flour and water eaten during Passover in the Jewish religion. It commemorates the Israelites flight from Egypt, where they had to depart so quickly that they didn’t have time for the bread to rise.

Puerto Rican ritual
Puerto Rico was originally named San Juan after Saint John the Baptist but the name was eventually changed to what it is today. To celebrate Saint John the Baptist’s birthday (June 24th), in Puerto Rico at midnight between June 23rd and 24th people walk backwards into the ocean, then submerge themselves, back first. This is done 3 times in a row to cleanse oneself of any evil and bring good luck for the year to come.

Do you have any interesting rituals that you’d like to share? Let us know in your comments.

Daydree is a Reiki Master/Teacher who lives and works in Los Angeles. She is a registered member of International Association of Reiki Professionals (IARP). Click here for info and appts- MyOshun.com

Filed under: SPIRITUALITY by myoshun