I love rituals. I need them in order to keep equilibrium and a connection to that which I find sacred. Rituals are a way to restore inner peace, social connections, and balance to your life. Throughout history, societies and individuals have used rituals to manage uncertain times, life changes, and everyday challenges. A study conducted by the University of Toronto showed that rituals provide a sense of control for people. By increasing feelings of control, rituals restore your mind, body, and emotions.
Religious Ritual
Religious rituals are generally focused on restoring inner peace and social connection. According to a study in the journal Religion, Brain, and Behavior, religious rituals are used by society because they provide psychological and social benefits.
People gain these benefits by performing a ritual and by observing rituals performed by others in the group. Many religious rituals are a form of ceremonial cleansing, creating a group experience that restores emotional and behavioral balance.
Personally, I am not religious, but I completely understand the importance of ritual within any spiritual practice. Although the elements and steps of rituals vary among religions, common religious rituals include:
- Prayer
- Fasting
- Pilgrimages
- Religious Holidays
In a Social and Personality Psychology Compass study, researchers found that all religious traditions value inner peace. Rituals like prayer, fasting, and pilgrimages help people balance their needs and wants with socially acceptable behaviors.
People may also seek enlightenment through these rituals to find inner peace. Successfully performing religious rituals can improve self-esteem and make a person feel more connected to the group.
Life Event Rituals
Significant life events can be chaotic and challenging and may cause people stress and anxiety. Significant life events include:
- Births
- Adulthood
- Marriage
- Deaths
- Holidays
Each of these events is a hallmark or transition to a new social group and set of expectations and responsibilities. For example, a married couple, new parents, and widows or widowers are viewed differently by society than single, childless people or those with living spouses.
Children are in a different social group than adults and adults have a much different set of expected behaviors. I find it is much easier to fulfill our homeschooling days with monthly, weekly, and daily rhythms. Most children are at ease and contented when they know what to expect.
Rituals provide a framework for coping with life changes, restoring a sense of control as we navigate through life. As a group, people are expected to celebrate or honour changes, creating a place for the affected individuals to find comfort and support.
Researchers at the University of Texas Health center found that life events and holiday rituals create a sense of control, define the sense of self, provide structure, and give meaning to life events.
Rituals provide a set pattern of behavior for otherwise complicated and stressful situations. They help to balance change with the comfort of predictability, restoring emotional balance.
Personal Ritual
A study by Harvard University showed that rituals increase peoples’ feelings of control and calm. Personal rituals are restorative because they change your perception and mindset. When a person is anxious, depressed, or upset, rituals restore calmness and control.
Personal rituals include:
- Exercise
- Healthy Eating
- Meditation
- Visualization
- Affirmations
- Gratitude Journal
Regular exercise and healthy eating often start as rituals and then become life-long habits. When a person is trying to improve their health, small ritual changes can lead to overall improvement.
For example, “an apple a day” is a ritual that can lead to adding more fruits and vegetables to your diet. Eventually, choosing a healthy option instead of junk food becomes a habit. Personal ritual for health and healing is a powerful tool. Since ancient times, our ancestors have burned sacred herbs, using the smoke to dispel negativity, raise vibrations, and assist with deep spiritual work. You might enjoy this free course on Indigenous Plant Medicine and Ritual.
Meditation and visualization help calm your mind and motivate you through life challenges. According to a study in the American Journal of Psychiatry, mediation reduces anxiety and depression. Visualization enables you to define your goals and design a plan for achieving them.
Affirmations increase your self-esteem, restoring your motivation and commitment to overcome challenges.
Writing in my journal is a favourite ritual of mine. Using a gratitude journal is another personal ritual that helps restore inner peace by changing your perception and mindset. Please see my post on the many benefits of journaling.
A gratitude journal focuses your attention on the positive things in life instead of on the negatives. The ritual of a gratitude journal restores happiness and joy regardless of difficult situations.
Rituals are vital both individually and for groups. Rituals help people manage life events and challenges. By providing a sense of control, rituals restore balance in uncertain times.
Do you have any favourite rituals, for yourself or your family? I’d love to hear about them!
Leave a Reply