Personal Rituals

Marking The Point of Transformation

Existing Rituals in Everyday Life
There are many rituals we do in our daily lives. These include brushing our teeth, showering, going to work, etc. These are the minor rituals we create for ourselves to keep us on track even when we're not fully awake. But there are also other types of rituals that we do to mark major turning points in our lives. These are:

• Weddings
• Funerals
• Baby Showers
• Christenings
• Barmitzvas and Batmitzvas
• House Warming Parties
• Retirement Parties
• Graduation Ceremonies
• Birthdays
• Etc.

The Purpose of Ritual
The reason we have rituals is to mark times of transition. It's a way to tell ourselves that things are changing and to set the tone for that change.

Where Ritual is Lacking
While we do have standardized ways of celebrating many of life's transitions, we are lacking significantly in others. Here are a few of the places where a ritual is useful and none exists:

• Divorce/Break-ups
• Changing your name
• Sale of a long-held family home
• Passing of a business from parent to child
• Welcoming of a child into the family outside of religious context
• Coming of age ceremonies
• Becoming an empty-nester
• Changing careers
• Menopause
• Marking a significant personal change in yourself
• And more...

We have no way of marking these moments in current society. This is where I come in.

Custom-Designed Rituals
Working together, you and I will craft a ritual that speaks to the relevant things in your life. It will incorporate elements that are significant to you that will help you mark the transition and start the new phase with the positive energy you desire. Personal rituals may be private or they may be part of a large gathering - it is entirely up to you. I will offer you suggestions of possible elements, places in the ritual in which friends and family can participate in the process, and ways to create context for family members who may not understand what is happening.

The Trappings
I come from an ecumenical background, so for me the trappings of the ritual are flexible. Whatever context (Christian, Pagan, Buddhist, etc.) you'd like to use, whatever language (God, spirit, universe, community, etc.) you'd like to use, whatever format (spoken word, experiential rite, voices joined in song, etc.) works for you is likely to work for me too.

Costs
The price of a personal ritual is dependent upon the location of the event, the elements involved and the time spent. Generally they run $500-$1,000 plus supplies. Please contact me with the details of your event for a more specific quote.