RITUALS: Part 2

Now, What are rituals?

There are different definitions for rituals but Generally; the term ritual refers to a type of expressive, symbolic activity constructed of multiple behaviors that occur in affixed, episodic sequence. Individuals are often familiar with rituals that are rooted in cultural traditions and life transitions like weddings, birthdays, baptisms and holidays. Individuals can take part in complex daily rituals that include leaving and returning rituals, bedtime rituals, and mealtime rituals, as well as lovemaking rituals, fighting and reconciliation rituals, and holiday rituals. Also, Ritual behavior is dramatically scripted and acted out and is performed with formality, seriousness, and inner intensity.

Types of rituals

Generally, the most common types of rituals across developed and under developed societies are initiation rituals in which the seeker or prospect must partake in order to join a certain organization, group, cult…etc. Initiation rituals may include vows of secrecy, a ceremonial rebirth of some kind and an oath of loyalty to the association or group. Magical rituals can be practiced or performed with a group or alone. Usually, magical rituals include the use of ritual tools and an understanding of the nature of correspondence. Worship rituals on the other hand uses prayer, blessings of food and drink towards a divine figure or belief; while celebration rituals uses feasts and consecration of food and drink on a special reoccurring day of the year, like thanksgiving and Christmas. Imber-Black and Roberts (1992) Another interesting type of ritual is the protection ritual, where symbols and geometric shapes like the pentagram are used to direct divine energy for protection to the performer. Two other fundamental rituals that have emerged in some of the first civilizations are healing rituals, which engage a healer in a series of rituals to cure a diseased individual. The second are funeral rituals, where the ritual engages in sending the dead to the next world or to the next realm. Logically, a combination of some or all of these types of rituals can make up what is called “societal Rituals”.

To be continued...