What do you mean by ritual?

A ritual is a symbolic act performed with regular frequency and with the conscious intention of bringing about a change or transformation. The idea of conscious intention is what differentiates a ritual from a habit. Rituals can be performed alone or with other people and can be incorporated into one's daily or weekly routine.

How is a ceremony different from a ritual?

Ceremonies are usually a combination of any number of ritual acts. They are events that engage larger numbers of people and require that participants alter their regular routine in order to attend. Those who attend the event bear witness to what has taken place and often make a pledge of support.

Ceremonies may or may not have a religious or spiritual component but they always mark some change in circumstance. They help us connect with the members of our communities, circle of friends, and other family members.
So, for example, two individuals emerge from a wedding ceremony as a married couple. The people attending the wedding witness their vows and the union of the couple and pledge to support them in their new life together.

What's this part about reconnecting with nature?

Think about the last time you planned a vacation. If you live in an urban area, chances are that you planned to go to "the country." Even if you planned to visit another urban area you very likely included a trip to a park, a zoo, a fountain, a planetarium, or a botanical garden. Whether we are consciously aware or not, we all have a deep need to experience nature in order to feel complete.

The healing power of the natural world is far greater than most us of realize. When we allow ourselves to experience nature in a deeper way we start to experience the calm and peace of this healing power. You don't have to take a month long backpacking trip to a remote wilderness area in order to experience this. I admit that it helps. Still, it is possible to use simple rituals to reconnect us with the earth no matter where we are. This helps us stay grounded. It helps us realize that however great our loss, and no matter how lonely we feel, we are still part of a something larger than ourselves. We are still connected to the earth.

How will this help me process my grief?

The honest answer is there's a possibility that it won't!

However, meaningful rituals and ceremonies, thoughtfully designed, help us to reconnect with the world around us and with our own innate healing abilities. They also can assist in establishing boundaries for the grief process by giving us specific times during the day when we give our undivided attention to our emotional needs. This can help us restore order and focus to our lives without having to bury our grief in order to function in the world outside our homes.

Rituals can also help us view our emotions symbolically. Facing terminal illness or the death of a loved one can seem "larger than life". We often find we are unable to grasp something so outside the scope of our ordinary experience. Therefore finding symbolic ways to express grief can allow deeper examination of grief related emotions, and provide clues for working through them.

Rituals and ceremonies exist in every culture. They help us transcend certain events in life, or serve as a bridge between one phase of life and another. They are not miracle cures. They often need to be performed regularly (and always with intention) in order to be effective. Making rituals and ceremonies part of our lives in a manner that is personal and specific to one's grief process can help us grieve with dignity. This in turn, can help us find greater meaning in death and loss and ultimately in our lives.

Do I have to have a religious background in order to use grief rituals?

No. While Grief Rituals aims to nurture one's spirit, there is no need to belong to a particular religious or spiritual tradition. Those who are of a particular tradition are encouraged to use that background in the creation of their personal grief ritual or ceremony.

What if my loss is one that I suffered many years ago?

Whether your loss was suffered very recently or many years ago, Grief Rituals is available to assist you in the grief process. Rituals are often particularly effective for people facing residual grief.

Do you offer traditional counseling services?

No, but if you feel you need such services I may be able to assist you in locating a provider.

What are the "shamanic practices" you use?

The easiest way for me to explain this is to say that my "world view" is shamanic. What this means to me is that everything is inter connected and that "everything that is, is alive." The shamanic techniques I use help me honor and remember that connection to all life and the earth. They help me center myself so that I can give my full attention to my clients' needs.

There are many great websites that can give you more information on shamanism. A few of them are listed on my page of links to other sites.