How do Ritual + Ceremony actually focus positive intention?
Elder Dr. Dave Courchene Jr., also known by his spirit name Nii Gaani Aki Inini which means Leading Earth Man.
Elder Nii Gaani Aki Inini (Dr. Dave Courchene Jr.) says we can solve all things with Ceremony. I had no idea what he meant and I had to learn more.
I didn't grow up with obvious Ceremony or ritual. We didn't say grace before meals. We didn't go to Church, so we had no common religious ceremonies. The closest I came to a regular ritual was singing the national anthem at school every morning. In the 70's and 80's the morning ritual also included the Lord's Prayer until it was recognized as being highly inappropriate in public school.
Elder Dr. Dave's words made me think of the Haudenosaunee Thanksgiving Address. When said with attention and Presence, this prayer brings our minds into common focus; literally, "now our minds are one". The purpose of Ceremony is to bring our minds together to focus on the sacred.
Elder Dr. Dave explains that Ceremony is the framework for every interaction; it's what determines how we come into relationship together. This works out on all levels, individuals, community and nations. Ceremony means "to make sacred".
Ceremony is the intentional making of an interaction, a relationship, an undertaking or an event as sacred.
All aspects of life are sacred, this is the truth of reality.
Ceremony brings this sacredness up to consciousness with recognition and acknowledgement that invokes sacred Presence and Being in Place. Ceremony brings the sacred to the front of mind instead of it lingering in the background as an idea.
Ceremony makes the sacred present.
Elder Dr. Dave says that not all participants in Ceremony have to understand, acknowledge or recognize Ceremony for sacred space to be created. The one who initiates Ceremony is responsible for recognizing and intentionally creating Ceremonial space. Ceremony, "making sacred" is in harmony and alignment with the laws and energy of Creation which makes sacred foundation for interaction and leads all the participants - despite their actual consciousness.
Singing + Prayer
Words and song are important in Ceremony because they spiritually interact with the world of Form. Words are the first expression of Spirit in the world of form. Our voices are the expression of our Spirit in the world of Form.
It is important to speak in our Ancestral language because it calls in the Ancestor Presence to here and now. It calls in the Ancient Past and it calls in the Infinite Future generations. All is here now in song and prayer.
For those Celtic re-connecting I urge you to learn to speak simple words and phrases in Irish, Gaelic, Welsh or Manx - depending on your Ancestors. It is powerful.
The Irish believe our language is magick. They are words of creation that make the world in Form. This is true.
“Miigwetch, Tapadh Leibh, Thank You. ”
Ritual is a no from Elder Dr. Dave
Ritual is based in repeated practice or procedure and is not necessarily rooted in heart-based, spirit-based Presence in the way Ceremony requires Presence of Being.
Click for etymology to open in a lightbox.
Rituals may have begun in sacred spirit-based Ceremony, but over time lose the connection to the spiritual heart of purpose. Rituals devoid of spiritual heart and Presence have no juice and are just empty actions. Ceremony requires awareness, Presence and attention, every time.
Magick Misunderstood
Magick isn't something to be learned by rote and repeated without connection. Magick works when it is deeply felt and comes from a resonance within.
"Spells" have often been recipes for medicine. Singing was necessary but not strictly a magickal component in and of itself. It could be. The song could be used to bring attention to Presence and the intention of making this particular medicine, for whom and for why.
The length of the song (sing twice in the cadence of some common nursery rhyme etc.) also served the function of timing and not just a magical utterance. Singing was a way to accurately and repeatedly determine the length of time herbs had to boil or steep for full efficacy &/or to make the plant no longer poisonous.
Elderberries, rhubarb leaves, cassava, wolfsbane are a few that are poisonous until boiled. Sing that song for as long as that spell says, so you don't accidentally poison yourself or someone else. lol
The purpose of Ceremony is to move practitioners into the right frame of mind and emotional connection to make an impact &/or a change. Ceremony brings us into resonance with each other and the process; it prepares our mind to be receptive to the experience.
Ritual for Control
Around the internet, I see a lot of pissing contests over the "right" and "wrong" way to work magick and spells for particular ends. The correct way to call on a god/goddess and how you can and can't work with that Presence.
It all smacks of "do it my way or you're wrong" kind of garbage. It's based in a false hierarchical authority. Spirit is direct and personal and there are as many ways to create Ceremony as there are people in the world.
“Gnosis is for all without intercedent.”
A dressing down of others for their practices shows an insecurity in your own path. Stand in firm foundation of your way, for you. There's no need to enforce others to practice like you. Discomfort with different spiritual practices indicates a lack of faith in your own beliefs.
Requiring agreement to feel right is a terribly insecure place to be.
Do what feels good and fills your heart and fuck the rest. Make your own tools. Make your own rules. Do what feels right and good and makes you feel joyful to be in Ceremony with Creation. Be inspired by others but express Ceremony through your own ancestral roots and cultural ground.
If you have not yet connected with your roots and processed ancestral healing and connection - please consider undertaking that before initiating a spiritual practice.
Ancestral connection and healing IS a spiritual practice and is the precursor for clean grounding - especially on Turtle Island.
Settlers are largely cut off from their ancestral roots and ground. We have been unable to be fully grounded on this Land and are unable to begin the process of reconciliation until we heal the shame and trauma that brought us here in the first place.
In Thanksgiving for continued Indigenous survival and future thriving; I dedicate this page to further links and resources for educating ourselves on Truth and Reconciliation.
We can choose new options to Reclaim the Dinner and bring Indigenous gratitude into all our actions. Thank you for being here.