Personal Rituals~Alternative Wedding + Daily Rituals

^{Walking
Meditation: Before departing set
your intention. Tell The Universe what
this walk is about, what signs you need
for peace and be vigilant! As you walk,
be aware of everything you see. Let
nothing be a coincidence, and
acknowledge all synchronicity. Connect
with every living thing you
see (especially plant & animal.) As your
breath begins to deepen, imagine the
problem resolved completely….forget how
(that’s God’s job.)
Cleaning
Meditation: As you clean, imagine
all of life’s clutter and stress being
washed from your existence. Mentally
repeat ‘I now clean my mental house’ as
you work.
Cooking
Meditation: WARNING: don’t imbed
your food with anger….what you eat
absorbs your energy as its prepared.
Infuse your food with comfort. As you
prepare, cut ingredients, infuse them
with how they can heal you, how it’s
taste will make you feel cozy and
comforted.

Gardening: Imagine weeds as
obstacles, and relish in the
visualization that as you pull out the
weeds, these obstacles too are being
removed. This is actually a form of
self-hypnosis.
Bathing
Rituals: Hold hands over the
water….imagine, call on healing energy
to charge the water with your intention
(even if its just to rid you of
negativity) before you step in. As you
massage shampoo or cream rinse in your
hair, imagine all your mental clutter
washing away.
Hair:
Holds all your memories….that is why
so many religions like Rastafarian or
Sikh hold it as sacred. When you brush
your hair, imagine negative thoughts
being pulled out your skull to the ends
of your hair. Next time you get your
hair trimmed, imagine negative or
unproductive memories cut loose from
you. VERY POWERFUL.
Sing &
Dance: Shut the door…be alone or in
front of a mirror. Listen to music that
moves you, that reflects everything you
wish you could say to yourself, God &
the world. Then imagine the whole world
is watching and LET IT ALL HANG OUT.
POWERFUL process.}

A spiritual wedding is not recognized by "law" because "law" has no place in the things of spirit....there is only one law~ universal law.

The following is a wedding based on spiritual practices that give power to the divine and loved ones present.

^{The love & belief of ALL present} is what makes the relationship "an official family unit"

7 steps are laid out in a spiral. The Master of Ceremonies (M/C) directs the arriving guests to form a circle around the spiral.

^{Any child under 13 is directed
to stand or sit anywhere within the circle that they choose with no suggestion
or reproach by any adult as a way of showing the universe that the couple
welcomes children into their life & honours their inherent wisdom. flower
leighs & bubbles are given to the kids.}

M/C welcomes the guests and announces why they’re here etc. & then calls on their attention and inner wisdom in a ritual that is meant to bless the couple in helping them create a blissful and miraculous life. Also, what they pray for the couple, the couple prays back for them, so this ritual of love blesses everyone in attendance. Today a miracle is available to anyone with an open mind & heart.

M/C: “We will begin today by welcoming a dear friend to smudge & cast our sacred circle. Friend is using sacred herbs such as sage in this native practice that rids us all of any negativity. This smoke is deeply healing & cleansing…be open to the miracles it offers you.”

Friend walks around smudging the circle (especially the people in it) and casts the circle officially.

M/C: “And now the honoring of The Four Directions, a practice also taught to us by the natives of this land we are so privileged to call home.”

M/C walks to the north position. “This is North- the direction we welcome the Element Earth and the Power of Body. Its Nature forms are rocks, clay, sand, and soil. In human life, this is the physical dimension and the sensing realm. In connecting with this direction, pay attention to your physiological processes, to the sensations in your body, to your biological needs, and to your physical health. As a couple, do you intend to live in wisdom and dedication in healing that includes good nutrition, hygiene, body language-- awareness and change, relaxation, and rest?

M/C: we welcome the wisdom of our inner connection with North and Earth to be with us all and guiding us as we evolve together.

M/C: “This is the direction East that of the Element Air and the Power of Mind. Its Nature forms are the winds, the atmosphere, and the breath. In human life, this is the mental dimension and the thinking realm. In connecting with this direction, we pay attention to our thought processes, to our ability to reason, to our attitudes, and to our mental health. Do you, as a couple, welcome healing modalities that promote enlightened states of being?

M/C: We welcome our inner wisdom, attuning to our gift of breath, mind & spirit for the gift of life and we honor this sacred gift today and all-ways”

M/C moves South
M/C: “This is South, the direction of the Element Fire and the Power of Action. Its Nature forms are flames, lightning, and electricity. In human life, this is the behavioral dimension and the doing realm. In connecting with this direction we pay attention to our repertoire of activities, to the amount of time we allot to work and to play, to the quality of our alone time, to the nature of our interactions with others, and to our behavioral health.

Do you as a couple intend to balance your lives including play, exercise, time management, life restructuring, breaking destructive or outmoded habits, career development, positive behavioral change, and goal setting and achievement?

M/C: “We welcome our higher selves in securing all of us success in these things”

M/C Move West
M/C: “This is the direction West , the Element Water and the Power of Emotions” Its Nature forms are oceans, lakes, streams, rivers, wells, springs, dew, precipitation, and fluids in the body. In human life, this is the emotional dimension and the feeling realm. We honor our inner wisdom for helping us all connect with this direction, paying attention to our moods, to our feelings about ourselves and about others, to the levels of intimacy and trust in our relationships, and to our emotional health.

Do you as a couple intend to surround yourselves with healing modalities that include listening, expressing feelings, sharing feelings, giving comfort and being comforted, singing, dancing, drawing, and other forms of artistic expression?

M/C: We open ourselves to our inner divinity, that which blesses our Inner Gifts

M/C: The wisdom of the 4 directions have been shared for us all. But there are other directions we all could benefit in calling to mind, for a deeper, richer life experience. Lets Do so now:

M/C: “This is the direction of Up--Sky and Cosmos. Its Nature forms are the sun, moon, planets, stars, meteors, galaxies, and deep space. In human life, this is the realm of cosmic consciousness.

As we connect with this direction today and in life, we open ourselves to the wisdom of the force to help us pay attention to our being part of the community of life in the universe.”

As a couple, do you intend to contemplate the heavens, use your imagination to reach out into mysteries of outer space and other worlds experiencing yourselves as inhabitants of a planet moving through space? Will you be open to divine guidance leading you to be champions in the world?”

May we all be blessed with the awareness & desire to make our place in the world more beautiful.

M/C: “This is the direction Down, of Planet and Sacred Place. Its Nature forms are the biosphere of Planet Earth and the community of lifeforms (such as creatures and plants as well as other humans) in our own home environment. In human life, this is the realm of planetary consciousness. As we connect with this direction, we pay attention to our being part of the tapestry of life in our local areas as well as being part of the greater community of life on the Planet.

As a couple, are you attuned to use your imagination to feel connected with the web of life that includes trees, herbs, creatures, microbes, and the Elements as well as other humans?

M/C: "May we all experience ourselves as a part of the biosphere, also known as Gaya or Mother Earth.”

M/C: “This is the direction of Center---of Spirit. (point to center of the spiral) Its Nature form is the Divine Soul stuff that links all life together. It is the synthesis of the Elements and the directions. In human life, this is the spiritual realm and the dimension of the Divine in its many forms.

In connecting with this direction, do you as a couple intend to pay attention to the core of your beings -- your inner Self. Do you Honor the Divine as you know it –in Love & unity?

M/C: We contemplate Gaya –earth mother-- for connecting each of us with balance, harmony, beauty, wholeness, integrity, and bliss. We welcome healing through our dreams, inner journeys, understanding inner guidance, dance, drumming, chanting, invocations, vision quests, and spiritual service.

"Each one of you present have been invited in love. You were asked to bring an herbal offering as a symbol of your wish or intent for this couple about to start a new family unit. Now friends will pass around a garland made of asparagus leaf. Alchemy has taught us that asparagus is lead based in planetary property. Tied to Saturn-father time, lead implies permanence, its strong and stands the test of time. We welcome you to now share your wishes for groom & bride as we go around our sacred circle. M/C can go first to show them how.

“Embraced in the love and wishes of those that are here, we recognize your binding together in love as a family unit.”

M/C then explains the 7 steps. "It is said in Hindu philosophy that if two people walk seven steps together then they will remain lifelong friends. In that spirit, everyone there takes a step to the right with every step the bride & groom make together. This ceremony binds the family together in the center of the sacred spiral. The Spiral is a common natural form and an ancient mystical symbol, occurring in shells, galaxies, DNA, whirlpools and countless other instances- it represents evolution, self-transformation and the forces and patterns underlying creation. The spiral will always take you within."

1. take the first step to provide for your household, keeping a pure diet and avoiding those things that might harm you.
2. take the second step to develop your physical, mental and spiritual powers.
3. take the third step to increase your wealth by righteous and proper means.
4. take the fourth step to acquire knowledge, happiness and harmony by mutual love, respect and trust.
5. take the fifth step so that you may be blessed with happy, healthy and enlightened children.
6. take the sixth step for self-restraint and longevity.
7. take the seventh step to be true companions and remain life-long partners by this uniting of souls.

The bride and bridegroom touch each other's hearts & say what they need to say. The kiss.

M/C says: “Now you will feel no rain,
For each of you will be shelter for the other.

Now you will feel no cold,
For each of you will be warmth for the other.

Now there is no more loneliness for you
For each of you
Will be companion to the other.

Now you are two bodies,
But there is only one life before you.

Go now and take your place
& enter into the days of your togetherness

And may your days together be good and long upon the Earth.”

^{(the garland you see in these photos was ordered at a local sobey's grocery
store flower shop. it only cost $35)}