Input regarding rituals/traditions, please :)

[OneGrassRoot]

I have a favor to ask of you, if you are so led. :)

I am certainly researching online, but you all contain such a wealth of information across various traditions that I wanted to ask for your input. I'd greatly appreciate any thoughts you may have regarding lesser known (for most people...not those who have been on a spiritual quest for decades) rituals and traditions.

I'd like to provide some enlightening, informative "aha" moments to wrap up each chapter of a nonfiction book I'm working on, showing how similar at the core ancient, lesser known practices are to known rituals and traditions. Even prayers.

Perhaps even rituals and traditions that seem more secular but was originally a religious tradition. As you will see below, how we welcome people into our homes, for example.

To narrow it down a bit more, rituals/traditions as they may pertain to:
-- Humans' fear of change, fear of the unknown ("courage" rituals perhaps?)
-- How to quiet the mind (certainly the various forms of meditation, including labyrinth...anyone know the history of labyrinths?)
-- Rituals which perhaps expand thought, enabling us to see life from various perspectives (would the Native American peyote ceremonies apply here perhaps?)
-- Letting go and releasing rituals
-- Gratitude rituals
-- Cleansing rituals (the use of sage comes to mind)
-- Removing obstacles
-- Recreating the self - being born anew
-- Annointing, blessing one's home
-- Welcoming others to one's home
-- Celebration (I know that's vague....but you guys are so brilliant something off-the-wall may come to mind. )

Thank you, thank you, thank you for assistance!
:grouphug:

[I Have A Dream]

1. As I was reading this, the following popped into my mind.

I don't know if this would really be called a ritual. What about superstitious/protection rituals that one does to stop something bad from happening such as throwing salt over the shoulder, ways to avoid the evil eye, etc. Also what about when people say "Bless You" when someone sneezes, etc.

Good luck with this; it's a wonderful idea! :)

[OneGrassRoot]

2. Ah, WONDERFUL idea!

Thank you so very much. :hi:

[rumpel]

3. :)

my immediate thought was salt, too - :rofl:

On salt: In Japan it is customary to give a small packet of salt for attendees to someone's funeral. After returning home attendees' family members throw salt over and around them before they enter the home.

In general in Japan salt or water is used to 清める "kiomeru" = to purify; to cleanse; to exorcise

http://jisho.org/words?jap=*%E6%B8%85*&eng=&dict=edict&tag=&sortorder=relevance

salt on a cut tree stump


Sumo wrestlers throw salt... :)

You can use the scoops to wash your hands (pour water over your hands)

from someone's blog..
http://shinojoe.blog.so-net.ne.jp/archive/c35372896-2

Relatedly: Shinto (Religion)
祓う "harau" = to exorcise; to cleanse; to purify
here are interesting word combinations from an online dictionary site for further research

http://jisho.org/words?jap=*%E7%A5%93*&eng=&dict=edict&tag=&sortorder=relevance

This is a typical Shinto oharai: This is in preparation of a "matsuri" festival. Typically people participating and the "mikoshi" are "blessed" or "purified"


http://wadaphoto.jp/maturi/sanja5.htm

I hope the links from denshi jisho works for you..

on edit: it looks like the jisho links do not work. You can copy and paste the Japanese (in this post) into the jisho, then go to "kanji details", then to "words containing". Under external links you can go to google images and you'll find tons of pictures...

[Celebration]

4. did you learn it as the left shoulder?

I think I did........

One thing that I still do (and I don't know exactly why, is it something about being grounded??) is when people ask me to pass the salt shaker, I comply, but don't pass it directly to them. I put it down, so that they then pick it up. Salt is in crystalline form, and carries energy. I also won't take a salt shaker directly from another person. That is a little awkward if they don't know this ritual.

Of course there is the blessing of food before the meal, etc. This does change the energy of the food, if done with intent.

Crossing oneself is done by Catholics, as in the sign of the cross, but it also is just a general protective measure. Reiki has all sorts of symbols done in the air, that are similar to a person crossing oneself. Think of all the times you see a basketball player do this type of ritual (crossing oneself) before a free throw.

Then there are all the grand rituals--drinking the wine and bread, and having communion. I am not sure what that corresponds to in ancient times.

[Shallah Kali]

5. Sneezing, Yawning, & Blue for Baby Boys

I have read that saying 'bless you' when someone sneezes comes from the belief that the person was expelling demons that caused them to be ill so it was doing holy work to sneeze.

I read that covering the mouth when yawning comes from fear that demons would jump into the body if the mouth was opened wide. It wasn't that everyone was revolted at the site of one another's tonsils.

Baby boys were put in blue clothes and blue blankets to represent the sys and Heaven and thereby repel demons that might steal or harm the infant. Girls weren't so important so they were not so protected.

[Celebration]

6. Also, lighting candles

Many, many traditions use lighting candles for rituals. I am having a hard time figuring out a tradition where candles are not used.

The hex symbols the Pennsylvania Dutch put on their barns were not meant for decoration, but for protection of the home.

Many people practice Feng Shui in their homes now and that is certainly based on ancient beliefs.

People who do tai chi or yoga are participating in a kind of cleansing ritual, although they may not know it.

The pineapple is just a huge symbol in houses--I'm not sure where it came from, but it does have to do with welcome, I think.

Everyone has their own way of blessing a house--it could be the use of symbols, or special water sprinkled around, or salt, or sage, or just the use of the spoken word.

[OneGrassRoot]

7. You guys are da bomb! :)

Really. I appreciate your feedback tremendously. This is the one place I can come to get opinions ~ about a variety of things ~ and know it will be acknowledged.

Thank you, thank you, thank you all so very much.

:yourock:

[Silver Gaia]

8. Bookmarked this thread so I can come back to it. Will think on this...

My books are all still packed away (we just moved), but I'll see what I can come up with to help you with this. Interesting request!

[Bluestar]

9. A horseshoe hung over the front door for blessings or good luck?

It has to face with the open end up (or down, can't remember!). This was not my ritual but my dad's girlfriend insisted that she give us one for our new house and cautioned us not to hang it the wrong way. Anyway, I can't remember which way is correct and we don't live in that house anymore, but I'm sure you could find it online.

[dbt]

11. Around here, it was "open end up."

It was believed that if the horseshoe was hung with the opening pointing downward, the good luck would drain out.

Cheers!

[rumpel]

10. Gratitude custom

again as for Japan, since it is the time of year, it popped into my head...

No longer a sign of true gratitude, but kind of a custom to send a gift to those, to whom you are "obligated". For example your teachers, your clients...

These are two times a year - O Chuugen and O Seibo

http://www.caringkiwi.com/japan/archives/000007.html

I tried to find something in English (none found), as I do not know it's origins either, but it appears, originally it was to be grateful for a safe year so far (half way into the year) as well as year end, and coincided more with the seasons. However the current practice of gift giving started with an ad campaign launched in the year of Meiji 44, (1911) by Mitsukoshi. (Big department store) and it stuck with the public.

Navajo medicine man:
My friend's late father, would go up to the mesa every morning to greet the sun, running towards it.

[dbt]

12. How about pouring beer on the ground?

I forget what the custom is called, but gang members (for example) will pour some of their beverage onto the ground--or a gravestone if they happen to be in the cemetary--to honor dead friends, before consuming any of it themselves.

If memory serves, the Ancient Greeks would also pour a "libation to the gods" before drinking any of their wine. Dunno if it was done with each refill or just at the beginning of the session.

And here's another one I just remembered: never give a knife as a gift, or it will "cut the friendship." If a knife IS given, something must be given in return, usually a coin of small denomination, just so it's a transaction as opposed to the outright giving of the knife.

Ain't Humans some curious things?

[OneGrassRoot]

13. Thanks for the latest contributions. I especially like.....

the beer rituals :toast:

Celtic girl that I am. :)

Thank you all.......:hug: