The Art of Sacred Ceremony

Co-creating sacred ceremony with friends is a powerful way to connect to an intention, each other, your intuition, and whatever Greater Divine Intelligence you believe in. 

Ceremony has brought people together throughout the ages, religious traditions, spiritual communities, special occasions, and more.

Attending a well-crafted, energy-filled event led by a ceremonial master is an amazing experience. You can likely find some in your area for everything from holidays, historical commemorations, significant life transitions, to the phases of the moon and the seasons.

Getting together with a few friends to create your own ceremony through a series of both planned and spontaneous rituals is what I’m inviting you to consider in these times when large events are discouraged.

• Pick an occasion or intention, a time and a place.
• Ask all involved to contribute in any way they feel inspired to.
• Allow room for spontaneity within a structure.
• Have an open mind and an open heart to give space for each other’s self-expression.
• See each other with the eyes of your soul.
• Have faith that your presence & offering makes a difference.
• Be you.
• Truly see, accept and love the others as they share.
• Truly see, accept and love yourself for your thoughts, feelings, contributions and experiences.
• Play with it – it doesn’t have to be solemn & serious.

Did you watch the 5.5-minute video at the top of this post?

May our ceremony inspire ideas for your own. Here’s how it happened.

1. My friend Kerri Best asked if I’d like to commemorate the 11/11 portal in nature with her.
2. I invited my friend Leslie Bridger to join us as I knew they’d enjoy each others’ company
3. Kerri suggested going to the waterfall at Flatrock, my favourite energy vortex on the island of Newfoundland, which she had never been to.
4. We decided that the ceremony would start at 11:11am and go to at least 1:11pm, so we carpooled there early to spend time appreciating nature.
5. Each brought something to contribute to the ceremony, warm clothes for comfort on the cold rocks, and lunch.
6. We started by taking turns leading in a prayer or activity and followed the flow, knowing we’d likely not have time for everything, but that whatever happened would be perfect.

Be creative. Tune in and follow your inner guidance. What are objects, activities, texts, and rituals that are significant for you? Here are some of the elements we chose to include in our ceremony:

• objects for the altar cloth (crystals, a candle, photo of “Arms Wide Open” created after a previous ceremony at the grotto nearby)
• prayer for an opening to the 11/11 portal energies & intentions
• a minute of silence for Remembrance Day
• gratitude to our Teams of Divine Helpers,  Mother Earth & ancestors of the land
• grounding with bare hands on the rocks
• Gros Morne Elixirs herbal balms for “Surrender” and “Divine Union” created by our friend Alison Normore
• Red & White Spring waters from my trip to Glastonbury to harmonize the sacred feminine & masculine – intuition into action
• a selection of oracle cards – the one in the video is from the Earth Warriors Oracle: Rise of the Soul Tribe of Sacred Guardians and Inspired Visionaries deck
• smudge with sacred Palo Santo wood smoke to help release what no longer serves us
• a recorded 11:11 activation meditation with Melanie Beckler
• holding space for each other’s intentions & Highest Good
• writing & burning what we’re ready to let go of
• writing and soaking in both holy & salt water what we’re ready to manifest
• sharing in a meal together and nature contemplation
• delighting in surprises, like when I discovered a patch of fresh mint as I was answering a call of nature- literally! Ha ha! (I did list “play” in the above list. Truly, realizing I was surrounded in the sweetest fragrance as I was peeing out in the open was a memorable moment in this wonderful day!

I am so grateful to my 2 good friends for having shared such a heart-warming, soul-nourishing time together in nature.

If you haven’t yet, watch the video at the top of the post and if you’re moved to, invite loved ones to share in whatever kind of sacred ceremony you’re inspired to co-create together for whatever reason. 

Enjoy!

***P.S. All prints in your choice of size & medium, including “With Arms Wide Open”, are 20% off (plus free shipping in Canada) from November 19-25. Use the code ARTsale at checkout – see them all here.