So today, to mark the passage of 2016 into 2017, I attended a Sound Healing and Burning Bowl meditation event at the local Buddhist temple. It was an interesting experience! I have never been to a Buddhist temple, nor have I participated in a Burning Bowl Fire Puja. But it seems like a popular event, seeing as I had to wait in line for 15 minutes to get in. There were at least 200 people in attendance.
Each attendee received a slip of paper upon which they were to write things they wished to leave behind this year. We were encouraged to write "Anything not serving you." Really, the paper wasn't big enough for me to down all the things I wanted to burn up from 2016 - but I managed to pare it down to the essentials, which I won't post here because it's all burnt up and GONE!
During the "ceremony", we were invited to chant the following phrase: Om Mani Padme Hun, which means "the jewel in the lotus". Some guy was playing a large didgeridoo-type thing and a woman was playing rock/singing bowls. And person was guided to walk to the front of the room and burn their slip of paper.
Since I chose to sit at the back of the room, I was waiting for quite some time to go up and burn my paper. I was able to let the sounds wash over me and listen to this roomful of people create a peaceful vibration together. I eventually briefly joined in the chanting, but didn't keep it up for long. I was thinking about ritual.
Rituals are fascinating. What is our need to have them in our lives? They ground us. They provide clues to our identity. They link us to people and communities. And for some, rituals connect them to a higher power. I didn't feel any of that in the ritual I participated in today. For me, it was a powerful thing to watch my failings burn away, but it was very personal and didn't have anything to do with anyone else in the room.
I was wondering if there were any rituals that I had. Honestly, I can't think of any...morning coffee?? And to what does that connect me? So maybe I should incorporate some rituals into my life. I'd hate them to be empty, though - but I also don't want to create some phony ritual that I pretend means something when it doesn't. How does one find a ritual that speaks to them and that gives purpose and meaning and cohesion in ones life? I don't know, but I'd like to take a journey to find out.
p.s. - See ya later 2016, don't let the door hit ya in the ass on the way out.
Each attendee received a slip of paper upon which they were to write things they wished to leave behind this year. We were encouraged to write "Anything not serving you." Really, the paper wasn't big enough for me to down all the things I wanted to burn up from 2016 - but I managed to pare it down to the essentials, which I won't post here because it's all burnt up and GONE!
During the "ceremony", we were invited to chant the following phrase: Om Mani Padme Hun, which means "the jewel in the lotus". Some guy was playing a large didgeridoo-type thing and a woman was playing rock/singing bowls. And person was guided to walk to the front of the room and burn their slip of paper.
Since I chose to sit at the back of the room, I was waiting for quite some time to go up and burn my paper. I was able to let the sounds wash over me and listen to this roomful of people create a peaceful vibration together. I eventually briefly joined in the chanting, but didn't keep it up for long. I was thinking about ritual.
Rituals are fascinating. What is our need to have them in our lives? They ground us. They provide clues to our identity. They link us to people and communities. And for some, rituals connect them to a higher power. I didn't feel any of that in the ritual I participated in today. For me, it was a powerful thing to watch my failings burn away, but it was very personal and didn't have anything to do with anyone else in the room.
I was wondering if there were any rituals that I had. Honestly, I can't think of any...morning coffee?? And to what does that connect me? So maybe I should incorporate some rituals into my life. I'd hate them to be empty, though - but I also don't want to create some phony ritual that I pretend means something when it doesn't. How does one find a ritual that speaks to them and that gives purpose and meaning and cohesion in ones life? I don't know, but I'd like to take a journey to find out.
p.s. - See ya later 2016, don't let the door hit ya in the ass on the way out.
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