Stephen's Last Word (I hope) on RITUAL :)

February 23, 2010

Thank you for your ideas Sandra and J/A (of the Emerald Isle) on Ritual.

I started all of these counterpoints by saying " JOG rituals seemed excessive

and were a bit too much for me. "

Everyone has to decide for him/her self what excessive is TO THEM.

If you believe this ritual- (fill in the blank)-helps you spiritually--then do

it!

If a ritual HOLDS YOU BACK or diminishes the feeling of 'Holiness'--it is

counterproductive (that's the one's I'm wary of).

I love when J/A (YES, YOU, IRISH GIRL!) pulls the " Ego Card " .

Sorry dear--that's a very old trick. It's supposed to make me change my 'Evil

Ways'. It won't work on me. My Ego will engulf your ego and ask for more...HA!

HAAA! HAAA! (Woops-Sorry! Got carried away).

Let me just say-

Ego is the part of us that wants us to say-- " I'm right and you're wrong damnit!

There will be no more of this! " .

I won't say 'I'm RIGHT' (or the other little silly stuff before it).

We have various rituals for various reasons (as you and Sandra stated).

Ritual is good for humans to observe a TRANSITION-- In Life, Love,

Spirituality...you name it. They are important!

If one of my favorite rituals is to go on a mountain top and commune with God

quietly--and I feel it is best for me and purposeful--it's right for me!

If (for example) a certain Irish Girl feels compelled to go into a large

cathedral full of like minded people, strip naked, paint herself purple-,

stand on her head and recite the Lord's prayer (in Portuguese) backward a

thousand times....and she felt closer to God afterwards--

though it might seem excessive to me--I would never tell her it's WRONG!

That was not my intention.

Though JOG required nothing like the example I gave above--my reaction would be

the same; " A bit excessive for me. "

So if any one reads this--understand we are different for whatever reasons--and

let it rest.

Enjoy your rituals and I'll enjoy mine.

Sometimes (rather often, actually) I will join in with rituals other than the

ones in my comfort zone so I won't seem a stumbling block to those that may

really need such ritual.

A beautiful example of a very Holy Figure doing this was when Jesus got

Baptized (OK GUYS! I'M NOT SAYING JESUS & I ARE EQUALS!!).

Jesus didn't really need that ritual--he did it because he was a role model and

other eyes would watch.

If you are doing a ritual for the wrong reason (my wife /preacher /mommy / Julia

/ Sandra will give me HELL if I don't) --that is counterproductive.

We all have minds and free will. I will exercise them both---I invite you to

always consider why you are doing anything--ritual or otherwise.

Is it for the controlling Ego--or because it is the right thing to do.

Sometimes it takes a braver soul to just stand still while the rest of the world

marches closer to a cliff.

I guess together we have hit on a pet peeve of mine--

Is what we do helping us spiritually---or just diverting our attention.

(Sorry--that's Ego based!).

You must decide for yourself. I, Chrism, Julia Amelia or Sandra cannot.

God Bless Us all-

No more Ritual stuff-Please!!

:)

Sincerely,

Your Humble Servant

Stephen

February 23, 2010

Sorry Stephan I know you asked for no more ritual stuff but I have to say. You

crack me up! I love reading your posts and I couldn't agree with you more!

Coming from my very strict Catholic background I have had a lot of rituals (and

dogma) crammed down my throat over the years that many younger people in the

church have no idea of or never experienced. I had always felt that no matter

what I did there I could not becomeÂ worthy ofÂ God. I mean look at what the

saints and Holy people had to go throughÂ historically - crucifiction, burning,

beheading etc..Â Even the confessing of my sins and forgivenessÂ had to be done

through a priest. Â As a child and " sensitive " I can remember breaking out inÂ

hives before going to confession because I thought I was a sinner and could

never be good enough compared to the saints and clergy. I thought this mindset

of extreme martyrdom was what was needed for me to get to heaven. Well, I didn't

wantÂ live the life of a priest or saintÂ and as a result, I kind of gave up.

Nothing terrible, mind you, but nothing that great either. I became the

reluctant Catholic, ditching church when I could and suffering through the mass

when I had to. Not for me - Â and as an adult I eventually left the church to

the continued ridicule and dismay of my siblings .

I had a lot of anger issues I went through and still do at times (especially

when I see my brother send his daughter to confession when she misbehaves). But

this is how they see things I guess.Â After one particular argument over this

with a family member I was gifted with a vision where I was in my old church and

I was in the back of the congregation during a mass.Â Â I saw that over the

heads of some of the people were blue and white orbs glowing and I realized that

this was their particular path to God and it was holy. I have since lightened up

so to say.

Just like you, I find it not much use for me, personally, for extreme rituals or

dogmas Â but I can now appreciate theÂ connection with GodÂ it provides for the

few who do resonate with it. My new saying is - if you feel it brings you closer

to God than that's GOOD!

I can now see that what I was doing was throwing the baby out with the bathwater

- so to say - and I now have a deeper respect for all true religions andÂ it

variousÂ paths to God. I know that I will never be a " blind follower " again but

there are those whoÂ find what they need there.Â I look at it as finding the

pearl within the hard shell of the oyster.Â I think you see this too.

Thanks for your humor and frankness!

Mary

-

" Master Condrey " <mastercondrey

Tuesday, February 23, 2010 10:57:29 AM GMT -06:00 US/Canada Central

Stephen's Last Â Word (I hope) on

RITUAL

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