A ritual is a set of actions performed with intention. That’s it. Anything can become a ritual if those three parts are included—action, performance, and intention. Let’s break it down.
Action. Action is something physical. You can’t just think or talk about brushing your teeth. You need to actually pick up the toothpaste, uncap it, squeeze out the paste, hold the toothbrush with the other hand, and then brush. Those are a set of actions.
Now, is brushing your teeth a ritual? It could be. But it needs performance and intention to be ritual. Without those two key players, it’s just a means to an end.
Performance. That’s interesting. Ritual requires performance? Really? Well, let’s look at traditional performance. In theatre, actors need to hold a certain amount of attention for an audience to be interested. Without the right amount of energy, if it’s too pedestrian, it will fall flat. It’s not worth watching.
In ritual, performance isn’t something you do for someone else; you are both the observer and the observed. You become aware that something is occurring. When you engage in ritual, you allow your own creativity to get involved—for example, by enhancing the mood (should I brush my teeth by candlelight?), choosing the type (gel or paste?), or making up playful rules (I’m going to hold my ear while I brush my teeth). A sense of performance heightens the action so it’s not just ordinary, but instead a work of art.
Intention. Truth be told, intention is where any ritual really begins. What do you want to feel, be, do, have, or let go of? If I were feeling stressed out, for example, I might create an intention to feel lighter. I might imagine myself literally in the clouds, wearing white, with wings on my back. As I brush my teeth, I could imagine the paste creating a million little clouds alongside my gums and teeth, lifting me up to the sky. Intention is the secret of why we do what we do.
Ritual, then, is a physical act of intention — a symbol of greatness that you create. It is powerful, possible, and practical.
Are there aspects in your life that you could turn into ritual? Do you want to create a ritual to work with an intention?
You could start by looking at your life as it is. What are the actions you do regularly? They could be working out, showering, washing your face, using your phone, riding the elevator, walking to work, driving home, sleeping, waking up, making coffee, putting your shoes on, etc. Returning to these daily actions with a fresh view may be all you need to totally transform. Ritual is a set of actions performed with intention.
You can create ritual. You can invite ritual. The practice of ritual will change your life.
