Cere­monies of Celebration

Life is more than simply one grand story — rather, it’s comprised of a million tiny stories that embellish the life we have chosen to lead. There are so many oppor­tu­ni­ties to deepen life’s meaning and create purpose and cele­bra­tion around the small but signif­i­cant moments that enrich our lives. It’s the little moments that build lives worth remem­bering, and the little cere­monies that make us family. Come, let us cele­brate together.

• First day of School
  Set your child up for a great year with a wonderful send-​​off ritual. If someone is worried about sepa­ra­tion (even you, Mom and Dad), design a family blessing that empha­sizes the family’s connec­tions and your under­standing of the impor­tance of educa­tion. If summer has to end, there may as well be a fun cere­mony to look forward to that will start the summer out right.

• Family Night
  Dedi­cate a night of the week for family night. Ban sports prac­tices and late meet­ings as you carve out time for the people who give your life meaning.

• Menarche
  Every other culture has a cele­bra­tion of this impor­tant moment in a young girl’s life. Whether you want a small family ritual or a larger commu­nity ritual with the young women in her crowd (or both), you can help your girl under­stand the annoying, messy, some­times painful sacred­ness of this impor­tant moment.

• Coming of Age
  At different ages, there are different expec­ta­tions, priv­i­leges and respon­si­bil­i­ties expected of a growing child. Define for your family or commu­nity what it means to become a young adult and then find the modern reso­nances for this time­less cere­mony. We all do better when we know what is expected of us and delight when we tran­si­tion into a new age of our lives. What does it mean to be a member of your family? Here’s a chance to teach your­self, your family and your community.

• Grad­u­a­tion
  Hallelujah! You’ve grad­u­ated. Your disci­pline and hard work have paid off. It’s time to cele­brate your accom­plish­ment and the pride you and your loved ones take in the work you have completed. This much hard work deserves to be taken notice of. Walk across the stage and then come home and tell your family and friends what it meant to you.

• Leaving Home
  It’s time. You’re ready. Whether you’re leaving for college, the armed services or a job, there comes a point when it’s right for both you and your parents to change your living arrange­ments. When a child leaves home and begins to provide for him or herself it’s an impor­tant moment. When you leave, you want to realize that although you’ll always be welcome, from this point on you will be a guest in this house, because your home is some­where else. Cere­mony can help make dreams and desires clear.

• Friend­ship
  Friends are the glue that hold our lives together and the sequins that embellish it. Tell your friends how impor­tant their place is in your life. Make a commit­ment and accept theirs to be BFF — in a way that will always make a difference.

• Commu­ni­ties
  The places where we grow up, create tradi­tions, get educated, find support for our chal­lenges and our dreams and find wonderful models for living life well are incred­ibly impor­tant. Why not cele­brate their exis­tence and dedi­cate the work that they do? Today’s small commu­ni­ties are yesterday’s clans. Those clans required oaths of alle­giance to friend­ships and a way of life. When you make those oaths, you commit to making a place in your heart for those people and for new people who come along. Whether you become commu­nity over shared holi­days or shared care for the river that runs through your valley, these commu­ni­ties are impor­tant. Create a yearly cele­bra­tion. The more ritu­al­ized the event, the less anyone will want to miss it!

• Birth­days
  What if instead of hating the fact that you were getting older, you and your family and friends devel­oped a birthday ritual that really cele­brated the life you’re living, by giving you the oppor­tu­nity to take stock, set goals, cele­brate your successes and enjoy your friends? It would be so much more fun — and your life would be better for it!

• Anniver­saries
  Whether you’re cele­brating romantic memo­ries or ones from your career or life, life is better with goals and acknowl­edg­ments of successes. Sticking to your dreams deserves support, encour­age­ment and cele­bra­tion. Create a ritual that helps deepen the meaning in your life.

• Menopause
  Menopause means a lot more than stop­ping your monthly bleeding. It is a signal to a woman that her life focus can change from family life to her work in the world. The world needs the healing energy of women ready to indulge their passions. So shout hurrah at the end of the incon­ve­nience, acknowl­edge the body changes that are inevitable and distressing, and dedi­cate your­self for the next part of your life. You might as well decide to have a wonderful life doing what you love and what you believe in, and declare it before your friends and family.

• Retire­ment
  Hurrah! You’ve spent many years at work. Now you’re free to explore the things that make life inter­esting for you. If you’re going to keep working, find work that pleases you and engages you in so many ways. Cele­brate your