Rich Jewels

Ritual.

Rituals. Rich jewels. Hmmmmm...

It is a word laden with much meaning in many circles, and not a lot of it good. Still, on this (Canadian) Thanksgiving Weekend, I am left with the thought that it is not ritual that is good or bad but the nature and meaning (if any) of the ritual.

Yes, on this day, I am thinking that there are four primary areas to our lives... mind, body, spirit, and soul. For me, mind consists of matters of vocation and education. Body refers to those things of the physical, fiscal and physiological..... material health, financial health, physical health. Spirit is that which deals with emotional health, inspiration and contribution. Soul, the deeper spirit, the core.

Why do I note this? I am becoming increasingly aware of my need to build true, meaningful ritual into my life. As someone who loves the notion of the non-linear, this is a bit of challenge. Still, I am understanding that ritual is to living as the skeleton is to the body... providing core structure and strength if the ritual is strong and meaningful.

So, my ritual starts today. EVERY day, I will devote time to prayer and meditation in the morning and the evening to begin and close the day. EVERY day, in that time, I will read sacred text of all divine faiths. It will be my source and anchor. And... EVERY day, I will devote time to my physical health and take care to eat what sustains and energizes me, allowing myself flexibility and variety.

EVERY day, I will devote some time to play and joyful experience.

Finally, EVERY day I will work at something I love or learn something I love.

All in all, this allows considerable flexibility but it aligns with the spirit of All I Ever Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten by Robert Fulghum... to work some, learn some, play some live some EVERY day.

We live in a world where we work and "look forward" to weekends and days off and holidays. There is nothing wrong with that except I believe that we find ourselves living in what Richard Bolles refers to as the 3 boxes of life... education in our early years, work in our middle years and recreation in our latter years. He contends (and I agree) that we need to do a little of each EVERY day.

This blog is about unity, but not just of the group and community... of our lives. Unity starts with balance. Balance requires some structure so that we do not avoid key areas of our lives. My suggestion is that you decide today that EVERY day you will address matters of the mind, the body, the spirit, and the soul. I know that is my focus now.

Enjoy the day.

Barry