bringing ritual in: intention {self-portrait challenge}
I must admit, I am not one for new year’s resolutions because I invite guilt into my life enough without them (and the inevitability of me not following through with them). However, I do appreciate the idea of pausing as the calendar turns to a new year and thinking about what you hope to bring into your life. This month, I am going to focus on one aspect of myself that I realized in the latter months of 2006; I am a person who believes that ritual can shape the journey in a way that brings meaning and new layers of understanding. In 2007, I hope to invite more ritual into my life. To look for ways to add shape and meaning to the sometimes scattered life I lead. As I thought about SPC, I decided my focus will be this very thing, ways that I plan to bring ritual into my life.
In late December, I created an altar, a space that represents the spiritual side of my journey. I used to have an altar in my little room in our house, but there was never a good place for it; it was always tucked under things or too close to Millie’s level. And, I admit that I felt this need to hide it for some reason in the fear that people who came over, or my family when they visited, would not understand. I have little talismans that represent various ideas, memories, beliefs, hopes, and so on. I imagine that some days I will add certain things, like pictures or flowers or offerings, and other days I will take certain things away. It is a fluid altar in this sense.
The altar is in our family room now; the place where we spend the most time and the place I often work from throughout my day. Inspired by Carla’s candles that she creates and names with intention, I have started a new ritual of placing a candle on this altar and lighting it with intention. Sometimes I will focus on someone else, maybe knowing a person needs peace or a special awareness. Sometimes my focus will be inward, as it is today. Sometimes my husband and I will create an intention together, as we did last week when we focused on the power of two and sent healing out into the world.
Lighting a candle with intention is something that is done in many religions. Candles are often used to represent a higher power or the four elements. Lighting candles is also a way to bring in a spiritual practice without a need for the following of a specific religion. This practice can be used to begin meditation; then the candle is extinguished when the meditation draws to a close. The act of extinguishing the candle should be part of the ritual. My teacher once gently told me this has two reasons: The first being that it signifies the end to the practice and the second to remember to extinguish the candle as to avoid burning down the house. As I have mentioned here before, whenever I extinguish a candle, I send a blessing out into the world. It adds another layer of meaning to the practice.
As I was thinking about candles this weekend, I came across Marilyn’s post about two high school girls who set up 10,000 candles in a downtown park. To soak up this inspiration, read her post.
Also, if this idea of lighting a candle with intention speaks to you but your life is such that you cannot light a candle every day or you want to start your work day with an intention but don’t have the luxury of working from home like I do, visit this web site. It leads you through a practice where you can light a virtual candle.
(See more self-portraits at Self-Portrait Challenge.)
updated 1/3: A few of you have asked, so I added the link to Carla's candle site, Zena Moon. She is running a couple of specials through tomorrow, you might want to check them out.
self-portrait
Reader Comments (19)
i really love this post. thank you for this reminder and for the link as well. may you have a blessed year, liz elayne.
I've always been fascinated by candles. They play a very big part of Jewish ritual, and I think it is cool that they are central to so many other religions and cultures. Although I don't light candles very often, I have a differing opinion on extinguishing them. I like to let them burn uninterrupted, feeling that the ritual should go for it's natural course without my interruption, as if my blowing it out will cause some negative effect.
Much peace throughout 2007.
Nice grateful list! What a brilliant idea. Happy New Year and all the best for 2007! So glad you are feeling better.
Yesterday, as we were recycling all of those materials that built those 10,000 luminaries, it was sort of a mindful task in a way. What's that Buddhist saying, "Chop wood, carry water"...? It was a moment when I really just needed to stay present, because otherwise the task we were facing would have seemed overwhelming. :) This is a lovely post, and I adore candles. We always burn them this time of year, and it tickled me no end when I came home the other day and found J lying on the couch watching some manly show on the Discovery Channel...with a candle burning on the coffee table. ;) I say YES! to more candles AND more rituals in 2007. Happy New Year, Liz! So very GLAD to have met you this year. Oh, and I almost forgot...thank you so much for your HOPE photo! So sweet! (Drop by Taylor's blog...there's been some exciting news!) ;)
There's something so powerful about lighting a candle. I sometimes visit a church in my town where I can light a candle. I have no clear belief system that draws me there, it's just the candle lighting with intention that I love.
I think this is a really cool idea, Liz, and I like the photo a lot.
I've tended toward that "I don't really have a place to set up a permanent altar" idea, but maybe I should try harder to find one...to make one.
I adore this idea of lighting a candle with a specific intention. It is peaceful and meaningful, yet such an easy ritual to employ.
Happy New Year and may it be full of peace, contentment and happiness.
intention.
i like this...
:)
Hello...
I did not expect to read about this in a blog post anywhere. Really beautiful. So now that someone is openly on to it, I think I will take a picture of my altar and post it on my blog. You are welcom come by and see it. I also use a candle. Hand
I love your intention candle and this piece.I am up early in the morning and it would be a good practice for me.
BTW, Early Morning is one of my most favorite books.
Ritual is about the most important thing I have in my life right now. I think when your world gets all topsy turvy (like mine has), you need to be able to count on something, anything to bring you back again, to focus, to rely on.
I lit a candle for my dad and chanted some prayers to send him on his way, 27 times every day for 49 days. Now, whether or not that helped ease his transition, I don't know (I don't think he needed any help really), but it sure eased mine.
And that's important.
I love you, girlfriend. You have been such a joy for me- hey, I think you have become a ritual for me! What a blessing!
elaine, thank you so much for this post. i love that candle site. i lit a candle, and i think that is such an amazing and wonderful community. i loved reading everyones intentions and looking at all the lit cyber candles.
you continue to inspire me.
always.
intention is a beautiful word. and inspiration is what i feel after reading this post liz. i feel inspired to create my own altar ~ a place where i can have focus and intention and purpose with my daily rituals. xo
I love your alter. I have one too, just like that. I especially love your willow tree angel.
Beautiful!!!
Simply beautiful and perfect.
I built my own personal altar for the first time several weeks ago and am lighting incenase and/or a candle with intention each day :)
Happy new year to you :)
LOVE this post, Liz. Like you, I feel some trepidation about others seeing my altar. In the past I've moved it out of sight when I have visitors who might not understand. Think I'll try to be braver about that now.
You are an inspiration. I always, always leave your blog with something new to think about, consider, or wonder. Thank you.
What a beautiful and inspiring post. I too am a deep believer in ritual. One way that I've decided to light candles for others is in my journal. Every day I draw 3 candles in my journal and put a name beside of someone who needs some support. I love the idea of expanding that to include other sorts of intentions.
You are a candle that lights the way, Liz.
Oh Liz. You are a human-sized candle. Thank you.
What a lovely post. I stuggled with being quiet in my efforts to meditate and even in my yoga (still do, actually) so I started using the lighting of a candle as a way to take a moment to set my intention. I'm a newbie, still and wobble more often than not, but thanks for this inspiring post.