RITUAL:  a sequence of activities involving gestures, words, and objects, performed in a sequestered place, and performed according to set sequence.” www.merriam-webster.com I have friends who go into conniption fits at the mere mention of the word. At its best, they say, ritual is boring and mind deadening. At its worst it is a vehicle of control and oppression. And they definitely have a point. Adolf Hitler was a master of ritual. His highly ritualistic Third Reich whipped Germany into a nationalistic frenzy that led to genocide and world war.   But I try to explain that ritual in itself is neither good nor bad. It is a tool. In fact, it is a very powerful tool. And if it gets used for a good purpose and with skill it can accomplish wonders.   Ritual: Effectively communicates with and stimulates the often under-used right brain, which is intuitive, integrative, and controls feelings and emotions. This is the part of the brain that is in constant… Read More »