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Moving Forward into 2005 - New Years Rituals
BY BARBARA BIZIOU
Each New Year millions of people make resolutions to do things differently. Because cultures from around the world understand that the New Year is an opportunity to spiritually turn the wheel of the year and begin anew this is the perfect time to look at areas that need adjustment.
Take the time to do rituals of purification and closure to prepare for a new vision to manifest. As we move into the year 2005, more than ever, it is crucial to take the time to acknowledge our experiences with joy and grief. We must strive to bring balance and harmony into our lives so we can imbue the coming year with the qualities that we most desire.
Turn this holiday into a meaningful occasion.
You'll be surprised how easy it is to turn holiday occasions that you normally take for granted or move through without thinking into a meaningful ritual. Instead of just coming up with guest list and planning the usual gathering for the New Year, if you slow down, realize that you're taking part in a time-honored tradition that connects you to your past, and concentrate on your intention--to commemorate an important holy day--you will get deeper meaning and a greater sense of connectedness out of each occasion.
New Years Ritual:
Spend the day on December 31st by taking some time to be quiet and reflect on the year that is drawing to a close. Think about the people that mattered most to you, your greatest accomplishment, challenging difficulties and the lessons you learned.
Take a purification bath. Scrub yourself with sea salt and wash yourself thoroughly in the water. Feel free to anoint yourself with your favorite oil or perfume.
Contemplate the patterns in your life that keep you stuck. Write down the limiting beliefs or habits that you wish to leave behind with the old year. In a fireproof bowl or fireplace, safely burn the paper. As the paper burns, be aware that you have just made space for new ideas people, and opportunities to enter your life. Carefully, throw out the ashes when they cool.
Light a candle for those who have passed on to spirit.
Light a candle for your new potential in the coming year.
Light a candle to acknowledge the earth.
Contribute to your community by planting a tree, helping a homeless family or baking cookies for your local nursing home.
Share your holiday with others: invite friends to a New Year's ceremony that honors your individual path. Have each person light a candle and share his or her vision for the year. It is powerful to have witnesses to your dreams.
Take five minutes to focus on peace- have each person light a candle for peace and healing. Play inspirational music
Dance, sing and celebrate life.
Forgive, forgive, forgive- end the old year by opening your heart to yourself and others.
During Tashlich, the Hebrew ritual for Rosh Hashanah (New Year), Jews throw bread into moving water as a symbol of releasing the previous years's transgressions. The bread feeds the fish and birds so it is also a way to connect to all of God's creatures. Yom Kippur, the Jewish Day of Atonement, is a time to fast and contemplate the past year and any transgressions one has committed. You ask forgiveness of anyone you have harmed in words, deeds or action in the past year. Traditionally you ask the person personally three times. If they do not respond you then turn it over to God.
In Bali, the day before the New Year. All statues of the Deity are taken to the water for purification ceremonies. Great processions of people walk to the river or ocean and offer prayers. A great ceremony is held where you make as much noise as possible to appease the gods, because on the actually day of the New Year (Nyep) the entire island is in silence. One prays and meditates on the coming year. Even the airports are closed.
In China, it is important to pay all debts before the year begins so you can start off fresh. Families clean their homes thoroughly to release any traces of bad luck from the past year. On New Year's Eve it is important to put purifying herbs like crushed lime leaves into the bath water.
New Year's day is filled with huge parades and processions including dancing dragons that are associated with long life and prosperity. People bring in lucky plants and flowers like the Kumquat trees and peach blossoms to decorate their homes. All Chinese children and people who are not married are given money in special red envelopes to bring good luck for the coming year.
Watch your head in an Italian town on New Year's eve, because the inhabitants literally do "out with the old" by throwing unwanted possessions from their windows. Everything that lands on the pavement is up for grabs, making street shopping a fun part of the night's activity.
For good luck in the coming year, some cultures throw money into the house the first time that they enter after the New Year has begun. If you are staying home, go to your front door at 12:01 am and throw coins into the front door. Keep them there for 24 hours and then place them on your altar or give them away to the needy.
Many years ago the Bulgarian master Omraam Mikhael Aivanhov told me that the first 12 days of January represent the whole year. January 1st stands for the month of January, January 2nd stands for February and so on. By practicing loving kindness, openness, and generosity while giving thoughtful attention to the significance of each day, you will consecrate the coming year.
In the African tradition, divinations are made on New Years for the coming year. Luisah Teish, in Carnival of the Spirit says that in the African Diaspora there is a tradition of divining for the coming year. Divination may be done for individual, groups or the world. It is both will-directed and destiny-directed prophecy. Pam nuts, kola nuts, or cowry shells are cast to determine what natural occurrences (earth quakes, tidal waves) and what human tendencies (fear, communion) are most likely to manifest in the coming year. We ask what do the deities have in store for us and how are we to conduct ourselves. These predictions are made and the diviner prescribes various rituals to be performed throughout the year in order to receive blessings and avert danger.
Barbara Biziou, author of The Joys of Everyday Rituals and The Joy of Family Rituals, teaches us how to restore ritual to its rightful place as food for the soul through practical, easy to use ritual recipes that are inspiring and fun. She has just produced her first guided meditation DVD Momentary Meditations (shot entirely on high definition video)
Barbara lives in NYC and can be reached at 212-741-3358 or email her at barbara@joyofritual.com. Check out her website for information on DVDS, private consultations, workshops, wedding ceremonies and rituals of all kinds.
www.joyofritual.com
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