How Rituals Help Us Heal

Does your life feel chaotic and out of control? People facing situations that induce anxiety typically take comfort in engaging in ritual, helping them feel like they are back in control and reducing uncertainty. These rituals are predictable, and they involve repetition which provides order and make us feel less chaotic. Humans find comfort in rituals because they know what to expect. People are more likely to turn to rituals when they face situations where the outcome is important, uncertain, and beyond their control.

Rituals take many different forms.  Here are some ways ritual can help you find peace, clarity, and healing in your life:

They provide connection

When you participate in a ritual with other people, you are having a shared experience, which creates a sense of identity and belonging together. This creates a community of people seeking comfort in the repetitiveness of the ritual. 

“Indeed, my colleagues and I found that coordinated movement makes people trust each other more, and even increases the release of neurotransmitters associated with bonding.” (Dimitris Xygalatas)

Rituals help us find closure

When we lose someone or something close to us, our lives can feel like they are being turned upside down. We don’t know what to think, because everything is uncertain and out of our control. Rituals can help us find closure because there is an element of predictability, which brings us a sense of comfort. Something as simple as a daily walk or yoga and meditation practice can help bring closure because you are in control and have that one thing that you do every day that helps you manage your grief and close the old chapter. 

They help us celebrate new beginnings

Rituals can help solidify and validate new beginnings in your life. Many people use some form of ritual to celebrate the new moon. Harnessing the energy of the new moon is a good way to start the month because you can use that energy to set your intentions for how you would like your new journey to pan out. We have this mini course in our shop all about how you can utilize the power of both the full moon and the new moon. With a new beginning, there are a lot of unknowns that can make you feel uneasy. Creating a ritual for a new rite of passage can be comforting, and it can help you decide what you would like to get out of the experience. Learn how to actually utilize ritual in your daily life with this article.

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Starting with a creative written voice and a BA in English from ASU, Alli Cravener has become so much more than Integrative Counsel’s voice! Not only is she a writer who is passionate about connecting concepts and content, Alli is also currently a grad student working towards her Master’s in Counseling. She is also the editor-in-chief, office manager, AND intake specialist at Integrative Counsel. When you call us, you’ll talk to Alli! Alli’s interests include painting, history, learning about other people, and wearing the color pink. She likens herself to a “mouse in a palm tree”, and she loves it that way.