Yesterday I attended a workshop led by The Medicine Collective, a group of Indigenous Elders and Knowledge-Keepers, at the xʷc̓ic̓əsəm Indigenous Health Garden at the UBC Farm. Such a profound and healing experience.

We began with ritual… with ceremony… with sharing… standing in Circle, honouring our ancestors and the unceded land of the Musqueam People, upon whose land we were standing. And as we each stood on boughs of cedar, we smudged our Self and gave blessings of tobacco to Mama Earth while our Sisters drummed and sang.

We then walked the garden to connect with the plants, collecting from those that spoke to us… from those with whom we felt relationship or connection. There were so many plants, some new to me and some familiar favourites. The pollinators were busily working and a bald-headed eagle soared above us. Pure magick!

After our garden walk, we returned to the UBC Farm yurt and made medicinal creams using tinctures prepared from plants harvested from the garden, a hormone cream and a pain relief cream. We each made extras for giving back to the community.

It’s hard to describe my feelings throughout the opening Ritual…. sheer joy… connection to Mama Earth… connection to all others participating… connection to the Ancestors and those who walked this land before us. a profound sense of community.

As we completed the opening ceremony, one of the Grandmothers looked around the Circle and quietly said,

“Life is Ceremony.” 

YES! Embracing Ritual and ceremony has been a huge shift in my work and in how I walk with Mama Earth. I bring Ritual into my work and spiritual practices and into my daily life… when I am working with plants, making magic, wildcrafting, meditating, creating, cooking, writing, crafting…

How does Ritual or ceremony weave through your life?

For me, Ritual brings the sacred into my life. It expresses my gratitude. It honours my place in this Universe and lights my path.

And in a lovely moment of synchronicity, this morning I read this quote:

“I wish for you a life full of ritual and community.”
–Flaming Rainbow Woman, Spiritual Warrior
quoted in “The Thundering Years: Rituals and Sacred Wisdom for Teens“

This is what I wish you.