What is Ritual and Ceremonial Psychology?

By: Dr. Denise Renye

Recently we passed the Autumn Equinox here in the Northern hemisphere and many people took note of the change and engaged in rituals or ceremonies to mark the occasion. These types of gatherings and events have been occurring for thousands of years. Those two words, ritual and ceremony, are tossed around frequently, but what do they mean and how do they overlap with the field and practice of psychotherapy? A ritual is a group of actions performed for their symbolic value that are done in a specific order of relevance for the topic at hand. They are typically passed down through teachings and initiatory rites of passage. A ceremony occurs on a special occasion and is notably more creative as it is tailored to the person(s), situation, or occurrence. (Think a wedding or a funeral.) The practice of both ritual and ceremony can be combined or done separately.

How do ritual and ceremony relate to psychotherapy? Well, psychotherapy too, has aspects of both ritual and ceremony. In terms of ritual, the practices and applications are passed down from generations of practitioners and there is an initiation. The theoretical orientation of clinicians determines the elements of this “ritual.”

For instance, the starting and ending of a session, the techniques used as intervention, and how the space (in person or via video) are set up are all elements that can be viewed as ritualistic. Interpretations and dream analysis may have more elements of ceremony, such as flow and an expression of the collective unconscious and archetypes. Note: Because I have the most knowledge and applied practice of psychoanalytic/psychoanalytical, feminist, and transpersonal orientations, this is what I can speak to. And the combination of these orientations lends well to ritual and ceremonial psychology.

Rituals and ceremony are an important part of my practice and I pull in my psychological background to blend the two into ritual psychology, a term I created. This type of practice also includes art and creativity to put together and hold the space of the ritual and/or ceremony experience for someone. It seems to me modern Western society has all but lost the practice of ritual, yet there’s a hunger for it. Numerous people have approached me seeking support for crafting a ritual, whether that’s around the death of loved ones due to COVID-19 or other causes, letting go of a marriage, or a rebirth of an addict in recovery.

It’s interesting to note with addiction there’s a great deal of ritual. First the substance is procured or the process is started, then the person clears their schedule to engage (which is akin to creating a sacred space), the person uses their substance or enacts their behavior, and then they have a rest or integration period. It thus makes sense why including a healing ritual would be, and is, so beneficial for addiction recovery. It’s something folx who use are already practicing. Co-creating a ritual or ceremony is taking ritualistic behaviors out of the shadow and into conscious light. Dr. Marion Woodman, distinguished Jungian analyst and sage, describes this phenomenon well:

“You see in addicts the compulsion to wish to keep things fixed. They are natural lovers of ritual. They create their own rituals, and the addiction will take place around that ritual. But it’s a perverted ritual—it carries them into unconsciousness instead of into consciousness. It’s a perverted religion, it really is. A ritual should take you into a much broader, richer experience, and every time you go through a ritual you should contact that deepest, divine part of yourself and open to something new. If the ritual leads you into unconsciousness, you regress and become more and more deeply trapped in rigidity. If you have no personal standpoint and no boundaries, you don’t dare to open.”

I’ve also noticed an uptick in Crone ceremonies recently and I think it speaks to how women are taking time to honor themselves more. They’re celebrating aging in a conscious way rather than going along with the narrative that they should be cast aside because they are no longer considered “attractive” by society. Western society especially prizes youth and fertility so crones are no longer able to be used for male needs such as baby making. They suddenly become overlooked and can feel invisible or forgotten. A crone ceremony is a great way to mark, and celebrate, the third phase of womanhood, wherein the woman may be more comfortable rocking the proverbial patriarchal boat.

In a ceremony with me – which takes place during regularly scheduled sessions in person (pre-COVID-19) or virtually – I lead people through a preparation period to help them get into the embodied space of ritual. This could span one to three meetings.

That space is a sacred one that is both grounded and connected with something greater than the self. Jung would call it the Self, the union of the conscious and unconscious to create the whole(person). I hold the space for the person on the ceremony day, which involves setting an altar, using symbolic items, and reading a poem or prayer. The person has set certain intentions for the ceremony and we discuss those as well.

After the ceremony we have integration sessions so the person can assimilate what potential transformation occurred during the ceremony. For instance, with the crone ceremony, the woman may be able to step into this third portion of her life with more confidence, the ability to say "enough is enough," and fully embody all the glory and wisdom she possesses!

Other examples of ritual and ceremonial psychology I have collaboratively designed with patients/clients/students are the following:

·      Healing and creative arts

·      Retirement

·      Pregnancy, birth, and motherhood

·      Rebirth and renewal

·      Psychedelic Integration

·      Sexuality mapping and pattern breaking

·      Dreamwork and dream yoga

·      Yoga nidra

·      Lotus rebirth

·      Seasonal and quarterly

If you’re interested in how a ritual or ceremony can help you, reach out to me. I offer ritual and ceremonial psychology services not only to long-term clients/patients, but also to others on a case-by-case basis. Also, it is a privilege and honor to be a part of an upcoming book publication. My essay, entitled "All Hail the Crone" is included and you can preorder it here. My contribution covers embodying the Crone and breaking out of the patriarchy. The book overall includes all original poetry, essays, and visual art.

For ideas and ways to stay connected to and learn more about the unconscious through the body, feel free to stay connected.

References

Parabola Editors. “Worshipping Illusions: An interview with Marion Woodman” Parabola. April 13, 2019. https://parabola.org/2019/04/13/worshipping-illusions-an-interview-with-marion-woodman/