Island Men's Journal Article

Ritual Space

THE ANNUAL MEN'S CONFERENCE FOR LEADERS OF MEN'S GROUPS LED BY ROBERT BLY, MICHAEL MEADE, ROBERT MOORE AND OTHERS, IN MENDICINO, CALIFORNIA, WAS AN OUTSTANDING EXPERIENCE THAT HAS GREATLY EMPOWER ME TO CARRY A MYTHOPOEIC MESSAGE TO OUR MEN'S COMMUNITY. THERE ARE TOO MANY TOPICS TO BE INCLUDED IN ONE MESSAGE. AS MYTH AND RITUAL GO HAND IN HAND, I WILL BEGIN BY ADDRESSING THE USE OF RITUAL SPACE IN CEREMONIES, GATHERINGS AND SMALL GROUPS.

LIKE A LOT OF NEW THINGS STARTING UP, THERE ARE NOT MANY PEOPLE AROUND WITH A BACKGROUND OR KNOWLEDGE OF RITUAL. IT MAY BE WISE, THEREFORE, TO FOLLOW THE DIRECTIONS OF DR. MANDILOMA SOME, WHO HAS RECENTLY BEGUN TO WORK WITH ROBERT BLY AND FRIENDS AS AN INITIATED MAN FROM THE DAGORA TRIBE OF WEST AFRICA.

BEGIN BY CREATING A CIRCLE OR RITUAL SPACE THAT IS FREE OF INTERRUPTIONS. USUALLY A MEDITATION OR CHANT IS INCLUDED TO CREATE AN ATMOSPHERE CONDUSIVE TO RITUAL. DO NOT LEAVE A RITUAL SPACE UNTIL THE PROCEEDINGS ARE COMPLETED. SMUDGE BY CLEANSING THE AIR WITH BURNING CEDAR, SWEET GRASS, SAGE OR SACRED TOBACCO. WHEN YOU INVOKE (CALL UPON) AN ENERGY LIKE A SPIRIT OR THE FOUR DIRECTIONS OR A PERSON FROM THE PAST, DO SO AS CONSCIOUSLY AS YOU CAN.

HERE'S THE IMPORTANT PART. DURING THE RITUAL, WHETHER YOU RECOGNIZE THE PRESENCE OF THE ENTITY OR NOT, THANK THAT PERSON OR ENERGY FOR COMING AND ASSISTING YOU WITH YOUR RITUAL AND TELL THEM THAT THEY ARE NOW FREE TO GO. APPARENTLY THEY GET REAL ANGRY IF YOU DON'T. BRING THE RITUAL AND CEREMONY TO A CLOSE AND BREAK THE CIRCLE. ALWAYS REMEMBER THAT IF SOMETHING DOESN'T FEEL RIGHT, STOP IT IMMEDIATELY. HONOR YOUR FEELINGS BEFORE MOVING ON.

PLEASE DON'T BE INTIMIDATED OR SHY AWAY FROM USING RITUAL WITH YOUR GROUP. IT IS A VERY IMPORTANT PART OF OUR DEVELOPMENT PERSONALLY, IN GROUP AND COMMUNITY. LET THE FORCE BE WITH YOU AND HAVE FUN.

KIM KRISTJAN

IN THE COMPANY OF MEN