Ceremony: How to Honor the Elders in Your Family

A mainstay of many ancient cultures is respect for the elders—those who have preceded us in life and whose wisdom gives guidance and comfort. But our modern culture only rarely honors those who have earned elder status. This is a great loss to young and old alike.

7 Strategies for Child-Friendly Celebrations

By Cindy Matchett

My young son and the many children I have spent time with over the years have all taught me a lot about celebrating. From them, I have learned that children love to be in community. They love to wear special clothes and have special jobs and be a part of something important and meaningful. But they also can get tired, shy, overstimulated, hungry, and cranky, and need to be protected and cared for. Celebrations are big energy.

A Ritual for New Beginnings

By Carol Takacs

My friends and family have spent many a get-together listening once again as I raise my glass and toast to “new beginnings.” So much so that it’s becoming a signature mantra. Why do I savor new beginnings with such passion? It’s not because I don’t appreciate what has come before. On the contrary—when faced with a new beginning I make a special place for it in the tapestry of life. My passion for new beginnings comes rather from the energy of renewal and hope that a new beginning sparks within!

A Cleansing Ritual: Making a Home Feel Good Again

By Patricia Eagle

Have you ever wondered what you could do to air out your home after a difficult argument, or following something unfortunate happening in your home, or just after making a move?

Home is where our hearts abide, and if there isn’t a healthy heartbeat in your house, it may be time for a little CPR.

Holding up the Mirror: Rituals for Self-Reflection

By Holly Pruett

Years ago, I had the privilege of facilitating weekly support groups for battered women. People often said, “That must be so depressing!”

Yes, the violence the women suffered was depressing; their lack of options, even more so. But the women themselves were a daily miracle of inspiration. Despite the abuse and degradations, some small place inside held enough self-worth that they got themselves to a support group. They broke the rules that kept them isolated. They pushed back the smothering cover of shame and secrecy.

3 Ways to Celebrate Your Canine Companions

By Annemarie Juhlian

Yes, I’m one of those crazy dog lovers. My husband and I have a household of older and special-needs dogs, all rescued from neglect and abuse.

Throughout the years, in the dog rescue work that I do in Seattle, we have taken in many dogs, often in their final months and years. Over time, our hearts have been momentarily shattered when we have lost one of our companion animals to old age and/or illness.

Circle of Strength: A Ritual for Times of Change

By Lara Vesta

I come from a line of powerful women. My great-grandmother birthed her 12 children alone with her husband on the Canadian steppes. The nearest town was 70 miles away. My other great-grandmother, the scandalous one, was the child of a wealthy Irish family until she threw away her inheritance to sing opera. They remind me that we, all of us, have that strength as our potential.

Rituals to Restore & Refresh the Spirit

By Janna Henning

People in helping roles, such as therapists, ministers, and hospice workers, bring great compassion and empathy to their work as they care for those who suffer. We deeply resonate with the pain of others as we serve them, but continual exposure to stories about trauma, pain, and loss may make us vulnerable to negative physical, psychological, emotional, and spiritual effects. Exhaustion, physical illness, and despair may not only harm us, but reduce our ability to assist others or participate fully as positive change agents in the world.

Honoring Everyday Transitions: "Do, Be"

By Robyn Greene

Best Post Ever

By Sheri Reda

We’re savvy, right? We post our thoughts on blogs, our invitations on Evite, our ideas on Facebook and Pinterest. We text, tweet, and email until we’re surprised when we look up and see a flesh-and-blood face. But my cousin in Portland tells me another kind of posting has sprung up and flowered like mint along the streetscape there.