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Home > Experiencing Ritual Fellowship When Practicing As A Solitary
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Experiencing Ritual Fellowship When Practicing as a Solitary by The Petal
Often I have been asked why I practice as a Solitary and if I have always celebrated alone. The answer to the second question is yes. While I have invited a select few to join me in a special celebration or a ritual, I have actively chosen to study, practice my Craft, and develop my Spirituality as a solitary seeker.
However, answering the first question is not as simple. Why do I choose the solitary path? I suppose the easiest reason I could give is that I prefer to have the Divine "all to myself" when I celebrate a Full Moon or mark the seasons with a special ritual. By choosing to engage in my practice alone, I am free to design my own celebration, ad lib when the mood strikes me, and focus on growing my own Spirituality.
Still, there are moments in which I would enjoy the fellowship of like-minded practitioners, those also sharing a similar path who would be happy to join me in the Circle, bringing their own unique vision of Divinity. True, there have been moments of sudden longing, specifically when I yearn for the companionship of women, coming together, sharing the same steps, building a sphere of energy that grows and brings to light the Divine that resides in all of us.
For quite a long time, that opportunity eluded me. I simply resigned myself to an understanding that if I chose to exclude others from my Spiritual practice, then I would also have to accept that I would not have the opportunity to share in the unique experience of a group celebration.
Then one day, I found myself with a friend in a beginners' belly dance class. It was challenging, fun, and... Spiritual! I am not sure exactly when the realization came upon me, but after several classes, concentrating on keeping the beat, I took a moment to look deep into the mirrored wall and surveyed the diverse group of women moving in unison. I watched how we followed the teacher, our Priestess - if you will indulge me - intent on learning each move, carrying ourselves with grace, while naturally revealing that spark of Divinity that resides in each one of us. The energy, fueled by our laughter and encouragement, was tangible. It was there in that room I discovered as a solitary that I still could find ways to ritually celebrate with others while retaining my own private path. While I did not know the religious or spiritual beliefs of the other women, I could certainly share in the collective desire to practice this very divine dance in the company of women.
Once this realization came to me, I then saw the opportunity in my yoga practice, and reached out to find a class that focused on the Divinity within. Now, at the end of each yoga session, the teacher invites us all - male and female - to form a circle in which we raise our hands, palms towards our neighbors, yet not touching. We breathe deep, and then exhale the powerful Aum, each participant feeling the energy stretching from our neighbor's hands, combining with our own. It is truly an exercise in experiencing one another's singular Divinity.
I may prefer to walk my chosen path as a Solitary Practitioner, but certainly, there is something powerful about moving in unison with others or focusing on the same pose, each practitioner intent on his or her movement, the bend of the arm, a turn of the head, taking a step in the rhythm... For those of us who will continue to travel joyously along the Solitary Path, we DO have opportunities to experience the group's journey. A creative Spirit will certainly find a way to do so.
About the Author
With best blessings to all seekers...
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