CORE COURSE

Rituals & Ceremonies 101

Rituals and rites of passage help us to observe death and grieve well. In this class we will look at a spectrum of rituals and ceremonies, both ancient and homemade, that can be adapted into meaningful end of life ceremonies.

Rituals can connect us to our community, guide our understanding, preserve customs, express future wishes, restore a sense of order, and empower us. They are as central to our lives as they were to our ancestors. Rituals arise out of our cultural heritage, religious beliefs or just something the family has always done. No matter their source, rituals usually involve a transition from one place or stage to another, just as we leave this earth to go on to something else. In this course, we honor and explore the many rites of passage that have been practiced across times and cultures.