Happy December!
We watched the film Conclave over the holiday weekend. It’s a beautifully-filmed mystery/thriller with top-notch actors at their best. The story is based on a novel by Robert Harris. As the title indicates, it’s about a papal conclave occurring to choose the next pope. The mystery/thriller part are a number of secrets and scandals surrounding the process and the people involved. The story keeps you guessing to the very end. Given the setting, the gripping and atmospheric film portrays lots of ritual and symbolism.
I’d already been thinking this past month about signs and rituals. I have a peace lily that’s lived with us for almost 14 years. It was given to our family by a cousin for my dad’s funeral in December of 2010. The plant’s gone through some ups and downs over fourteen years, as have we all. It’s been repotted at least three times and lived in several different rooms. In the earlier years, it bloomed more often. Now it blooms sporadically. Whenever the plant shoots out a flower, I get very excited. My ritual is to respond, “Hi, Dad!” No, I don’t think my dad lives in the plant. I do think he lives among us, those who love him. And when I see the flower, I’m reminded that his presence is with us.
As I mentioned, the plant’s been in various rooms throughout the house. Recently I moved the peace lily to a sunnier location. I sensed it needed more light. And at the beginning of November, it produced THREE blooms. It hasn’t produced multiple blooms since the early years. This happened to coincide with a time when I needed a little extra cheer, a little more of my dad’s encouragement. Again, I don’t claim any sort of direct or divine intervention. It’s a symbol to me. A sign. Things will be what they will be. And things will be okay. And also, maybe there is something more. Some mystery. Some alignment. Some force. Something we don’t know. I like to think that.
Most of my life was steeped in Catholicism, although I’m not currently involved in any formal religious practice. There’s an appeal to the rituals and symbols of religious traditions. All of them. And also we can find a sense of the sacred, through symbols and rituals, in our daily lives in many ways. The peace lily is an example. There’s lots of symbolism in the natural world throughout the turning of the seasons. That’s an easy place to start. And we can make a ritual of things we do on a daily basis, like our morning routine, or on a seasonal basis, like decorating the Christmas tree. A ritual is different than a tradition in that it’s a series of actions performed in a certain order. For example, a morning routine might include exercise, then coffee, then journaling, then shower in that order. Or decorating the tree might involve first lights, then garland, then ornaments. Although, to be honest, I don’t think it’s necessary to get into semantics. If we consider something a ritual, then it’s a ritual to us.
A comforting ritual for me is to sit reading with my legs stretched out on the sofa by the big picture window. Covered by a favorite old soft blanket. With comfy soft socks on my feet. And I did that this holiday weekend too! I had a chance to read The Serviceberry: Abundance and Reciprocity in the Natural World by Robin Wall Kimmerer, which I mentioned in “Cultivating gratitude” two weeks ago. I highly recommend this short, thoughtful, and inspiring book. It’s beautifully illustrated too. At just over 100 pages, it’s a quick read. I plan to reread it soon with a highlighter in hand.
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As we enter December and into the various winter and year-end celebrations
may we find signs and symbols of comfort and peace
even among the uncertainty of these times
may we delight in the rituals and traditions that nurture us
and forgo those that don’t
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With gratitude and care,
Mary
I love this - it seems like this time of year brings out many rituals and traditions that bring me comfort and joy! From the simple ritual of switching out to the flannel sheets and fleece blankets or starting the first puzzle of 'puzzle season' to the honored tradition of making mom and dad's stuffing recipe and puling out all the kid's ornaments from Mom. I not only enjoy these rituals and traditions but I like to think the kids will continue many of them which makes me happy.
On a side note, I am glad you enjoyed the movie. The twists and turns really kept my interest and the acting and cinematography were excellent!