In the course of my dissertation research, the subject of the differences between ritual and ceremony arose as one of the spontaneous questions under consideration. There are many ways to use the words and people tend to gravitate towards one over the other. I realized in our conversation, that I perceive a distinction between the two words and use them in slightly different contexts, but it is difficult to pinpoint the exact difference. Is it just personal preference? Is it tradition or habit? How do you use the two words?
I find that for myself personally I have increasingly begun using the word “ceremony,” because to me it denotes something dynamic and alive. Ritual sometimes implies repetition or roteness. Ceremony implies living, changing, evolving, as well as celebration. I think ceremony is about a sacred approach to the world. However, both can be a collection of actions, a sacred container for experiencing and shared experience, and a process of honoring and celebrating. I also use the terms somewhat interchangeably–i.e. “a women’s ritual” or a “ceremony for my pregnant friend.” I’ve still been trying to puzzle out the distinction between when and how I use the words. We have “full moon rituals” and seasonal rituals and then I have “ceremonies” for specific occasions–like a maiden ceremony or a baby naming ceremony. I’ve also noticed that ceremony feels like a “safer” and more expansive word to me when describing what I do, because ritual might sometimes be associated with “ritualistic” which can have negative, “occult,” or abuse-associated connotations for some people.
I recently finished a book that has been waiting on my shelf for a long time, In the Shadow of the Shaman, by Amber Wolfe and she notes the same: “the very words ceremony and ritual have so many different interpretations that we may become confused and frustrated.”
She offers three basic approaches to the concepts:
“Native American. Ritual has to do with acts of Nature energies, primarily shamanic. Ceremonies have to do with set forms of spiritual connections.
Western Occult. Ritual has to do with energies of soul or spiritual levels, set form. Ceremonies have to do with Nature or elemental energies, some set form.
Aquarian Format. Ritual is set form; specific words are used, although you may construct these beforehand from your own blend of traditions. Once ritual is begun, it follows a set format, regardless. This can be most important for acts of active magick when the energies become intensely focused and specific. Ceremony is free-flowing. Emerging energies are incorporated in the basic format. Some traditional ritual formats are used in ceremony to being and to end the events.”
In this context, Wolfe primarily identifies ritual as set or fixed and ceremony as free-flowing, spontaneous, or co-creative. Living ceremony.
The dictionary also seems to overlap the two without clear distinction, describing ceremony in terms of ritual:
-
a formal act or series of acts prescribed by ritual, protocol, or convention <the marriage ceremony>
And, ritual in terms of ceremony:
- done as part of a ceremony or ritual
Both words get the mark of perhaps connoting meaninglessness or roteness:
-
For ceremony: 2 a : a conventional act of politeness or etiquette <the ceremony of introduction> b : an action performed only formally with no deep significance c : a routine action performed with elaborate pomp. prescribed procedures : usages <the ceremony attending an inauguration> b : observance of an established code of civility or politeness
- For ritual: always done in a particular situation and in the same way each time. Done in accordance with social custom or normal protocol <ritual handshakes> <ritual background checks>
In my research group, the women turned the question over, with one reversing my own use of the terms (ritual = more habitual, scripted, and formulaic and ceremony = living, evolving, active, and embodied) explaining that in her experience: Although ritual can involve ceremony to a lesser or greater degree – the ceremonial aspects are simply trappings. They are the outward visible signs of an inward reality – the embodiment of the ritual enactment within the participants.
On the one hand, “doing ceremony” can be seen as trivializing ritual, the ritual process, the ritual prayer. It is an outward sign. How many times have we experienced ritual – liturgy – perhaps in a traditional church setting, and known that the presider is simply going through the motions. The presider is “doing ceremony” or “saying the mass” — there is no determinable connection with those present. If one acknowledges such things, Spirit is lacking, although many in attendance will contest that observation. However, and I have experienced this myself, when the presider truly connects Higher Power and with those in attendance — truly becomes that vessel of connection — is embodied, then ritual is transformative.
In the book Sacred Ceremony by Steven Farmer, he differentiates the two based on how they change or not. Ritual, to him, is something that doesn’t change–it is always done the same way. Ceremony, to him, is alive and evolves, adapts, and changes.
Another participant pointed out that ritual is the way of enacting ceremony. The two cannot be separated—ceremony is used as a noun and ritual is used as an adjective (though this isn’t actually the case in common use, in which ritual is often used as a noun).
As I’ve typed, I realize that I may personally be more likely to use “ritual” in terms of holidays/calendar-associated events and ceremony with regard to life passages, rites of passage and celebration.
I would love to continue to expand this section. What are the differences in the words to you? Which do you prefer using? Do you use both, but in different contexts or purposes? Is one an inner experience and one an outer one? Is one solitary and one communal? Does your choice of word depend on your “audience”?
—
If you feel the call to gather the women for ritual and ceremony and if you thrive in a small group atmosphere with lots of support, interaction, feedback, and personal attention you can work with me in-depth in two powerful, immersive trainings:
I have a strong connection to ‘ritual’ that I have to do some work on. 🙂 Growing up Catholic, I get the above, the ‘roteness’ of ritual where you aren’t paying attention nor putting your ‘heart’ into it. I think ritual is so very powerful for us humans as it gives us a ‘safe’ time proven comfortable container to reach divinity, but at the same time, I always bristle at the thought of ‘things having to be done a certain way’. One of my biggest draws to women’s circles and this movement in general is its emphasis on learning to listen within where I believe divinity resides in all of us. I don’t believe that God or Goddess or Divinity can only be found in one manner by placing such and such in this and thataway while etc etc etc. I think it is a changing, evolving thing where we continually have to listen and follow our intuition as long as it is for the ‘good of all’.
Thanks, Karen! I think ritual is a powerful word too. I’ve noticed myself moving away from it because of the association with “rote” though, but I think it can be a living fabric of connection. As I’ve thought about it tonight, the more I think of the two words working together–we do ritual for ceremony…we have ceremonial rituals…this ritual is part of our ceremony…
Wow! I don’t know right now. But it sure is fun to think about it!
My understanding is that ritual is created specifically for healing, to enable or bring about a transformation or alchemical event. This may be individually, or in a group
Ceremony for me is more about celebration – and possibly a more public event.