This time of year is a time of change and growth for many reasons. Summer is taking hold, coaxing the spring blooms into booming florals and ripening fruit.
Typically, graduations happen this time of year—though this year, of course, things are a little different.
You might find yourself wanting to celebrate that rite of passage or another event with some sort of ceremony. We can emerge from our rite of passage with a changed attitude, a renewal of purpose. When we do this, it is important to reflect on what we have been through and where we want to go.
I would like to suggest a Threshold Ceremony to celebrate your own special accomplishment—you could do a zoom Threshold Ceremony or a private one . . . whatever seems right to you.
Here’s how you do it:
- Choose or establish a threshold
You can step through a doorway in your house, you can draw a line in the dirt or sand, make a line of rocks or step over a tree branch you might find. This threshold is symbolic of crossing over from one chapter of your life to the next, so it can be as elaborate or as simple as feels right to you.
- Set an intention
The most important part of any ceremony, simple or with pomp and circumstance, is to set an intention beforehand. Are you leaving one phase of your life behind for another? A good intention for something like that would be “I will show strength and courage in this new phase of my life,” or “I will prioritize my own growth.” Pick an intention that feels personal to you
- Step up to the threshold
Literally step up to the threshold you have chosen and think of what you have accomplished and what you have been through, create a poem about it, speak it out loud, or to yourself. Allow yourself to feel any emotions that come with that . . . the sadness of completion and the excitement for a new beginning. You want to imagine giving all of your feelings regarding your transition to the earth and look down. Imagine giving all your thoughts and beliefs to the sky and look up as you do that. These thoughts could be things like . . . “Not sure I can do this,” and “Can I do this?” Allow yourself to feel gratitude for what you have accomplished. These are the types of thoughts that can occur during a transition period.
- Cross over the threshold, into the new chapter of your life
Physically step across the threshold, and imagine your future. Feel the excitement or feelings you associate with the future and look down. Then think of the thoughts and beliefs you have about the future and look up.
- Complete the ceremony with some sort of food
Many ceremonies end with a feast, but you could eat something very simple if you’d rather keep this a personal ceremony. This is the way to integrate all that you have thought and felt within the ceremony.
Use your creativity to design a Threshold Ceremony that is best for you!
