thread: 2007-01-10 : Some questions about worship
On 2007-01-11, xenopulse wrote:
When I was, oh, 11 or 12, a couple of Turkish friends of mine said they had a secret. But if they shared the secret with me, I'd fall under its obligation. I, curious as ever, wanted to know. So they said, whenever I see a dead animal, I have to hold on to my hair, or it'll fall out when I turn 16 (I think it was).
So I did.
Of course, I realized that nothing would happen if I didn't do it. But I had transformed the gesture—for me, it turned into a way to pay respect to the dead animal. To announce, silently and mostly to myself, that its death was meaningful, that it was an occasion worthy of noticing and acknowledging.
I cut my hair to 1/4 inch these days, but I place my hand on the back of my neck whenever I see a dead animal.
I think you might be doing the same thing.
Rituals like this are a way in which we pause to take note, and to acknowledge and express the import of a moment, event, or situation.
(Like when the GM in a FATE game offers a fate point to compel an aspect in a thematically appropriate moment, causing everyone to pause, take note, acknowledge, consider ... :)
Most rituals are in some way founded in or shaped by religion, but they're not necessarily prayer or worship just because they're ritualistic.
