L.O.V.E

By Fiona Winchester

Arriving by the banks of Loch Tay for our second Rites and Rituals training weekend, I have just returned hours earlier from a very fun, active, hectic February break with my two little people and their dad. One of those holidays that are brilliant, but you need another holiday to recover! And there is no better place to do it. To stop and breathe.

For this weekend together, I and three other ceremonialists were given the task of creating an altar. To gather round and set our intention for another successful weekend of training. To connect with the forces of the universe.  And, if last weekend is anything to go by, to laugh, cry, share so many stories.

We have chosen the theme of 'Love' for this altar. It is Valentines Weekend after all. Everyone has brought something that to them, represents love. In all it’s forms. My offering is some foliage collected from the forest floor by my little loves this week. I carry them with me always but how special it felt to have a physical reminder of their presence in front of me throughout the weekend.

And as I reflect on this now, I realise the letters L.O.V.E. all stand for the things that are making this learning journey together, so special.

L is for Lindy.

Our co-leader on this adventure, full of so much wisdom. The woman with the plan – even if she does try and claim to be making it up as she goes. Her guidance, wide knowledge, humour and deep spirituality are all helping shape us to be better at the job we do. Give us something to truly aspire to. To improve the skills we already have – most of them because she trained us – and to learn so much more, including the practicalities of performing legal marriages.

We are truly peeling back the layers to explore so much about Ourselves.

This weekend, this is through a cacao ceremony, inner child meditation and by witnessing each other’s ceremonies on New Beginnings. Covering a variety of themes from retirement and adoption to baby naming, and the conflict in the Middle East; each was powerful to witness and so different in their own way. Each individual bringing an essence of who they are and taking it into ceremony with them. A training exercise yes, but also to explore themes within our own lives. For me, I wrote a ceremony I wish I'd had at a certain point in my journey. A cathartic experience, and one I am so grateful to have had the chance to undertake.

V is for Victoria.

Our second co-founder in the Rites and Rituals experience. Someone you feel like you’ve known your whole life, after just a couple of minutes. Spirituality just oozes from Victoria and what a safe pair of hands to hold you through all the different emotions this kind of training can bring. I’m learning so much about ceremonial and spiritual practice from this lady. And my goodness, does she make you laugh!

And finally, Each other.

There are 4 of us taking this round of training and some of us have been stepping into ceremony for longer than others.  For myself, I am very early on the learning curve and I feel beyond fortunate to be learning from and alongside such an incredible group of people. Spread throughout Scotland, the connection we made for the first time just a few weeks ago here at the Big Shed has held strong. Our community is loving, so supportive and kind. With every shared experience we are getting to know each other better and holding each other through all kinds of different highs and lows.

For now, it’s back to work putting all our skills learned into practice. And we’ll be together again in a few weeks time. Already at the halfway mark in this stage of the journey.