12 Ways to Celebrate Your Loved One With Easy To Do Rituals
Human beings have a biological need for rituals, traditions, and habits that honor how we organize our world and the universe. Rituals link us to the past and help us cope, connect us to those things greater than us, heal our lives, celebrate or raise up life’s major changes and turning points and allow us to examine all that they hold dear for us, move emotions, gather to find strength with others, find some meaning, and some peace. Rituals are a way to create sacred energetic boundaries within the universe. It’s a space you own and space you control with your spirit mind your heart and your presence. The term “ritual” sounds like an elaborate [or religious] task but can actually be quite personal, simple, and natural to be effective.
Everyone knows, of course about the ritual of a funeral memorial or a life celebration, but bringing ritual into your daily life, helps keep you connected to the love, and the essence of your loved one. In a way it keeps the best parts of them alive and connected to you. Even taking the time to tell [or blog or post] a happy story of your Loved One once week, or light a candle in their name, or frequent their favorite coffee [or ice cream!] shop and pay for another person’s order, can be powerful rituals that matter and that keep the love going.
Create a home altar for them in a place where you can honor and connect with them, tell them about your day, talk to them, and include them in your life. Some basic altar elements:
a photograph of them
light a candle
a vase with fresh flowers
perhaps some food
little mementos and keepsakes
special crystals
little talismans
any jewelry of theirs
things that they really loved
photos of places that they went
photos of people they loved or would want to watch over
Adopt a pet to create more life and love in the world
Create a garden as a space to celebrate them, meditate, and connect with them
Do a neighborhood library box or bench with at their favorite spot with their story posted
Plant a tree - in a park with a plaque or just go to Nature Conservancy and plant a whole bunch of trees
Name a star after them Star Registration
Perform Random Acts of Kindness for them like paying for school lunches, or giving gifts
Name a child, pet, or building after them and share with everyone the story of your Loved One
Start a legacy for them; a scholarship, a regular table at a local restaurant with free food for people down on their luck, anything that fits who the were and what mattered to them.
Donate to charities that they would have appreciated [animal rescues, children’s charities, military families, etc.]
Spend time with someone they loved on a regular basis and share stories about them to keep their light going
Have a Birthday [or Thanoversary - the day they passed] party to celebrate them every year
