Reindeer & Rituals

A Tsaatan child asleep on his reindeer - Photo: Pascal Mannaerts.
The Last Reindeer Tribe

 

As another midwinter comes around, here in London we navigate our way through a mad medley of Christian, Pagan and Capitalist rituals – from turkey dinners, consumer shopping frenzy, carol singing and leaving carrots out for reindeer.  In the face of seasonal overwhelm, how can we find ‘peace and goodwill’ with Midwinter rituals?
Let’s call in Scrooge’s three Ghostly friends to help us.
 
Christmas Past

Ritual is important to us as human beings. It ties us to our traditions and histories  – Miller Williams

Ritual can offer us a connective story-line through time and space - the ritual of posting photos preserves millions of memories on instagram everyday.
I’ve recently had the great honour of conducting St Christopher’s Hospice Choir at two beautiful Remembrance Services.  These powerfully simple services are attended by hundreds of people who light candles, sing and remember together.  Singing in the choir is a healthy, weekly ritual where singers can safely share their feelings with others who have experienced bereavement as part of their recovery.
I've also just completed four wonderful terms of maternity cover at Heart of the City Choir - and trust that the warm connections we have shared will continue in many forms, including participation in cross-choral events including a magical forthcoming Festive Winter Voices Concert in aid of Sydenham Arts.  
My present-day experiences of leading choirs in these diverse settings across London connects me to people and places I still hold in my heart - to my Christmases Past singing around the piano with family while my grandparents were still alive and the beauty of candlelit carol services in my hometown of St Albans Abbey.  Through ritual, we can chart landmarks in our own journeys through time. 
 
Christmas Present

Rituals are the formulas by which harmony is restored.
- Terry Tempest Williams 

As the saying goes, the best present you can give is your presence – and effective rituals are a space where we can enjoy harmonising shared presence – whether it’s volunteering at a Soup Kitchen or partying with friends. Shared rituals build shared communities – at the recent Croydon Diwali Mela in Surrey Street, I was spotted happily singing along with the Gayatri Mantra by a member of the Hindu community who was curious to know where I learned it and to share about his experiences.  Turning up for this ritual brought me gifts of understanding and connection.
To turn up and engage fully requires a process of tuning into which rituals which feel true for us - for me, that means turning down the volume on commercial clamour and decorating the trees in my garden rather than chopping one down.   We can reinvigorate traditional rituals to make them relevant to our modern communities - as part of Festival of Peace Croydon, we are posting pictures of peaceful cultural and arts activities with the hashtag #PeacefulCroydon during December.  

Christmas Future

Resolutions need rituals – Tony Robbins

Rituals can offer us moments of present moment reflection on what we want to create in our lives – whether that’s the ritual of making New Year’s resolutions or taking time out to meditate or exersize before the day begins.
In my choirs we’ve been enjoying singing the Finnish Reindeer Chant - Ole le loila – which brings out a sense of playfulness when we imagine a stampede of reindeer responding to our calls.  In our rituals we become playful, creative, imaginative – and in shifting our present, we create space for something new to happen - the reindeer will surely come any minute now - and in Finland they really do!  
When children play, they repeat the same pleasurable experience - ‘again, again!’ – creating their own rituals.  We are all still children inside and we need magic, playfulness and creativity to lighten our days and the long winter nights.  Changing our reality together in a shared ritual enables us to call in the reindeer or our dreams for the coming year.

Chosen well and infused with our conscious, creative presence, ritual can enable us to remember, become present and create a beautiful legacy for and with our families and communities.
 
Wishing you all a beautiful midwinter that resonates with your heart’s desire




Remembrance Service, St Christopher's Hospice, Bromley

Acts of Creative Rebellion

Fireworks at Crystal Palace - Photo Fluid4Sight

Necessary Rebellion

Nothing is more necessary or stronger in us than rebellion. - George Bataille

To grow we need to continually rebel - whether that's the new generation against the old or the internal dynamic of overcoming our inhibitions.   In this month where we light fires and launch fireworks in remembrance of a daring act of rebellion, we are seeing a great rebellion against oppressive patriarchal abuses of women.  Jo Brand just courageously addressed a panel of men on Have I Got News For You and the #MeToo campaign following the revelations around Harvey Weinstein has released an outpouring of voices calling out sexual abuse and harassment.  This is an absolutely essential rebellion - one that must continue daily as we call out and challenge centuries of patriarchal conditioning.  So here's a few thoughts in celebration of Creative Rebellion for this month...

Rebellion rewards risk taking

Art should comfort the disturbed and disturb the comfortable. - Banksy

Risk taking is at the core of rebellion which invites us beyond the comfort zone into vibrant, vital, authenticity - life lived in the quick of the present from the heart of our deepest longings, passions and convictions.   I am often asked to lead singing groups in large institutions where hierarchy, bureaucracy and politics are often at odds with our humanity.  Singing together immediately restores a sense of human connection as we breathe and raise our voices together.  It requires us to take the risk of being vulnerable through creative expression - we have to let our guard down to allow our voices to rise up.  As we open up to the power of our creativity, we experience a confidence-boosting salve in disturbing times and spaces.  Isolated individuals become knitted together in a supportive creative eco-system - and this act of rebellion against divisive, dehumanising social conditioning can lead to cultural change -  the enormous growth of choirs in healthcare, workplace and community settings is now being backed by government led research.  

Rebellion Raises The Game

Poetry is the lifeblood of rebellion, revolution, and the raising of consciousness.
- Alice Walker

One of the poems I love and return to repeatedly is Maya Angelou's poem And Still I Rise.  Every time I read it, my spirit rises.  It acknowledges centuries of suffering whilst commanding us to rise above feelings of 'victimhood,' imbuing a vital, empowered state of mind.   Creative acts of rebellion such as this incredible poem make us step up, stand up, turn up for ourselves and for others in powerful, meaningful ways.

Rebellion Roars with the Voice of Courage

Real courage is risking something that might force you to rethink your thoughts and suffer change and stretch consciousness. Real courage is risking one's clichés. - Tom Robbins

A recent Miss Peru Pageant challenged the cliches of the beauty industry when instead of stating their body measurements, models listed statistics about violence against women.  They immediately changed up the meaning of 'vital statistics',  clearly demonstrating that it's not about waist measurements, it's about respect and safety for women in Peru and everywhere.   It takes courage to refuse to conform and to insist on living from the healthy, vibrant creativity that gives rise to our unique contribution in life.  It takes that one deep breath to raise your voice for that which makes your heart sing.

Wishing you a radically rebellious November

At Croydon Composers - Photo with thanks to Fluid4Sight