My friend Marc, had some questions regarding tradition and community in response to my reflections on our ceremony, and I think it’s worth a post.
Tradition helps us stay grounded in history which is absolutely essential if we are to adapt to change well. It’s a paradox really. Adapt yet ground in history. So, we as a community must know and celebrate (or even lament) our history, and yet we must continue to build new ways of doing ceremony and ritual.
What are your questions on community? What have you been thinking about in regards to community, community building, connecting in relationship, etc? I want to spend as…… Read more “What are your questions on community?”
How does one envision a wedding as a community transforming event? How do two people hold space for a celebration out of deep authenticity and steer clear of the “shoulds” and appropriate ways to do a wedding? But it is important for me to note that when we are seeking to build and transform community, every event, every aspect of our lives, has to be considered with the community in mind. EVERY aspect… especially ceremony and celebration.
For those of us who have not traveled around the world, cannot afford to sit with the greatest teachers, or don’t have the resources to take extravagant vision quests, we need not be discouraged. Sometimes those who have seen the world over, have a great difficulty truly seeing what is right in front of them.
Changing the world is not as hard as you think. The relationships and community gatherings that we engage in ripple outward far beyond what we can even know. Every person I engage with has their own set of people they engage with, and so on and so on. What ripples are you witnessing… or not witnessing?
Nathan Bettger | Oshkosh, WI 