Rituals apply principles of psychology to shape the experiences, motivations, and behaviors of the participants in desired directions.
To understand some of the motivations behind naturalistic ritual, see Why do Ritual as a Naturalistic Pagan?
Wheel of the Year
The Neopagan Wheel of the Year marks eight points in the sun’s annual cycle. The solstices and equinoxes mark four points, and between these are the cross-quarters. Jon Cleland Host calls the cross-quarters thermistices and equitherms, recognizing the peaks and balances of climatic temperature.
The eight corresponding Neopagan holidays are commonly referred to as sabbats or high days.
Yule / Winter Solstice
- Winter Solstice: A naturalistic ritual for the Cosmos, by B. T. Newberg
- Family Winter Solstice Ritual, by John Halstead
- Winter Solstice, by Glenys Livingstone
Imbolc / Winter Thermistice
Ostara / Vernal Equinox
Beltane / Vernal Equitherm
Litha / Summer Solstice
Lammas / Summer Thermistice
Mabon / Autumnal Equinox
Samhain / Autumnal Equitherm
- Samhain: A naturalistic ritual for the Ancestors, by B. T. Newberg
- Family Mid-Autumn Ritual, by John Halstead
- Samhain, by Glenys Livingstone
My daily practice: Morning ritual – by John Halstead
Pantheist Practices for the Home – by Dave Salyers, in the files section of the Naturalistic Paganism yahoo group.
Pantheist Shrine Service – by Dave Salyers, based upon Shinto, neo-Druidic, and Toteg Tribe practice, in the files section of the Naturalistic Paganism yahoo group.
Grace – Inclusive Prayers for Meals – Good for big family meals during the holidays, in the files section of the Naturalistic Paganism yahoo group.
Invocation of the Spiral of Being – by Rose Welsh, in the files section of the Naturalistic Paganism yahoo group.
Prayer of Thanksgiving – by Rose Welsh, in the files section of the Naturalistic Paganism yahoo group.
Ceremonies for Thresholds of Life – including green burial, by Nora Young
Naturalist weddings – by DT Strain
Other ritual resources
Humanistic Pagan retreat – an experimental model for a home retreat (see individual posts for all seven days)
PaGaian Cosmology – a complete annual cycle of naturalistic rituals; read it online for free
Pagan Chant Library – a collection of common chants compiled at EarthSpirit.org
Ritual for the Spiritual Naturalist – principles, practices, and rituals from a naturalistic perspective, at the Spiritual Naturalist Society