| Abstract: | Myth and ritual are the keys to collective and individual cognitive consonance. Because the postmodern cultural landscape is littered with “broken” myths, people need to learn how to birth viable symbols and create contemporary rituals. This article examines ritual from theoretical, clinical, and practical perspectives. Symbolic cognition and its relation to myth and ritual are discussed. A typology of ritual is abstracted from phenomenological sources. Examples of liberation, transformation, and celebration rituals are given. Elements commonly employed in ritual activity are identified as guides to ritual construction. Finally, suggestions are given concerning how to create powerful and effective personal rituals. |
