Ascended Ones

[Shin'Ar]

Ritual is a tool. Nothing more or less.
The ritual is a pry bar for your mind. There is nothing that you cant do without a ritual that you can do with one, its aligning oneself to the work needed that is hard part.

Robes, funny hats, special names, all of it dross, but for some, that dross triggers a reaction inside of them. Clears away all the unnecessary BS, gets one tapped into Everything.

If one can reach a place where you do not need what amounts to mnemonic aid, the ritual is superfluous at best.

All of this is not to say that those that use ritual are somehow cobbled by it necessarily. For some its just makes things easier, or is just simply reassuring.

What you acknowledge is very much the case.

Ritual is a matter of establishing both a particular environment and intent that enhances both the focus and the ability to connect.

Much of it is bound to ancient ways that have persisted, and that persistence is more than mere superfluous following. It is as much a means of respect as it is tradition. And a recognition of the many that have connected in this exact way for countless years before.

It is not taught from adept to student that the items and respectful adorning is unnecessary, because it is not an issue of necessity in the first place. It is a matter of following methods handed down from adepts and origins from which there was never any need to question necessity of their methods so long as their methods accomplished the goals.

If such adorning was just a matter of tradition a student might choose to ask about the necessity. But where it also involves sacred symbolism, enhancement of intent, and a means of showing respect to the higher beings connected with, no student would want to question such things.

For instance, if the color of my sash or robe, or a symbol on it, is the favorite color of a higher being with which I have familiarized myself, or some aspect of the ritual is something that such entity specifically asked for in future connections, then whether or not one could make the connection without such adornment is not the priority. Respecting the wishes of the one with which you connect is simple courtesy.

I have far too often had associations with adepts which believed themselves to be powerful and commanded respect because of what they thought was power deserving of respect, and that attitude is what they brought to their circle/fields of connection.

In my thinking such pompous arrogance only serves to reveal a flaw in one's character which the higher fields will immediately recognize, and there are some that will not respond 'well' to it.