Our June meeting was led by Kay, and we were talking about rituals.

We began with discussing what we do when we meet and greet people, and what we do in other countries, with different cultures. We also talked about the liminal state, the space where there is a possibility of transformation. An example of this is what happens between going to sleep, and waking up in the morning - there is a possibility of transformation during the night time.

Within the ritual of greeting people, there is also the possibility of transformation of each person in the greeting.

We also have our own washing/claims in rituals; the rituals of food - we demonstrated this by sharing some lovely strawberries.

And then there are the daily rituals-getting in touch with our inner self and the outer world, what are the morning, deliberate, conscious things that we do? Some other switch on the radio, we want to hear the news, or read the newspaper. And then some people read e-mails, to come into contact with the outer world, will go out into the garden, or practice yoga or meditation. We discuss the permission that we give ourselves to practice yoga or meditation rituals, and whether women look after other people's needs before making space for these practices.

Homework - to think about, how we prepared to go from sleep to wakefulness and vice versa. To be mindful of the rituals of the transition, the two states and the essential part of our spiritual lives.

Next meeting:

Our July meeting will be held on Tuesday , July 13, at the usual venue at Bath University, the Chaplaincy Centre.

We meet at 7 p.m. for tea, the meeting starts at 7:30 p.m. , ending approximately 9:30 p.m.

Service as a spiritual practice - will be led by Judy Ryde.

Everyone is welcome, if you would like to bring a friend - please feel free.