The Power of Ritual: Turning Everyday Activities into Soulful Practices

(Paperback)

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The rare book that really might change your life. It has certainly changed mine. John Green, Author ofThe Fault in Our Stars
Casper ter Kuile, a Harvard Divinity School fellow and cohost of the popularHarry Potter and the Sacred Textpodcast, explores how we can nourish our souls by transforming common, everyday practices yoga, reading, walking the dog into sacred rituals that can heal our crisis of social isolation and struggle to find purpose.

After half a decade of research and hundreds of conversations with people around the country, I am convinced we are in the midst of a paradigm shift. That what used to hold us in community no longer works, and that the spiritual offerings of yesteryear no longer help us thrive.
Casper ter Kuile

What do Soul Cycle, gratitude journals, and tech breaks have in common For ter Kuile they offer rituals that create the foundation for our modern spiritual lives.

We are in crisis today. Our modern technological society has left too many of us no matter our ages feeling isolated and bereft of purpose. Previous frameworks for building community and finding meaning no longer support us. Yet ter Kuile reveals a hopeful new message: we might not be religious, but that doesnt mean we are any less spiritual.
Instead, we are in the midst of a paradigm shift in which we seek belonging and meaning in secular practices. Today, we find connection in:

CrossFit and SoulCycle, which offer a sense of belonging rooted in accountability and support much like church groups
Harry Potterand other beloved books that offer universal lessons
Gratitude journals, which have replaced traditional prayer
Tech breaks, which provide mindful moments of calm

InThe Power of Ritual, ter Kuile invites us to deepen these ordinary practices as intentional rituals that nurture connection and wellbeing. With wisdom and endearing wit, ter Kuiles call for ritual is ultimately a call to heal our loss of connection to ourselves, to others, and to our spiritual identities.

The Power of Ritualreminds us that what we already do every day matters and has the potential to become a powerful experience of reflection, sanctuary, and meaning.

Reviews

The Power of Ritualis essential reading for anyone interested in how to find meaning in our strange, new world. Bursting with wisdom and compassion, this is the rare book that really might change your life. It has certainly changed mine. John Green, Author ofThe Fault in Our Stars

Casper ter Kuile continues to have his pulse on this generation's search for meaning. Building on the incredible work of How We Gather,The Power of Ritualoffers a radical proposition: we decide what's sacred.
- Priya Parker, author ofThe Art of Gathering

Casper ter Kuile's book is genuinely wise and utterly useful: it offers you the opportunity to remake your life in small but vital ways that will leave you happier, calmer, and more able to do the work that must be done on this planet. A classic the day it is published! Bill McKibben, author ofRadio Free Vermont

If you are passionate about community building or simply seeking what feels good in life and how to get more of itconsider this book your new bible. Cleo Wade, Author ofHeart TalkandWhere to Begin

Human beings are made to experience the transcendent, for worship and, though this might surprise many people, for ritual as well. Casper ter Kuile invites our increasingly secular world to discover the sacred in the midst of the everyday and turn our days into rituals of joy, praise and gratitude. James Martin, SJ, author ofThe Jesuit Guide to (Almost) EverythingandJesus: A Pilgrimage

As we reimagine our relationships, with self, one another and nature,The Power of Ritualprovides deep insight into traditions both new and old. Brilliant. Elizabeth Cutler, Co-Founder of Soul Cycle

The Power of Ritualhas a startling message: feeling better isnt about adding new things, but rather about seeing what we have through new eyes. Evan Sharp, Co-Founder of Pinterest

A thoughtful debut.Those who are beginning to explore spirituality will find many rich ideas. Publishers Weekly

Author Bio

CASPER TER KUILE is the co-host of the award-winning #1 podcast Harry Potter and the Sacred Text, a Ministry Innovation Fellow at Harvard Divinity School, co-founder of think tank How We Gather, and former Executive Director of the On Being Impact Lab. His work has been featured in the New York Times, Boston Globe, PBS, Vice, The Atlantic, Washington Post, and more as a leading voice on the future of religion in America. He has presented his research to religious leaders and Silicon Valley CEOs alike at Aspen Ideas Festival, Institute for the Future, AAR/SBL, and more. Visit him at caspertk.com