Divorce ceremonies and rituals unbind the emotional ties of a relationship in a way impersonal legal paperwork simply cannot possibly address. This unbinding of emotional ties allows individuals and families to move forward with resolve and confidence. (Divorce ceremonies are not to be confused with Divorce Parties, which are often about revenge and covering up resentment.)
Sometimes a couple wishes to symbolically mark their ending with a Divorce Ceremony. But much more often such a ceremony is sought out by a former spouse who is having a difficult time moving on.
If this is you, a Divorce Ceremony will do much more than recognize the hurt your parting has caused. The intentional reflection and planning, along with a meaningful ending ritual such as a Pledge of Release, helps you regain your personal authority. You become the ‘doer’ not the ‘done to’.
It’s important to remember that while a couple has concluded their marriage, it does not mean that the entire marriage was a failure. In virtually every marriage, no matter how dysfunctional, lessons and blessings lay within. A powerful shift takes place when you symbolically take your leave from one time of your life and step forward into a new one.
Think of it as crossing an emotional threshold where you will embrace the opportunities that lie ahead. This happens whether you have ended a marriage or any committed relationship.
Thus the intent of a Divorce Ceremony can be adapted to be a Ceremony of Letting Go, or an Ending Ceremony.
The participant’s emotional transformation is quite dramatic and the effect on family and friends is no less profound, allowing them to address their own hurt. It can take time to view an ended relationship with forgiveness and conciliation.
You may find a ceremony more transformative a year or two after your divorce or relationship break up. Divorce Ceremonies are becoming more common these days.
It is my hope that Divorce Ceremonies will become a broadly accepted way to end a marriage, and respected as a helpful way for individuals and families to move forward with resolve and hope.
This material is protected by Copyright. Celebrant Michele Davidson 2010. No portion may be used without permission of the author.
