AFRICA AND ASIAN RITUALS IN HEALING BUTTERFLY RELEASE CEREMONIES

Butterfly releases are symbolic rituals celebrating change. Similar to helium balloon releases which often represent letting go and dove releases celebrating love or new beginnings butterfly releases are common at graduations, birthday parties, weddings, and funerals. Butterfly releases can be done anytime you wish to mark a special transitional time in your life. Butterfly releases are symbolic rituals celebrating transitions. Butterfly releases are similar to helium balloon releases which often represent letting go and dove releases celebrating love or new beginnings. Releasing butterflies into the skies is done with the intention of recognizing a new chapter in life. Symbolically, the butterfly totem represents light, color, and joy. In feng shui applications the butterfly is a love cure that can be placed in the love relationships and marriage bagua to attract a partner. Butterfly releases are common at graduations, birthday parties, weddings, and funerals, but can be used for anytime you wish to mark a special transitional time in your life. Release butterflies that are farmed commercially are typically packaged individually and will be shipped to you the day prior to your event. Special care needs to be taken regarding the time of year and time of day the butterflies are released into the wild so that they have the best chance of survival.

AFRICA AND ASIAN RITUALS IN HEALING SHAMANISM

Healer South Moluccan Shaman exorcising evil spirits occupying children, Buru. 1920. Shamans gain knowledge and the power to heal by entering into the spiritual world or dimension. Most shamans have dreams or visions that tell them certain things. The shaman may have or acquire many spirit guides in the spirit world, who often guide and direct the shaman in his/her travels. These spirit guides are always present within the shaman though others only encounter them when the shaman is in a trance. The spirit guide energizes the shaman, enabling him/her to enter the spiritual dimension. The shaman heals within the spiritual dimension by returning 'lost' parts of the human soul from wherever they have gone. The shaman also cleanses excess negative energies which confuse or pollute the soul. The wounded healer is archetype for a shamanizing journey. This process is important to the young shaman. She/he undergoes a type of sickness that pushes her or him to the brink of death. This happens for two reasons: 1. The shaman crosses over to the underworld. This happens so the shaman can venture to its depths to bring back vital information for the sick, and the tribe. 2. The shaman must become sick to understand sickness. When the shaman overcomes her or his own sickness s/he will hold the cure to heal all that suffer. This is the uncanny mark of the wounded healer.

AFRICA AND ASIAN RITUALS IN BIRTHDAYS

Birthday Different people have incorporated their own rituals into the birthday celebration, based on spiritual beliefs and ancient cultural traditions. Two of the most significant factors throughout history, however, have been geographic location and spiritual beliefs. In pagan cultures, people feared evil spirits - especially on their birthdays. It was a common belief that evil spirits were more dangerous to a person when he or she experienced a change in their daily life, such as turning a year older. As a result, birthdays were merry occasions celebrated with family and friends, who surrounded the person of honor with laughter and joy in order to protect them from evil. Instead of gifts, most guests brought positive thoughts and happy wishes for the upcoming year. However, if well-wishers did bring gifts, it was considered an especially good influence for the birthday person.

Africa Each year, Asante people in Ghana celebrate "krada" (meaning "Soul Day") on the day of the week that they were born. This observance involves a cleansing ritual intended to purify the inner soul. On a person's krada, he or she wakes up early and washes using a special leaf soaked overnight in water. An afternoon feast with family and friends is held in the persons honor, and the celebrant usually dresses in clothing with a white background.