Interview with the alternative practitioner and bestselling author Roswitha Stark about the book “Rituals in the Yearly Cycle”: “Let us honor Mother Earth, make people healthy and heal nature!”

"Our ancestors knew the importance of rituals, the power of mindful actions and the effect of certain syllables and words. In such moments, people feel connected to one another and generate a healing energy that allows them to become one with nature. This heals nature and in turn allows us to heal in body, soul and spirit." In the completely revised new edition of her guide " Rituals in the Annual Cycle ", Roswitha Stark presents the essential stations from the Celtic and Germanic annual cycle and gives the reader valuable tools to connect cosmic information with the energy of Mother Earth and thus contribute to the common good and the healing of all that is.

The second, completely revised edition of "Rituals in the Yearly Cycle" is being published in a year in which everything is different. How did you experience the time with Corona, and what influence did this situation have on your book?

Roswitha Stark: I always try to see the positive in everything that happens. This time it was mainly the aspect of retreat. We suddenly couldn't distract ourselves as much as before, many had to stay within their four walls and were forced to focus more on themselves. An unusual thing for many people. But nature also retreats into itself in its natural cycles in autumn/winter in order to regenerate, gather new strength and prepare itself in peace for the active, outflowing time in spring. Then it is strong and can delight and nourish us with its gifts like every year. It was a huge joy for me that nature and the earth had a breather, the air became cleaner and the dolphins returned to the otherwise very busy coasts. Simply wonderful.

In many cultures, the cycle of the year is celebrated as a symbol of life. What stages and festivals are traditionally distinguished?

Roswitha Stark: Different cultures have different festivals, which were and are usually celebrated in honour of God or several gods and goddesses. In our latitudes, you can see that the traditional rites and festivals are very much oriented towards the seasons, which is not so important for the rainforest peoples, for example, where the climate hardly fluctuates over the course of the year. In this country, people either follow the church-Christian rhythm with festivals such as Easter, Pentecost, the Assumption of Mary, etc., or the traditions of our Celtic and Germanic ancestors, which are particularly popular in spiritual circles because they are so close to nature. Here, for example, Candlemas is called Imbolc and All Souls' Day is called Samhain . These old names alone carry the flair and power of Mother Earth. For my book, I based myself on the eight essential stations in the rhythm of the year that our ancestors celebrated as homage to the earth and at the same time as strengthening the body, soul and spirit.

What rituals are performed on these occasions and what significance do they have for people and nature?

Roswitha Stark: If you objectively compare the rituals of the church and the shamanic tradition, you will find that they are not that different from each other. In the church, incense is burned, which is also very popular in alternative circles, to create protection and blessings. In both traditions, the decorations are beautiful and the room where the ceremony takes place is entered with care. Special words are recited that gain power simply because they are spoken so carefully and consciously and combined with body gestures or ritual actions. In such moments, people feel more connected to one another, no one is alone anymore, and the group generates a great force that can bring about changes. What these changes are, of course, depends on the intention. My personal goal is to help nature become healthier so that we humans, who are part of nature ourselves, can also become healthy in body, soul and spirit, because this will not succeed if we are separated from nature. We need a natural rhythm again, we need to live in harmony with it again.

In today's world, rapid change seems to be the only certainty. What role can rituals play in the annual cycle?

Roswitha Stark: First of all, rituals simply offer us a time out, whether that is going to church on Sunday or a trip to the power place where a shaman has built a stone circle. We take ourselves out of our everyday lives and meet like-minded people who, like us, intend to contribute something to the common good. The stations in the annual cycle are a good opportunity to strengthen ourselves and give something back to Mother Earth, who nourishes us all with her wonderful treasures. We are often so caught up in our everyday thoughts and work worries that we have lost gratitude for the treasures of this universe: the joy of an apple, which is both food and love, or the wonder of the moon and the stars in the sky. Just as the heart, our innermost body and soul center, keeps us in rhythm with ourselves, regularly performed rituals bring us into harmony with life itself. If you get involved, you simply feel the incredible power that comes from such opportunities.

In your book, you combine the traditional rituals of the annual calendar with modern methods of information medicine and quantum consciousness. What does this mean and how is it put into practice?

Roswitha Stark: I was very happy to adopt the eight essential stations from the Celtic and Germanic annual cycle, also to honor our ancestors, who ultimately gave us the potential that we live with here. From modern holistic methods such as family constellations, we know how strongly we are shaped and influenced by our ancestors and their belief patterns. But for me, these stations are actually more archetypal representatives of the laws of life and its phases of change, which include birth and growing up as well as old age, dying and death. These laws are evident in all things in nature, and we can never escape them, as much as we would like to. Modern physics has examined how consciousness, especially our thoughts and feelings, which are nothing more than frequencies and vibrations, influence our realities, our "fate." The ancients knew this too, even if we no longer know it! They knew about the power of mindfulness in actions and the effect of certain syllables and words, which they used for magical purposes for good reason. Today we know that water, including cellular water, stores thoughts, words and actions as information and can influence physiological processes in the body - both positively and negatively. We choose the actions, words and tools in the ritual in such a way that harmoniously vibrating information is generated that benefits everyone involved in this beautiful world. My "tools" that I provide here are eight powerful geometries in the form of crystal cards that I have developed individually for each festival. This essentially downloads the cosmic information of Heaven as Father and connects it with the energy of Mother Earth; this is good for us and our bodies, and it lasts long and is noticeable beyond the ritual!

In the introduction to the new edition, you write that it is not a "normal" ritual book, like some good ones already on the market. What is special about "Rituals in the Yearly Cycle" and who do you want to reach with it?

Roswitha Stark: It is a book of currently "strengthened consciousness", and so it is aimed at all people who are not stuck in the past, but want to combine what can still powerfully support us from earlier times with modern quantum consciousness. It is aimed at people who know that thoughts and feelings create our realities and who, in this sense, want to take full responsibility for themselves and our home planet Earth. That is not possible without being in all your power and clarity. The special symbol energies in this book help us to fill ourselves with one hundred percent of the necessary self-awareness, and then we can also support the planet and its creatures with all our unadulterated power.

To which readers are you addressing your message? Do you need to have certain prerequisites or knowledge to perform the rituals?

Stark: I am addressing all readers who are ready to step out of the hectic pace of everyday life and contribute something to the common good and to the healing of our unique planet - there is plenty to do. For me, every celebration and every ritual is consciousness work at the highest level, which is why I believe that respect, mindfulness and love for the earth and the universe are the necessary prerequisites; selfish motives must take a back seat so that healing can take place for the benefit of all creatures. I offer numerous meditations and spiritual journeys in the book, which can also be carried out alone or read mindfully during the ritual. This is not difficult, and it is not necessary to be "experienced in rituals". I like to have normal, grounded people with me who do not float around in distant spheres, because that does not help the healing of the earth or ourselves. An open heart and the willingness to feel what is coming is enough. The crystal cards shown in the book are very helpful here, for example by placing your hands on them or simply thinking of them.

How can I personally benefit from the stabilizing power of rituals?

Stark: A cosmic law states: as within, so without, as above, so below. This means that we are connected to everything that exists, and every action, even every thought, has an effect on everything. This is why every act of love - and this is what the rituals in this book symbolize - has a direct effect on the power of love within us. And love ultimately creates health! For each station, there are also personal details listed, which are particularly important for the individual now and should be integrated into life. In this way, the rituals allow us to become whole again in body and soul and bring us into harmony with nature.

Tip:
Roswitha Stark: "Rituals in the annual cycle. Harmonization and self-healing in the rhythm of nature." Extra: With powerful symbols and soul meditations. Mankau Verlag, 2nd completely revised edition 2020, paperback, format 16 x 22 cm, color, 207 pages. 15.95 euros (D) / 16.40 euros (A), ISBN 978-3-86374-573-8

Link recommendations:
Further information on the guide “Rituals in the Year”
More about the author Roswitha Stark
To the Internet forum with our authors and readers