After the Rite
You are not finished just because the ceremony is over! The clergy and other organizers still have things they will need to do afterward. [See Chapter 12, Post-Ritual Cleanup and Critiques.]
When the occasion is appropriate, you should follow a successful ritual with a party, or at least some celebratory food and drink. It's true that the prospect of coffee hour afterward is what often brings folks to attend ceremonies week after week, but I have something more in mind here. Strong, well-performed liturgies will satisfy the conscious and superconscious minds of the participants, but their subconscious minds will prefer their rewards a bit earthier. Your inner child usually appreciates a chance to relax and have fun with old and new friends. Eating and drinking also help folks to ground out any excess mana not gotten rid of previously.
Now that we have a clear idea of the abstract structure of an effective liturgy, let's take a look at the first of many practical factors that will decide how well your liturgical design can be executed.
Last updated on Wednesday, April 1, 2009.
