What are Ritual Films?

In John Mosher’s Healing Circle model there are four healing rituals that are needed in order to heal trauma from the past and be able to move into wholeness in our lives.

The four rituals, or rites are:  Separation, Transformation, Incorporation and Continuity. They correlate to Jung’s concept of the Hero’s Journey and the idea that we need to leave home (Separation) and go deep into our psyche and experience an ordeal that leads to wisdom and a new beliefs about life (Transformation), then return home where we share this wisdom and take it into ourselves so we hold onto it (Incorporation) and finally are then elevated, show up as our best selves so we can inspire others to be their best (Continuity).

John Mosher talks about how we lack meaningful rituals in our day to day lives that help us move ahead and heal from the past. However, he says that the rituals still exist and are in the arts. Especially in literature, theater and film.

John has identified films that have the elements of the rituals and what to look for in those films. The process is to watch how the protagonist changes from the beginning of the film to the end. The main character is what Jung would call an archetype.

He defined an archetype as “an educator about life” a type of everyman or everywoman that holds elements we all share and understand unconsciously. Such as the innocent, the warrior, the king, or queen, the magician, or wizard and the lover.

So, in a film that is a ritual film we have a main character who embodies elements of ourselves that we can then watch and learn from to help us on our healing journey. Keep in mind that all films are not ritual films. Some are just entertainment. 

How can you tell if it is a ritual film and what ritual is being played out by the protagonist? You will have to pay attention to a number of things going on in the film. You will need to look for the elements that are in each of the four rituals or rites.

For example, in a Rite of Separation film there will be some of the following elements at play: Initiation to a new state of being. Taking on of a new identity. Leaving rather than being left in a relationship (active versus being passive). Relationship with peers. Often a companion and “taking a journey.”

Also, imagery of the season changing from fall to winter. The story having elements of “death of the old and birth of the new. Suggesting themes of grief and loss.

So, in watching a ritual film you will witness the protagonist starting out as viewing life, themselves in one way and then through interacting with others gaining new insights, awareness that change them so that they can move ahead and be less encumbered by their past and the ways of seeing the world they were given from their childhoods.

Using the Rites of Separation, the protagonist will end up acting in a more mature way. Being more grown up in their thoughts and especially in their actions. That is because this ritual is about “new behaviors.” They will learn to be less self-centered and more attuned to the needs of others without having a sense of obligation and feeling guilty when they don’t take care of others first. They will esteem themselves and hold a belief that they deserve what they want and that they matter.

In the next blogs we will look at the specific films that go with each of the four healing rituals and what to look for in these films that make them ritual films. I hope this will give you greater insight into your own struggles and some of the ways to heal from them.