Opening a New Tin/Creating a Ritual?
- Thread starter Kooky
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No intentional rituals, but I'd compare opening a tin of tobacco to turning on the shower before it runs hot, and the cold water hits the lower half of my body, my having stepped back. It helps to think about something, anything else, until the healing heated balm arrives. So I pretend indifference while finding a quarter to wedge open the tin and hear that pffft.
I somewhat pretend this isn't happening, to appease my overly thrifty nature. Then the usual enjoyment of the tin note, the stirring it around with my finger to see how the blend is cut, and so to the charring light. I guess this is all a sort of anti-ritual. I only do rituals when there isn't sufficient feeling in an activity, to bring it to life. Opening a tin of tobacco is full of life, no added ceremony necessary.
I somewhat pretend this isn't happening, to appease my overly thrifty nature. Then the usual enjoyment of the tin note, the stirring it around with my finger to see how the blend is cut, and so to the charring light. I guess this is all a sort of anti-ritual. I only do rituals when there isn't sufficient feeling in an activity, to bring it to life. Opening a tin of tobacco is full of life, no added ceremony necessary.
We need a good working definition of "ritual".
It seems as if some feel that there's something wrong with them. But they are everywhere in so many things we do, don't have to be conscious or time consuming, and are harmless.
The word "ritual" has for many unfortunate connotations, such as "ritual killing"- or maybe I've watched too many murder mysteries......
It seems as if some feel that there's something wrong with them. But they are everywhere in so many things we do, don't have to be conscious or time consuming, and are harmless.
The word "ritual" has for many unfortunate connotations, such as "ritual killing"- or maybe I've watched too many murder mysteries......
Sometimes I think I've got it planned out, but then I may wait a little longer to the point when "it just feels right" and then I'll crack a new blend or a special one I've been eyeing or waiting on.
Just recently I delayed such an event for no reason at all. Even after accomplishing what I thought would be my motivation for the upcoming "reward".
But when I did open that new tin and try that new pipe, I did it simply because it felt like I was ready.
Always a mystery.
But I must admit that most every time I get to pack a pipe, it always brings delight.
I would say that there is a difference between habit and ritual. What, I don't know.
One hides shame while the other is unabashed. Like saying having a hobby of buying collectibles versus just saying that you like buying toys. I loves me some toys!
I guess that I haven't thought much about it but I think a few things that would trigger me to open a special tin would be celebrations of any type: birth of a child, graduations, championship victories, birthdays, anniversaries. I guess if the situation is right I'll know it lol
With all due respect, I think you are over thinking smoking a pipe.
No ritual is necessary for smoking a pipe.
No ritual is necessary for smoking a pipe.
Agree absolutely. But rituals develop whether thought about or not for most people.
I mostly smoke my pipe on my lunch break or in the evening after dinner. So I guess the timing of when I smoke is sort of ritualistic in and of itself.
I'm lucky that all my favorite tobaccos are readily available or I have a decent amount stockpiled, so I don't worry about running out or smoking something specific on a particular occasion.
I'm lucky that all my favorite tobaccos are readily available or I have a decent amount stockpiled, so I don't worry about running out or smoking something specific on a particular occasion.
I agree with you that it appears the word “ritual “ seems to be a word averse to being used by many of our posters. What a wonderful word. It implies that our habits have meaning and that our actions come forth from a sentient understanding of what we are doing and not from the reptilian part of our brain. But for many, the journey will always be about the destination which is why so many fail to enjoy the moments in between. Ah, you enjoy opening the tin, smelling the tobacco, touching it to determine its moisture content. Packing it just so in manner that ensures it is packed just right. Lighting the flame and taking in that first bit of flavor as the tobacco is charred. But some say they don’t have any rituals? Right, because for some, smoking is no different than taking a shit.
Just smoking a pipe is a ritual. Rituals don't care whether you acknowledge that it is a ritual or not.
I mean, we all have habits, right? But a ritual is something else? Like putting everything out symmetrically and sacrificing a virgin.
Habits are something we do by automation, rituals are a set of rules made up by humans?
Habits are something we do by automation, rituals are a set of rules made up by humans?
Humans are by design, rule making machines. we seek out patterns and replicate them. We assign meaning to almost everything and assign and use symbols to help use make sense of our world.
Do we develop rituals or habits?
Or is it more akin to muscle memory? We do the same thing over and over again until our bodies and minds just automatically function in one way.
I mean, we all expel feces from our bodies. Is the way we do that a ritual?
Do you put the empty tin on the Christmas tree that year?