The power of ritual

Renowned researcher Casper ter Kuile shows in The Power of Ritual what it takes to establish connections and find meaning and purpose in everyday life.

More than ever before, contemporary society is facing a time when establishing connections is proving a major challenge. Technological advancements and the growing abandonment of religious traditions—which have always been a cornerstone of the notion of community—have fueled an almost unanimous feeling of isolation, loneliness, and lack of purpose.

However, researcher Casper ter Kuile argues in The Power of Ritual that we don't need to follow the dogmas of a religious institution to be spiritual. According to the author, we, as a society, are experiencing a shift in which we find purpose and communion in secular practices and environments. It's the rituals we adopt in our lives and the bonds we create that define our well-being and allow us to establish connections. These rituals can be found at the gym or a book club, or in practices like journaling, empathy training, and choosing to approach situations from new perspectives.

In The Power of Ritual , Casper ter Kuile reinforces the importance of creating awareness of our daily habits, transforming them into rituals that allow us to cultivate strength, wisdom and well-being, as well as seek and nurture a sense of collectivity.

“The rare kind of book that can actually change your life. It certainly changed mine.”

— John Green, author of The Fault in Our Stars