--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: This is what rituals are for. We do…" description: "\"“This is what rituals are for. We do spiritual ceremonies as human beings in order to create a safe resting place for our most complicated feelings of ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/951/elizabeth-gilbert-131_religion_this-is-what-rituals-are-for-we-do-spiri_2196006.jpg" --- # This is what rituals are for. We do spiritual ceremonies… ![“This is what rituals are for. We do spiritual ceremonies as human beings in order to create a safe resting place for our most complicated feelings of joy or trauma, so that we don’t have to haul those feelings around with us forever, weighing us down. We all need such places of ritual safekeeping…” quote by Elizabeth Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/951/elizabeth-gilbert-131_religion_this-is-what-rituals-are-for-we-do-spiri_2196006.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/951/elizabeth-gilbert-131_religion_this-is-what-rituals-are-for-we-do-spiri_2196006.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/951/elizabeth-gilbert-131_religion_this-is-what-rituals-are-for-we-do-spiri_2196006.jpg) > ““This is what rituals are for. We do spiritual ceremonies as human beings in order to create a safe resting place for our most complicated feelings of joy or trauma, so that we don’t have to haul those feelings around with us forever, weighing us down. We all need such places of ritual safekeeping. And I do believe that if your culture or tradition doesn’t have the specific ritual you’re craving, then you are absolutely permitted to make up a ceremony of your own devising, fixing your own broken-down emotional systems with all the do-it-yourself resourcefulness of a generous plumber/poet. If you bring the right earnestness to your homemade ceremony, God will provide the grace. And that is why we need God.”” [Elizabeth Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gilbert/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Rituals help us safely process complex emotions, and we can create personal ceremonies when traditions lack them, inviting divine grace. **In simple terms:** Rituals let us handle feelings; we can make our own. Key Takeaway Create personal rituals to heal and invite grace. Themes emotional health spirituality creativity self‑care Mood reflective hopeful Type advice inspirational When to use this quote - grief counseling - personal growth - creative projects - community gatherings Key Concepts ritual theory psychology theology Questions to Reflect On - What emotions do you need a ritual for? - How can you ensure sincerity in a DIY ceremony? A Different Perspective Rituals may feel superficial without genuine intention. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [God will provide](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/god-will-provide/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) [Ritual](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ritual/) [Rituals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rituals/) ## Related quotes > [This is what rituals are for. 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The money will come from somewhere; I am entitled;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kay-redfield-jamison/when-i-am-high-i-couldn-t-worry-about-money-if-i-tried-so-i-don-t-the/) [Kay Redfield Jamison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kay-redfield-jamison/) > [When we come to the edge of all that we know and are about to step off into the darkness of the unknown, of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/when-we-come-to-the-edge-of-all-that-we-know-and-are-about-to-step/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I believe that God will provide in his own way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nadya-suleman/i-believe-that-god-will-provide-in-his-own-way/) [Nadya Suleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nadya-suleman/) > [God's people are not to accumulate stuff for tomorrow but to share indiscriminately with the scandalous and holy confidence that God will provide for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shane-claiborne/god-s-people-are-not-to-accumulate-stuff-for-tomorrow-but-to-share/) [Shane Claiborne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shane-claiborne/) > [God will provide the food, but he will not cook the dinner.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-troward/god-will-provide-the-food-but-he-will-not-cook-the-dinner/) [Thomas Troward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-troward/) > [But after about a year praying, there was just this clear direction. The leadership team believed that God was leading us to focus on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-kendrick/but-after-about-a-year-praying-there-was-just-this-clear-direction/) [Stephen Kendrick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-kendrick/) > [“When we come to the edge of the light we know and are about to step off into the darkness of the unknown, of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicole-renee-wyatt/when-we-come-to-the-edge-of-the-light-we-know-and-are-about-to-step/) Nicole Renee Wyatt ## More by Elizabeth Gilbert > [That's your friend. My husband is my best friend. He's not the mirror that holds up my flaws. 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And I do believe that if your culture or tradition doesn’t have the specific ritual you’re craving, then you are absolutely permitted to make up a ceremony of your own devising, fixing your own broken-down emotional systems with all the do-it-yourself resourcefulness of a generous plumber/poet. If you bring the right earnestness to your homemade ceremony, God will provide the grace. 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