Mayyim Hayyim Living Waters Community Mikveh and Education Center Ritual Creation Worksheet

Name of Ceremony:

Orienting Questions

Who would participate? Where could this ritual happen? Who is ‘in the room’?

If this is a handwashing ritual, is the participant washing their own hands, or will the volunteer help them? Consider spelling out ‘who does what’ for all of the readings and actions below.

Example of Instruction…

For the Volunteer: Fill the handwashing cup with water.

Guest: Prepare your hands as you would for immersing in the mikveh; remove rings, bracelets and nail polish and wash hands with soap and water. Remove lipstick.

Begin Here with a Kavanah (intention) and Words of Introduction: Set the tone for what is about to happen. Consider adding a text, from a poem you love, or words you come up with. You can also borrow language from immersion ceremonies.

1st Action: This could be the first immersion or first handwashing.

Possible reading after first action:

2nd Action:

Possible reading after first action:

3rd Action:

Possible reading after first action:

Closing kavanah (intention) at the end of the ritual: Focus on adding words that add a sense of completion to the experience.

Here are some prompts if you feel stuck…

Think about a three-fold perspective – past, present, future

Or, try filling in these sentences:

· I hope… I feel… I wish you… My blessing for you…