The Power of Ritual

Turning Everyday Activities into Soulful Practices

By: Casper ter Kuile

Narrated by: Casper ter Kuile

Casper ter Kuile, a Harvard Divinity School fellow and cohost of the popular Harry Potter and the Sacred Text podcast, explores how we can nourish our souls by transforming common, everyday practices - yoga, reading, walking the dog - into sacred rituals that can heal our crisis of social isolation and struggle to find purpose - a message we need more than ever for our spiritual and emotional well-being in the age of COVID-19.

"After half a decade of research and hundreds of conversations with people around the country, I am convinced we are in the midst of a paradigm shift. That what used to hold us in community no longer works, and that the spiritual offerings of yesteryear no longer help us thrive." (Casper ter Kuile)

What do Soul Cycle, gratitude journals, and tech breaks have in common? For ter Kuile, they offer rituals that create the foundation for our modern spiritual lives.

We are in crisis today. Our modern technological society has left too many of us - no matter our ages - feeling isolated and bereft of purpose. Previous frameworks for building community and finding meaning no longer support us. Yet, ter Kuile reveals a hopeful new message: We might not be religious, but that doesn’t mean we are any less spiritual.

Instead, we are in the midst of a paradigm shift in which we seek belonging and meaning in secular practices. Today, we find connection in:

• CrossFit and SoulCycle, which offer a sense of belonging rooted in accountability and support much like church groups
• Harry Potter and other beloved books that offer universal lessons
• Gratitude journals, which have replaced traditional prayer
• Tech breaks, which provide mindful moments of calm

In The Power of Ritual, ter Kuile invites us to deepen these ordinary practices as intentional rituals that nurture connection and well-being. With wisdom and endearing wit, ter Kuile’s call for ritual is ultimately a call to heal our loss of connection to ourselves, to others, and to our spiritual identities.

The Power of Ritual reminds us that what we already do every day matters - and has the potential to become a powerful experience of reflection, sanctuary, and meaning.

©2020 Casper ter Kuile (P)2020 HarperAudio

A helpful and heartfelt guide

I've been a big fan of Casper and his work on the Harry Potter and the Sacred Text podcast for a while now. With The Power of Ritual, Casper delivers a well-researched guide to spiritual practices, and how they can be adapted to meet your needs and lifestyle. I found it really practical -- I've used it to help me deepen practices I was already doing, such as walking with my dog and reading a book. it's made me more aware of my self in relation to others and the world at large. I loved hearing Casper tell personal stories of spiritual growth. Not only did they complement the practices he described, but they also made the idea of spirituality more accessible. It really felt like a friend giving me pearls of wisdom. I hope I find myself re-reading this book in times when I feel lost or disconnected.

I love this book so much

I love Casper’s work. His podcasts and now his book help guide me through life.

totalmente recomendado

un excelente contenido que vale la pena invertir tiempo en ello. aprovecha y lealo hoy!

absolutely loves this book

the authors narration was flawless and his voice is so soothing. the content was compelling and really got me thinking about spirituality in a new way

Brilliant take on healing a tired soul

Casper's lovely British voice guides listeners through techniques and practices that offer accessible solutions to those feeling overworked, lonely, and out of touch with sources of Joy. It is appropriate for religious and nonreligious. He cites peer reviewed research as well as includes light-hearted personal stories. This book is a well balanced treat.

My favorite book

I reconnected with my soul through this book. My favorite read of 2021 and 2022.

Beautifully written

Thank you Casper for being our guide on such a special journey of discovering what ritual means to each of us.

Belonging to None

I love when a book illuminates and defines something I know “in my bones” but didn’t have the words to describe. That’s what this book does for me.

I grew up with a family religion to which I never felt a deep connection, even as a child. I tried to “get it” at Sunday school and retreats but always felt like an observer rather than a member. It was an obligation and I was glad as an adult to leave it behind. I am a None. (Not a nun :) )

So why, later in life, do I find deep spirituality in so many things? The Power of Ritual helped me to give meaning to the practices I have today.

Thanks Casper! Love you on HPST and now see you in an even deeper light.

Initially skeptical; ultimately impressed

SO glad I gave this audiobook a chance. I'm a non-believer constantly trying to self-improve, and am very skeptical of "self-help" books; they do nothing for me. But this book was not only full of practical information and advice, it was also soothing to listen to. Read by the author, it was relaxing, meditative, and affirming in it's own right. I've already bought a hard copy and will be recommending it to many others. Thank you, Casper!

For everyone who was once some kind of religious

When I left a high demand religion 9 years ago after decades of devotion I believed that the baby had to go with the bathwater. I truly believed that because I was unwilling to be complicit in a racist, sexist, homophobic. patriarchal organization that left it's members feeling ever more inept and isolated, that I also had to walk away from the traditions and rituals, spiritual practices and habits that had brought me solace in a world too full of pain. Casper ter Kuile's bold and nonchalant "unbundling" of what was once a religious packaged deal has blown my mind and shaken loose all the surviving bits of spirituality in me. Thank you, Casper, for pointing out what seems obvious now -- that ritual is not inextricably linked to harmful, hateful, and outdated doctrine that does more harm than good for many of those who cling to it. it's a human inclination and the free opportunity of everyone alive. Lived experience and what we make of it has the significance we imbue it with. This book is a beautiful, succinct, no-words-wasted guide to reclaiming the parts of religion that my soul has missed. You gave me back a way to engage with a spiritual existence, and I will never stop recommending this book to everyone I know. truly a transformational read for me. 10/10.