Amy Brandt ’29, an economics major, joined the Sacred Journeys team with an interest in the use of prayer and ritual in the healing process. Brandt says, “I have learned that a ritual can be anything that is done with intention and thoughtfulness and that everything can be meaningful. While some rituals are inherently religious, there are rituals for everyone, and they are often a resource for building community.”
To illustrate that meaningful rituals can be simple, Brandt crafted a Moon Water ritual inspired by one her mother. She explains,
My ritual begins with reading excerpts from a text that is sacred to me, Grapefruit by Yoko Ono, to explore our interconnectedness. After that, water is distributed to be placed under the full moon for manifestation. With the water in hand, we take our time to set our intentions for the upcoming lunar cycle. Next, we chant our mantras for Lord Varuna and Chandra to show our appreciation. Then, pieces of paper are distributed to undergo individual transformation later on using an instructional excerpt from Grapefruit. We conclude by reading Emily Dickinson’s poem, I Watched the Moon Around the House.
Brandt plans to offer the ritual to the Grinnell College community on Sunday, September 7th at 7:00 pm at the Center for Religion, Spirituality, and Social Justice.
Amy Brandt 27′ leading the Sacred Journeys team through the Moon Ritual on August 1, 2025.