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CONTEST ENDED – Thank you for submitting your stories!

#205: Ritualistic

Since time immemorial, humans have developed rituals to deal with change, and all manner of life situations. From birthdays to funerals, to holidays and weddings, to personal habits and rites of passage, these ceremonies often help us find solace, meaning, and belonging in an otherwise chaotic existence.

Rituals exist across all ages and cultures, and take all kinds of shapes and forms 一 from dancing, to praying, to performing 一 and while some have existed for centuries, new ones are created every day. In this week’s prompts, we explore this universal aspect of human culture.

Plus, in case you missed it...📚

The second issue of PROMPTED, our literary magazine, is officially out now! You can download your free copy right here.

This week's prompts

Start your story during a full moon night.

Mystery – 81 stories

Make your protagonist go through a rite of passage.

Character – 54 stories

Write about a character who develops a special ritual to cope with something.

Angst – 89 stories

Make a character perform a ceremony to set something or someone free.

Dramatic – 55 stories

Write about a character who breaks free from a tradition to create a new one.

Character – 26 stories

Stories

“The Faith Paradox” by Carina Caccia

Submitted to Contest #205

The year is 2027 and Maureen finds herself back in Rishikesh, back on the shore by the Ganges, with yet another pouch of rice. A cow sleeps on the sand a few metres away and a scruffy, white dog—that’s been following her since she left the astrologist’s—sits beside her. She’s quite sure it’s a stray and yet it has no fleas or injuries and is smiling up at her with an endearing silliness, its tongue dangling from the side of its mouth as it smile-pants. There’s a smudge of orange dust on its forehead, the orange glow of the sunset in its spar...

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“Ritual” by Mark VanTassel

Submitted to Contest #205

Ritual By Mark VanTassel Metai crossed the field, careful not to touch the blood or body parts that dotted the hard packed clay. He found Buti at the far side, laying on his back. A spear had taken him in the neck, and a sword or knife had opened his belly. “Don’t worry, Brother,” Metai said. “I have you now.” He unfolded a large piece of linen and carefully rolled Buti into the cloth. For the final few wraps he included a couple of poles. Once the precious bundle was secure, he lifted the ends of the poles and started back to the vill...

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“Uncharted Territory” by May Gables

Submitted to Contest #205

This story isn’t over and I don’t think it ever will be, because like most things in life, there is rarely ever a tidy ending. I try to be gentle with myself as my mind drowns me in memories and sensations of her last days. I let those memories, like a raging, stormy ocean, toss me around and spill over into my eyes. I let the tears roll down my cheeks like hot, salty rivers. I let the sobs shake my body as my world spins on an unhinged axis until the ocean settles and I can resume my carefully rehearsed peace. I don’t know wha...

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“ The Last Hope” by Ava Morgan

Submitted to Contest #205

Kia screwed her eyes shut against the howling wind that buffeted the hood of her coat. The sharp moonlight slithered it’s way in through the patchy leaves of the trees overhead. A cold shiver rustled down Kia’s spine. Kia clenched her teeth, the screech of a nearby owl nearly scaring out of her skin. She pushed back the urge to pace impatiently when her mother, -the almighty Cassandra Green- shed the hood obscuring her face in a swift, liquid motion. The member to her right did the same, followed by the member on his righ...

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“In the Shadow of Bald Mountain” by Zachary Thomas

Submitted to Contest #205

The old Ford pickup, having spent its entire life on its wheels, was now upside down at the bottom of Angel Creek. Steam hissed slowly from the radiator and the frame was now a twisted mess of metal and rust, draped over mid-stream boulders. In the light of a full moon, Gerald McGraw groped for the driver side window frame, trying to pull himself out. Broken glass glittered his hair and clothes, cutting into his elbows as he tried to wrench himself free. His right leg was still pinned between the dash ...

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“The Horse Moon” by Elizabeth Marvin

Submitted to Contest #205

Filka is staring at the beautiful full moon when her apprentice calls for her, “Horsemaster Filka! The ceremony is starting!” She turns to the boy, Jak. He’s only been here for a few days, but Filka thinks he has a promising career. The horses like him and he has a firm but kind touch on the young princess’ ponies. Filka walks into the royal dance hall and ruffles Jak’s hair. “Thank you Jak, you lead. We’re next to the blacksmiths this year.” She pushes him ahead of her. “Do you remember Trisha? We’ll be next to her.” Jak takes the lead, qu...

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“The Place” by Stephanie Arnal

Submitted to Contest #205

Krista pulled her sweater tighter around her body and shivered. There was a chill in the air she hadn’t expected for a summer night. She should have worn a thicker sweater. Her eyes raised to the full moon, peeking from behind misty clouds high above them. “Do you think we should have done this another night? It’s creepy out here during a full moon,” she looked anxiously over ...

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“Labyrinthine” by Nina Barkat

Submitted to Contest #205

I am writing to gain a better understanding of my circumstances. Day or night, this place remains unaffected by the passage of time. Darkness reigns here like a silent king in his tomb, undisturbed and unyielding. It began when I was a student—how long ago that was, I do not remember. I was on a scholarship, and my continued stay at the university and in the dormitory relied on maintaining good grades. Everything revolved around my drive to succeed in my studies, absolutely everything. After class one day, we were tasked with writing an essa...

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“THE RITUAL OF MOONLIGHT AND CRYSTAL POWER” by Julia Corliss

Submitted to Contest #205

Light from the full moon filled the glade casting highlights on the faces of the people in the circle surrounding the boulder-sized clear crystal in the center of the glade. The crystal’s multiple spires gathered the Light and sent out its energies in all directions illuminating and energizing. There were stories passed down from generation to generation about the first finders of the glade and how the powerful crystal channeled and amplified the light of the full moon each month. This was this very glade where Sareena’s people gathered each...

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“A Summoning” by Lou Wilder

Submitted to Contest #205

Laura stood before the door at the end of the hallway. She had stood there many times, countless times in the past year, never making a move to open the door. Only standing there. Each time she stood before the door she cried, no matter how hard she tried to hold them back. Tonight was different though, tonight she had no tears. She had anger and hope and uncertainty driving her. Laura had not slept much these past few nights. Sorrow and fear played tug-o-war with her dreams and she tossed and turned in a cold s...

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“Liturgy Of Nobility” by Zach Buschman

Submitted to Contest #205

Warning: Scenes pertaining to abusive power dynamics with sexually suggestive themes are present.There Will Be Blood is the title of a movie but only I know that. The man who spoke it to me in the graveyard last night does not because he doesn’t watch movies. None of them do. Preceding this dire warning forecast an address whispered to me was found to be nonexistent.Up until now the addresses or coordinates for the next meet up spot were the last words spoken to me and acted as an adjournment of the meeting. But this last time the man had tu...

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“Those Were the Daze” by Sherry Bazley

Submitted to Contest #205

Possible triggers: military, religion, swearingOf Cats and Mackerel-SnappersWell, it’s Friday. It’s Lent. We eat fish for dinner on Fridays during Lent. And right now, it’s dinnertime.We are sitting at the table. As per usual, I am sitting on Dad’s right, the Place of Honor. “What’s for dinner, Dee?” says Dad, sniffing the air.“Fish, honey,” says Mom.“Uh. Great,” says Dad, sounding disappointed. Fish is definitely not Dad’s favorite. “Pass your plate, Cher,” says Dad. I pass him my plate. He ...

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“A Journey in Brotherhood” by Isaac Leath

Submitted to Contest #205

Leaning back against the damp tombstone, Steven knew he had made a terrible mistake. It was getting late, too late to change his mind now. The full moon shown bright enough to light the entire cemetery. Dark shadows lined the perimeter and cloaked whatever was hiding in the trees. Tombstones of all shapes and sizes cast long shadows carving out black holes in the white light.Steven leaned his head back against the stone and felt the cool dew soak into his hair. It didn’t matter much; he was already sweating from most of his pores anyway. Joh...

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“The Gray Pearl Ring” by Nada Withee

Submitted to Contest #205

There was a time when my palm would hurt occasionally for no reason when I was writing. Then, I recalled, after long years, that I should find a way to tell her that her gray pearl ring is safe with me, whom she had not met before the wedding, nor after the wedding. She sat right next to me, with the second last row of guests, her hands folded, resting on a book on her lap. No one was sitting next to us, as an empty seat separated us from guests in the same row. Instinctively, as a writer, I scrutinized her. She was no more than sixteen, muc...

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“A Ritual to the God Kaal Bhairov” by MG SINGH

Submitted to Contest #205

Ronnie remembers sitting at the bar in the army club, drinking a beer with a friend. The topic turned to Hinduism and ritualism in the world. Ronnie’s friend mentions strange rituals in pristine Hinduism that defy explanation. Ronnie is looking at his friend and asks him. “What are you talking about?” “I am talking about the Aghori clan”. “I’ve Just heard the name, but I know nothing more.” “Well, this is an ancient Hindu sect that claims to follow original Vaishnavism, and they have weird rituals which give them special powers. This sect wo...

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$250

Prize money

305

Contest entries

129

Stories

Ended on 23:59 - Jul 07, 2023 EST

Won by Lindsay Flo 🏆

Title: The Walk

Submissions must be between 1,000 - 3,000 words and will be approved and published on Reedsy Prompts within 7 days of the contest closing.

Read the full terms & conditions or check out the FAQ if you have any questions!

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