Ritual, when done consciously, is a fine balance of knowledge and play.
Knowledge is control, and play is spontaneous — hence, controlled spontaneity!
We learn, but the child always remains within us, and where learning teaches us caution, play frees us.
The landmarks we see and the pathways we follow keep us safe and well-fed; but play takes us off the well-worn pathways.
If we ritual consciously we can venture out of our landscape safely.
After all, that is the best way to gain new knowledge, for theory without action is too safe, while action without theory is dangerous.