2 days ago, we celebrated another graduation at ASIS. Because we are limiting on-campus visitors to students and staff right now, our graduation ceremonies have been conducted online via Zoom. We were a little sad about not having graduation on campus for our first Covid-era graduation back in March, but we are now able to invite friends and family from near or far to join. It has been so wonderful to see all the people who have supported our students from all over. But that’s a topic for a different post.
At the end of the ceremony, one of the instructors began to chant “rub the skull. rub the skull.” And off someone went to find a skull somewhere on campus (you would think that with this
tradition, we would have had this nailed down by now, but we all have our moments). She came back with half a skull, missing the top of the cranium and the jaw. No time to find the right one, we’re flexible as much as we’re resourceful. We cheered as the student rubbed the top of the skull and then held up the skull to the camera so the student joining from home could virtually participate as well. Applause filled the virtual ceremonial space and tears of laughter replaced the inevitable tears of saying congratulations to the graduates, proud of all that they accomplished during their time in the program.
So what’s up with the skull? It started as something just to be a bit silly and fun and to liven up the graduation ceremonies. Since we are a massage school, we have bones for 
our students to learn more about the body. So finding a skull, or lending a hand to students (I crack myself up, just like humerus does every. single. time) is a daily occurrence in these parts. So we just decided this was something that we could use to wish the student well, give them a little luck and also signify that moment that they are now graduated and on the road to being a licensed and professional massage therapist.
In thinking about this post, I did look up some symbols associated with the skull. The usual descriptions came up about death and danger. But I was also reminded of the other symbolic meanings of the skull. The sugar skull is a regular representation of Dia de los Muertos in Mexico – a time to celebrate the lives of those who have passed. Look up any site on tattoo art and the meaning behind it and you’ll see a bunch of descriptions. I am always intrigued by tarot cards and I know that the death card, which can have the skull represented on it seems like an ominous meaning, but it can be interpreted as not a literal death, but rather an ending to something and a start to something new.
I’d like to think that in our attempt to add a little fun to celebrate our students, deep down we we were thinking that our “rub the skull” chants signaled one chapter closing for our amazing
students and another just starting for them to grow and be successful in the massage therapy field.
While we’re at it, a little luck and fun could also go a long way.
