Ritual at work

Designing rituals for work since 2014

Portrait of Viktor, ritual designer, smiling on a mountain farm while holding a chicken, with the Alps in the background.

Viktor Lysell Smålänning – Ritual Designer for Leaders and Teams

Hi! I'm Viktor

I help leaders and changemakers bring depth and meaning to their work through ritual

My practice is collaborative and focused on creating unique rituals in response to the important moments and challenges you are navigating

Rituals are a powerful expression for our wish to engage deeply in life

They offer a clear path to a more authentic and intentional way of working and living

My offer is to be your guide and creative partner in designing the rituals you need. I bring structure, clarity, and creative experience to shape rituals that are both deeply meaningful and highly impactful

I'm currently based in Leipzig, Germany, and support people around the world.

Who I Serve

The people I work with tend to answer “yes” to two telling questions:

Does your work serve something larger than yourself?

A "yes" to this question means you're engaged in meaningful work - fertile ground for the kind of collaboration I seek.

Is it your work do be doing?

A “yes” here means your work aligns with something true about who you are - enabling access to your intuition and inner guidance.

If this is where you are - or where you're heading - our work together is likely to be a good fit.

Curious about what that could look like?

Arrange an introductory call

My Approach

I Listen

Ritual design is an act of deep listening.

To grasp what needs to happen we first have to create good conditions for understanding your needs and context.

I do this with a posture of humility and curiosity, while guiding you through methods and processes aimed at bringing clarity to your experience and vision.

I Adapt

My process combines design principles and structured guidance with an intuitive, responsive approach that adapts to your needs.

This is to honor the fluidity of the moment while staying grounded in a framework that ensures your rituals work.

I sense

The rituals we create together are there to support you in experiencing a deep sense of meaning in and through your work.

We want to create opportunities for you to feel at home in your professional practice, while offering you the freedom to mark important moments in your journey in ways that bring motion to what you are here to do.

I Care

I understand the weight of the moments that call for ritual - like navigating the end of a long-term partnership - and the emotional vulnerability they involve.

I show up with care and respect for the sensitivity of these moments, meeting you where you are and offering a safe space for your emotions.

For those seeking long-term guidance, I offer ritual coaching that provides steady support as you develop your practice.

What our work together might look like

Attunement & Clarity

We begin by creating a connected and explorative space. This stage is about understanding why you feel called to design a ritual, clarifying your intentions, and setting a direction for our work together.

Creating a framework for collaboration

Next, we define the approach that best suits your situation. We agree on key elements - like the level of involvement, the structure of the process, and how many sessions we’ll need to move forward with clarity and focus.

Deep discovery

In the third phase, we focus on understanding what your situation calls for.

We explore your situation from multiple angles, allowing space for your intuition and emotions alongside your intellect.

A combination of reflective sessions, explorative assignments, and my design work

Co-Creation

Once we understand what your ritual is calling for, we give it shape.

We explore relevant ritual actions, map the flow, and define key elements - gradually adding detail and refining how everything fits together.

This phase includes creative sessions, prototyping, and focused design work.

Integration & Delivery

With the design taking shape, we shift our focus to delivery. We make sure all practicalities are in place, prepare you for hosting*, and create a communication strategy that begins with the invitation.

For broader or online audiences, we may develop digital resources - prompts, guides, or videos - to support meaningful engagement.

*If the ritual is for you to enact rather than host, the focus shifts toward preparing you for the experience itself.

Evaluation and ongoing Support

After the ritual is enacted, we reflect on its impact and consider whether it met its purpose.

If the ritual will be offered more than once, we refine the design using what we’ve learned from the lived enactment. In other cases, we revisit the original impulse and explore whether something still wants to be heard.

Explore Ritual Design

Three ways to get started

Let's have a conversation

We’ll explore what you are working on, what you need, and how I can support you.

Arrange an introductory call

Enhance your practice with
four rituals for work

Four Rituals For Work is a structured, creative journey where we design four simple rituals to support a more intentional and grounded relationship with your work.

Through guided conversation and reflection, you’ll clarify what your work is asking of you and shape rituals that help you respond with presence and care.

Design Four Rituals For Work

Bring a workshop to your team

If you’re looking for a hands-on way to explore ritual, I offer two main workshops, available both online and in person:

Understanding Rituals – An introduction to ritual as a tool for meaning, connection, and transformation. This workshop is ideal for those who want to explore what rituals can do, how they function, and how they can be applied in work and leadership.

How to Design Rituals – A deeper dive into the principles and best practices of ritual design. This workshop is for those who understand the value of ritual and want to develop their creative skills.

Explore my Workshops