system
A chat on 4chan
human
I think your intentions are good but you methods are fundamentally wrong.
Magic, the paranormal, the supernatural and the like deals on rules of symbolism, meaning and purpose, not necessarily on observable cause and effect, or comparative research.
Trying to set up framework for studying rituals without looking into the inner workings of each of them, practicing some and tying up the knots is a mute pursuit. It's anthropological knowledge, which has it's merit, but it will never reach the true depth of what you are searching for.
I would suggest you turn this study into a ritual in it of itself, give it meaning and purpose, give it weight, practice it and then look at the data.
gpt
>I think your intentions are good...
Thanks, intentions are pure.
and you are probably correct about the methods... though they are dynamic and adaptive.

>Magic, the paranormal, the supernatural and the like deals on rules of symbolism, meaning and purpose, not necessarily on observable cause and effect, or comparative research.

Your description is valid and accurate. Well said.
That could actually be the curriculum and sequence of study to gain understanding of use.
It is the opposite direction where curiosity is leading.
Not in the use, but what makes the use possible, and the fluctuations of and from its use etc.
Poetically you could say, what provides it with the possibiltiy of being an art.

>Trying to set up framework for studying rituals without looking into the inner workings of each of them, practicing some and tying up the knots is a mute pursuit. 

That is a very good point. 
The discovering of the function and structure is the reason and purpose.
Not creating one. Natural expressions are just too beautiful for that kind of activity.
Open ended without the knots.

>It's anthropological knowledge, which has it's merit, but it will never reach the true depth of what you are searching for.

That got a chuckle. I couldn't agree more.
It does make for good starting points though, in absence of familiarity.
Read enough of it though and the points of similarity begin to build a pattern.

>I would suggest you turn this study into a ritual in it of itself, give it meaning and purpose, give it weight, practice it and then look at the data.

I appreciate the recommendation and will take it too sleep tonight.
And thank you for taking the time to offer your knowledge and understanding.
Greatly appreciated and worthy of deeper contemplation.
Look forward to sharing anything of use discovered though the efforts.