Autumn Equinox: Release
A Yearly Release ritual for Healing
Photo: Patheos
How to do it:
1. Set up the Ritual Space
There are many ways to create a sacred ritual space. And whatever “method” you use, remember is that your intention is the most important piece.
Hold a clear, strong intention and an attitude of appreciation and you will be more than halfway to the creation of your sacred space.
2. Hold your intention clearly in your mind – in this case your intention would be the release of a specific thought, belief, pattern or habit that has held you back at a specific time.
3. Awaken an attitude of appreciation.
4. Speak these words (or something similar).
“With deep respect and great gratitude I invoke the presence and the power of the light and love to hold and support me as I release that which has held me back and prevented me from living my full potential and creating the life I am meant to live. I call upon the Divine forces of good to witness and protect this sacred space so that I may safely let go of the resistance to my good.”
5. Write down what you are releasing on a piece of paper.
6. Take some time to feel into ONE thing that has held you back and kept you from living the life you know you are meant to be living. It may be a belief, a habit, an emotional or thought pattern or an energy. (You can also take time to do this before the ritual).
7. As clearly and specifically as possible, write down this thing that has held you back. Include the thoughts, sensations, feelings and emotions that come up when you think about it.Include as many of the ways that this thing has held you back as possible.
How has it blocked you and prevented you from creating the life you want?
How has it caused you to procrastinate and sabotage yourself?
How has it caused you to suffer and struggle?
List as many of these as you can think of.
Be specific and clear. It’s important that you really let yourself feel and acknowledge the pain that this thought/belief/habit/pattern has caused you. The more you feel it, the more you will be able to release in the next steps! After writing it down…
8. Read it. Yes, read it again. And more importantly… feel it again.
Feel the ways this thing has blocked you and held you back from living the beautiful, vibrant, abundant, magnificent life you are meant to live.If you really let yourself feel it, there may well be emotions here… sadness, anger, regret, shame, blame. That’s great! It means you really are opening to feel the resistance and the ways it has negatively impacted you.It also means you are ready to release it. Everything you are feeling is ready to go. And within the Sacred Space you have created, you are not alone. You are held, witnessed and supported by a host of Light Beings. They will help you let go and release much more than you could on your own. And when you have read it again and let yourself feel it as fully as possible, the fun begins because now it’s time to…
9. Burn it!
It is highly recommended that you do this step outside! This is both for safety reasons as well as ritual reasons. Ideally, you want the smoke to release into the OUTSIDE air… not into your house!If you must do it inside make sure to do it safely. A wonderful way to do it inside is to use a large cast iron pan or other flame proof container. And make sure that you envision the energy you are releasing rising up THROUGH the ceiling and roof and dispersing into the air OUTSIDE!
Whether inside or outside, as you prepare to burn it speak these words (or something similar):
“With the power of this flame I release (name the thing you are releasing). May the Element of Fire gently burn away the (name the thing you are releasing) that has held me back from living my full potential. And like the smoke rising from this flame, may the Element of Air carry away the energy of (name the thing you are releasing) and leave me open to new perspectives, experiences and abundance in the coming year. And so it is!”
As you burn the paper feel as fully as possible the thoughts, emotions, feelings and energies of the thing you are releasing being drawn out of you, burned away by the Fire and carried away with the smoke on the Air.
10. [OPTIONAL] Bury the ashes in the Earth or release them into a body of water. This is optional but can really empower the process. After you have burned away whatever was holding you back, take the ashes and either bury them in a small hole in the Earth, or take them to a River or Ocean or Lake and release the ashes to the Water.As you do, envision the ashes being the fertile ground from which will rise the Phoenix in YOUR life.Powerful stuff!
11. Close the Sacred Circle: Very important!
Take a deep breath. Feel the changes within you. Feel the openness inside of you.
Then thank the Divine Forces of Good and Light and Love along with any other Guides and Energies you called in for support, guidance and protection.
Why do it:
In order to experience beautiful, vibrant new growth in our own lives, we have to let go of the things we just don’t need anymore. Those things that no longer serve us, things we’ve outgrown, things that are holding us back. In order to transform and grow, we have to first let go.
When to do it:
Daily in the Morning
How long it takes:
<30 min
Materials needed:
Pen
Paper
Burn Bowl
Lighter or Matches