Rituals

There are as many ways of letting go as there are people. But one thing is universal, and that is the need to find meaning in the chaos. One way of making the process easier to relate to is to do a releasing ritual. Here I give you my favorite rituals for letting go.

Burn it

Write a letter, a note or take a photograph and burn it to ashes. Light the fire with intention and awareness. Watch the fire as it burns and feel how your body physically lets go of the energy you are releasing in the flames.

Release it with the wind

Sending something to fly with the wind a powerful ritual to let go. I believe this is why so many people wish to have their ashes spread with the wind when they die. A way to release something using this technique could be to intentionally blow on dandelion seeds, drop a feather from a tall place or let sand flow through your fingers on a windy day at the beach.

Make a flower mandala

Buddhist monks use mandalas as a way to practice non-attachment, and it can also be a beautiful way of letting go. This summer, I made a flower mandala with intention and care – and then I destroyed it, mindfully. I recommend that you do the same to visually let something go.

Send it to heaven

There are at least three beautiful ways to release something by sending it to heaven. My favorite has to be lighting a sky lantern and watch it fly away on a dark night. Another favorite of mine is to tie a note to a colorful balloon and let it rise and disappear into the ether. Finally, you can fly a kite and then cut the cord, releasing it into the world.

Do yin yoga

If you crave a more physical form of ritual, I recommend yin yoga. This gentle form of practice is all about finding ease and to relax into the poses. I find this is a great and ritualistic way to learn how to let go, because in my yin practice I am constantly reminded where in my body I am holding on. With every exhale, I try to let go of tension, thoughts, pain, emotions and everything else I am carrying into the yoga room with me. Try yin yoga. By the end of the class, you will feel light, calm and clear.

Let it float away

Another beautiful way to let go is to let your issues flow away with the river. There are several ways to do this, but my favorite is definitely to let either flowers or lanterns get carried away with the stream and out of sight. Knowing that what I have just released will be carried by the water all the way to the sea, gives me comfort. Another, cute way to do this is to write your thoughts on a piece of paper and make paper boats.

Create a ceremony

The sky is the limit when it comes to crafting your own releasing ceremony. Use something that speaks to you and lights up your soul. For me this is sage, amethysts, feathers, essential oils and meditation. For you it might be photographs, flowers, prayers or chanting. Ask your inner spiritual guide to lead the way, and you will not walk alone.

Say a blessing

Before I release a relationship, I find it powerful to say a blessing. One of my favorites – that I have memorized – is this:  May you be filled with loving kindness. May you be well. May you be peaceful and at ease. May you be happy. (Ancient Tibetan Buddhist blessing)

Clear a space in your house

Letting go of something physical can really be helpful in letting go of more intangible things as well. The way I do this is that I clear out a space in my home. It can be a shelf, a window sill, a drawer or an entire room – and I go through all of my belongings to see what I don’t need anymore. When I have found the items, I either recycle, donate to charity or give them away. The open space I have created symbolizes the deeper work of letting go, and at the same time creates room for the new.

Source: http://www.thefreedomexperiment.com/2014/01/24/releasing-rituals/Releasing