Releasing and Welcoming

I find Burning Bowl and White Stone ceremonies helpful at the end and beginning of each year. They are practices that ritually promote my growing edges.  

Releasing with a Burning Bowl Ritual

The Burning Bowl ceremony is about releasing what no longer serves us. Perhaps it is a habit or quality that never really worked well, but we picked it up from others or learned to cope with it. Examples are smoking or defensiveness. It also might be something that was good for us once, but we’re now ready to move on. Examples here are a job or relationship.

I invite you to write a word or phrase on a piece of paper that represents what you want to release this year. Ignite it safely with a candle, match, or bonfire and watch it burn away while meditating on the sensations of letting go.

Welcoming with the White Stone Ritual

The White Stone ceremony is about welcoming something into your life that you want to grow toward or find. This could be a quality or goal. Examples are patience, assertiveness, finding a new job.

Find a stone that you can write on in pencil or ink. Take some time to decide what you want to cultivate this year. It doesn’t have to be a white stone if one isn’t available, nor do you have to write on it. You will know what it represents. Place it where you will often see it. Could be a bedside table, dresser, mantel, private altar—anywhere you like.

Intentions Count

Rituals such as these are important in our lives. Our society doesn’t have as many opportunities for ritual as we once did. Whether these speak to you or you have others you like better, make time for them. Even if you can only spend a moment, cherish it.

This is great to share with children. Teaching them they can live their lives intentionally benefits them forever. Many times, we haven’t had that advantage, but it is never too late.

Our minds are powerful beyond measure. What we focus our attention on grows. What we say we want makes it real and opens the door to walking toward it. All of us have experienced negative or self-defeating thoughts having power over what we do. The same is true of positive, goal-directed ones.   

Welcome 2021 by reflecting on what you want to let go of and what you want to welcome into your life.