I recently wrote a news brief about Unity Church's yearly burning bowl ceremony. I had never heard about this kind of ceremony before, but thought, what a beautiful way to let go of the past year and make space for the new.
And that's exactly what this kind of ceremony is meant for; it's a chance to release what no longer serves you to make space for what will.
I think it's a perfect self-love ritual as well.
How do we show ourselves more love? By releasing those things that no longer serve us, by letting go of negative thoughts, old ideas, frustrations, fears, and inviting in new, better thoughts/ideas/people/experiences.
Here's how to have your own burning bowl/self love ceremony:
1. Pick a day that's meaningful for you. It can be New Year's Eve, your birthday, the first of each month, each new moon. Whatever feels right and necessary.
2. Cut several strips of paper and have them ready, along with something to write with.
3. Set up a sacred space for your bowl (burn-safe, of course). If you don't have or don't want to use a bowl, just light a single candle.
4. Write down things that you want to let go of on the strips of paper. These could be relationships, negative thoughts and self-talk, situations that no longer serve you, mindsets you'd like to change, bad habits, etc.
5. When you're finished writing on a strip of paper, place it in the bowl or over the flame to burn away whatever you've written down.
6. Watch as the old is released through the smoke and feel a space inside of you open up.
7. Once you've burned away the old, find a notebook and write down what you want to invite in. Look at your list regularly to remind yourself what you're working toward.
And that's it. Simple, yet powerful and so full of meaning.
Much love xx
