By now, you’ve probably been focusing on the resolutions you made for the new year. You may have even backtracked, but it’s okay. You simply need to be willing to keep working at it. You might also look at your resolutions as intentions. Setting an intention to make a positive change can feel dramatically different than making a resolution. But, it’s really about reminding yourself about the life you wish to live.
In order to more fully support yourself and your desired changes, you may wish to hold a ceremony which others can also take part in. The main purpose of this ceremony is to help you release the harmful or unhealthy situations, habits or relationships from your life. You could gather with some close friends and discuss the things you’re willing to let go of. Together, you can guide and support one another throughout the rest of the year, and into the future. Having a supportive group of people behind you can help you to feel connected and honored. This can then help you to have a better chance of following through and sticking to your desired changes and resolutions.
To add a sense of sacredness and specialness to your ceremony you can light candles and have a roaring fire. According to many traditions, fire represents purification and cleansing. With the fireplace, in addition to talking about your issues, you can write them down and safely burn them in the fire. When you have finished, you can say a few words of thanks to the fire, either silently or aloud. Then, you may choose to sit in silent contemplation and allow the fire to burn down.
Placing your issues into the fire represents a deep willingness on your part to do what’s necessary to let go. If letting go of a particular issue feels like a big step, and it might be, then releasing it can be powerfully freeing and healing. Being willing to let go means that you’ll consciously live your life in a way that supports your desired changes. For instance, you might decide to let go of unhealthy eating habits, and this might involve clearing out your cupboards and swapping food with a friend, or donating the foods that no longer support you.
Taking time out to prepare before your ceremony will allow you to more clearly see the emotional issues in your life with the most charge. Don't be afraid to work with these. Have compassion for yourself, and ask for support as you bring your issues to the fire. Know that the fire can clear away and transform your issues. You only need to have an open heart and be willing to let go.
Working with the fire practice can help you to explore your own life and make room for new opportunities and new learning. Your process can be dynamic, transformational and exhilarating. Although you may be learning a lot about yourself, it's not necessarily like taking a class, but about simply finding ways to allow your life to have specialness, deeper meaning and importance, which often comes through listening to your heart.
Utilizing the fire, you can open to your intuition and the true call of your heart. Have you been putting the needs of your heart aside? Now is the time to listen and act. You may find that at the end of the ceremony, you’ve come up with a completely new resolution.
Throughout the year you can find time to regularly light a candle to support the changes you wish to make within your life. Perhaps, You may wish to set aside a special time each day to sit in silence before the candle. You can use this quiet time to reflect and meditate. It can be a chance to deepen your connection to your heart. You can also journal the thoughts and ideas that come to you in silence.
