Part 1: Clearing
Many people set goals this time of year or make New Year’s Resolutions. The staggering array of online coaches, gurus, life coaches, business coaches, marketing coaches, health coaches, inspirational speakers, and other sorts of trainers points to this time in history that many are feeling the need for guidance in living life. Whether you are lost with no sense of direction, at a cross-roads, seeking spiritual growth, or just trying to become a better version of yourself, there are many options out there for someone to guide you.
Today I encourage you to seek your own guidance first. This happens in two stages…clearing/releasing the past and then dreaming a better future. This post will address the clearing and releasing stage. Take this cloudy winter day to go within. Find your own voice among the noise of modern living. We all have this inner wisdom available to us once we quiet our minds and set our intentions to hear our truths. You have personal spirit guides that you chose to help you through this life. They are waiting to help you find your truth, your purpose, and your path.
This is a perfect time to clear away the emotional energy of unfinished business, freeing up energy to bring in what your heart desires. Envision your thoughts about the past floating, like clouds, into your field of vision and mind-space. Acknowledge them, feel about them, and then release them to float on by. These thoughts may appear as words, images, gut feelings, or stories. However they come, just witness them and release them. If you struggle with letting go, then try moving outdoors, where all of nature can help you move the emotional energy.
Sitting by moving water or a small fire, standing in a strong wind, holding a stone, or standing barefoot on the earth provides you with the energetic support to complete this clearing away process. A shamanic tool that makes this even more powerful is one of transferring what you wish to release by using the sacred breath.
After you have done the above visualization exercise, you may have encountered some thoughts, feelings, wounds, or situations that you were not ready to release. If they floated away, they may have come right back through in another form. The following shaman’s tool will help make your intentions to release and clear more concrete by moving from the mental plane to the energetic.
Choose a biodegradable object, such as a twig, a flower, a seed, or maybe an acorn shell.
Next you choose which element you wish to work with for this ceremony. This choice may be influenced by your sun sign, life experiences, or environmental conditions. Shamans work with all of the elements to bring about healing and create ayni, or right relationship. This is a sacred act and should be done with humility and reverence. Call in sacred space, or call to your higher self, say a prayer, or simply request to work with the element of your choice.
Build a small fire, go to moving water, find a place with strong winds, or dig a small hole in the soil. Next, you will take your sacred object you chose to transfer your energy and hold it in your hands. Focus in on what you are wanting to release, really bringing it up emotionally. Then blow this energy into the item using your sacred breath. Keep blowing until you feel it is done.
Now it is time to give this up to the elements. Place your object in the fire, or the river, or the hole, or release it into the wind. Allow it to go. Conclude your ceremony with gratitude. Be open to energetic gifts from the elements to replace the energies you surrendered. Tend the fire, appreciate the gifts of the river, fill the hole in the earth, or turn into the wind. Remember to celebrate your new level of freedom!
After clearing away the energy of the past, you will be in a much better place to set goals for the New Year that are in alignment with your truth. The next blog post will explore ways of seeking your own guidance to create the life of your dreams, one step at a time, or one ceremony at a time. Enjoy your day!
