Ritual to let go of the past

Do you feel like you need to close a stage of the past? Let go of that person who is no longer in your life? In this article we explain a ritual to let go of the past that can help you close this vital stage, say goodbye, be grateful for what you have experienced and begin to heal.

As we will see, rituals, apart from being used in all types of religions, They can also be carried out on a daily basis, in everyday life.. Rituals allow us to represent and symbolize aspects of our lives that we want to release or express. To do this, try to find the ideal time to do it, where you feel calm and relaxed.

Rituals and their function

A ritual is defined as a ‘set of rites of a religion, a Church or a sacred function’. However, not all rituals have to be religious. We could say that rituals are actions we take to symbolize or thank something: a new stage, the end of another…

We use rituals to say goodbye to people (for example, during a funeral), to receive a new life, to mark an anniversary, etc. Rituals allow us to close stages, symbolize experiences or emotional states, start new bonds… And they can be very beneficial for inner peace.

Furthermore, according to a study by Harvard University, rituals could help us free ourselves from anxiety. Although there are all kinds of rituals, in this article we have selected a ritual to let go of the past that can help you close a stage (whether due to a breakup, a change of city or life, the end of a job or a layoff, the death of a loved one, etc.).

Ritual to let go of the past

As we said, rituals can help us close stages and begin to heal. It is not so much the ritual itself that has power, but the fact of performing some symbolic action to end a stage, which allows us to make a mental “cut” between the past and the future. And that cut places us in the here and now.

It is believed that rituals have ancestral power, as they connect us with who we are and allow us to start, consolidate or finish a project.

Do you need to close a stage, an old relationship, a traumatic episode…? Do you dare to carry out the little ritual that we propose? If you have to choose a day, choose, if you can, a day with a full moon, ideal for giving thanks and letting go, that is, to close a stage.

Material to use

For this ritual you will need the following material:

Two candles (the color is irrelevant; choose based on the energy of that moment). Flowers (ideally, your favorites). Thread. Scissors.

How to perform the ritual?

The first step will be to set up your small altar. Choose a moment of calm and silence, in a space where you feel comfortable and calm. Ideally, where you can be alone.

Light the two candles and tie them together with the help of a thread. You can join them or place (tie) the thread around them, as you prefer. The next step is to place the chosen flowers near the candles.

Breathe and let go

Then, close your eyes and Take a series of deep breaths. Notice how the air enters your lungs, hold it there and release it little by little. Notice how you deflate, how you gradually enter a state of peace.

You can repeat the following words out loud: “I release myself and I release you. I forgive you and I forgive myself. I free myself from fear and guilt, anger and sadness. I’m letting go little by little. I thank you for everything I experienced, but that’s it, I’m closing this stage.”

You can choose the words, but make sure the message is one of liberation; So, choose a message that helps you let go. It is also important to include words of gratitude if you feel that way.

The importance of being grateful

In this sense, there are many studies, such as that of Alarcón and Caycho (2015), which affirm that There is a positive and significant correlation between gratitude and happiness. Therefore, practicing gratitude not only helps you let go of the past, but it can also improve your mood.

Cut the link with your past

With the scissors, cut the thread that joins the candles (or the one that surrounds them). This small gesture marks a breaking point. The link can be with a person, with a job, a stage in your life…

blow out the candles

Finally, place the flowers in a container with water: take care of them. You can also choose to replant them in a space you like. It is time for them to bloom to represent your new stage and your liberation from that emotional attachment that chained you to the past.

You can also choose, if you prefer, to throw them into the sea, or to leave them in a nice place. Choose what you feel you need at that momentbut above all, do something with them, something that you feel comfortable with.

The power of the symbolic act

And you, Have you ever tried to perform a ritual to let go of the past? Has it worked for you? We have talked about one of them, although there are more: for example, burning the photos with that person, tearing them, getting rid of their things… Throwing away everything related to that old job…

Variety is served! In any case, remember that in rituals, the ritual itself is not so important as the fact that you perform some action that symbolizes something for you. Because? Because at that moment you are taking care of what happens to you, and you are doing what you need. You are taking the reins. Furthermore, rituals have that mystical point that allows us, in turn, to connect with what we feel and need.

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