burning bowls

The Inspiring Blogger Award

I posted this article a few years ago. It is a great way to start out the New Year. Let’s make 2015 a better year with a positive outlook!

Someone asked me about burning bowl rituals the other day, what they were and what the purpose is.

I actually love burning bowl rituals. What a great way to let go of things that are bothering or hindering us. It’s a great way to clear negative thoughts and energy and make way for a new, positive start. What better time than the start of a New Year!

I started doing burning bowl rituals at a young age, though it wasn’t initially with a bowl, just a candle. It’s really quiet simple and something that is generic to any belief system according to how you make it. I liked the idea of something I didn’t need in my life anymore burning and going up in smoke.

Find a bowl preferably metal or glass (you don’t have to have one, but it makes it nice and neater), fill it up a third of the way with rock salt or salt, and stand a white candle in the middle.

Simply take two sheets of paper – on one sheet write all the things like bad habits you want to get rid of, excuses for things you haven’t done, weaknesses, temptations, things that are bothering you or you would like to be gone in your life; including negative ways of talking to yourself, or beating yourself up for things that go wrong.

On the second sheet of paper write down all the things you want to take place of the things you are getting rid of in your life. If you are getting rid of negative ways of talking to yourself, then write that you will find daily affirmations that will work for you. If you often beat yourself up when something goes wrong, write that you will celebrate when things go right. Once you have this list written, fold it and put it in an envelope and attach it to a month on your calendar – say December since that is the end of the year.

There is no right or wrong way to do this, it is totally up to you what you are making a point of letting go of in your life whether it be emotions or specific things. Take some time to really contemplate this, then either roll the paper, or tear it into pieces and feed it to the flame and let the paper burn out on the salt by the candle. (NEVER leave a candle unattended).

As the paper is burning see and visualize the things you wrote down going up in smoke, take a moment to meditate and say a prayer of gratitude and forgiveness. Recognize that you are letting go of the things that are clogging your creativity and holding you back from who you want to be, and where you want to be. Choose to be thankful that these things no longer have a place in your life and you are making a point of letting them go and deciding on another direction right now. It can be as elaborate or as simple as you want to make it.

Have fun releasing all the bad things and things that just seem to linger and never really do any good. Feel the stress go up in smoke, when the air clears breathe in the fresh new start. Remember to write down and set your goals, take small steps to reach them each day.

Later in the year, check your calendar and in the month that you attached the other envelope or reminder – take out the other list and see how successful you were at implementing the changes you wanted in your life. The important thing is to move forward. You will be pleasantly surprised how small acts of faith can make things happen.