healing rituals

[ucxb]

Has anyone performed a ceremony or ritual to heal, release, and/or let go of whatever ... a loss, pain, conscious struggle, haunting past, etc?

My therapist recommended I perform a "letting go" ceremony, she mentioned releasing a balloon to float away in the sky... I read about a burning bowl ceremony or just simply writing the troubles on paper and setting it on fire.

Any ceremony ideas? Has anyone heard or done this before?

 

[9006]

You mean kinda like meditation? I think a person would only benefit from something like that if they truly believe it would help.

 

[Shut_Out]

When I ended a bad relationship, I burned all the "love" letters, cards, and pics my ex had given me. It was very cathartic.

 

[Peaches]

since some years I do it every year, it's a new year's tradition they say to write down the things, feelings etc you want to get rid of on a piece of paper, and then watch it burn until it's all gone. Also there are some kinky practices (kinky in a new age sense) of cleansing one's own aura, I am not into that but I found that it worked.

 

[ucxb]

Thanks for the responses. Peaches, I had come across the New Year ritual you speak of. One must believe in the process for it to work, you think? Worth a shot even though I may have doubt ?

 

[Peaches]

things either work or don't work regardless if we don't believe in them, right? I personally don't think there is anything magic, but i find it a very comforting superstition, and it reinforces my will to change things (OK, just a little bit)

 

[Minus]

things either work or don't work regardless if we don't believe in them, right?...

There is the placebo effect.

 

[Shut_Out]

The way I see it, you're taking something that is intangible, such as a bad memory, and bringing it into the physical world, where it can be "destroyed." There's more of a permanence to it, which for some can be satisfying, even if it's only symbolic.

 

[ucxb]

I spoke to a few family members about it and they seem to have interest in participating as well. I will look to find paper that burns in different colors.

 

[Locke]

Every year on a certain day in august I would get depressed over a loved one's death. This year I started to dwell on how she died, as usual. But then I decided to write down everything I loved about, all the good she did when she was here and my memories of her. It actually helped more than I thought it would. I still grieved her death, but it also felt like I was celebrating her life.

I think ceremonies can work. How well they work just depends on the person.

 

[ucxb]

Every year on a certain day in august I would get depressed over a loved one's death. This year I started to dwell on how she died, as usual. But then I decided to write down everything I loved about, all the good she did when she was here and my memories of her. It actually helped more than I thought it would. I still grieved her death, but it also felt like I was celebrating her life.

I think ceremonies can work. How well they work just depends on the person.

Thats very heartfelt and personal, thank you for sharing such