Ritual for Change

This is a very powerful ritual when done with focus and intent. It "should" be performed 4 times a year at the Equinoxes and Solstices. This is for ease of memory rather than anything else. When the 1st day of the season is listed on your calendar it's the perfect time to think about change in your own life. It's a review of the previous three months (deciding what you didn't like or about yourself or your life), a cleansing out of all that isn't yours and isn't you. That's followed with a calling in of those things and ways that do match you for the next three months.

Here is the ritual:


You will need:
Two pieces of paper
One pen or pencil
One length of ribbon about 12-18" long
One candle
One stick of long-burning incense (the ones used for sitting Zazen for example)
A small bowl of sand or dirt
One glass of water with a rose quartz crystal soaking in it
A bathtub

• Fill bathtub with comfortably toasty water
• While it is filling take one of the sheets of paper and the pen/pencil. Write down everything that you would like to release from your life - everything from what you consider to be the most trivial to the most profound. Think back over the last three months and write it all down. Once you are sure you have that complete (use both sides if you need to), set that next to the tub.
• Take the other sheet of paper and write down everything you would like to draw into your life, everything you wish to see yourself become - again from what you consider to be the most trivial to the most profound. Think over the next three months and write it all down. Set that next to the tub.
• Set aside the pen/pencil.
• When the tub is filled to the right level for you to be immersed, turn off the water
• Light the candle and the incense - place on tub rim
• Place the small bowl of sand or dirt on tub rim
• Remove clothing
• Step into the water saying:
  "It is in this moment I change. I die to the past and I am born to myself. All things are cleansed away; all new beginnings are mine. Disappointments, perceived failures, hurts, and mistakes are no more. Dreams manifest into forms of light and love and reality. I call forth all beings of light to assist in this cleansing, to destroy the illusions and bring forth what is true"
• Soak in the water for about 15-20 minutes with the intent of washing away the "old" you to be born into the "new" you.
• At some point, be sure to dip your ears under the water and just listen to your heartbeat . Imagine this heartbeat being the heartbeat of the Earth and know yourself to be loved by her. Then imagine this heartbeat to be the heartbeat of the Universe and know yourself as loved by the Unending. Allow this heartbeat to be the heartbeat of the Divine in whatever form/name you are comfortable with. Know that you are truly loved.
• When you are ready, pick up the sheet of paper with the list of things you want to have cleansed from you. Read this list silently to become aware of each thing. Thoughts have energy and adding the actual voice to those thoughts increases that energy multifold. So, read this list silently to remind yourself of what is to no longer exist without giving these things too much energy - without letting them manifest.
  Once you have read this list to yourself, take that paper and place it in the water with you. Swirl it around until it becomes soaked and begins to fall apart. Watch the paper dissolve and see the words disappear.
• Say out-loud the following:
  "As this paper has disintegrated into the water, so, too have those things that no longer serve me disintegrated."
• Sit with this for awhile and truly feel that these things are going and are gone from your life. Water is a gentle way of cleansing so trust that whatever was on your list will be removed in ways that are also gentle.
• Then, take the paper with the list of things and ways you are choosing to become. Read this one out-loud. Add the vocal energy to the thought energy and read it out-loud in a strong voice. When you are finished reading it, say the following:
  "These thing I call into being. These things are now born into reality and speak the truth of who I am."
• Once this has been done, pass the paper over the flame (without burning it) and imagine the passion of fire infusing your intentions. Pass the paper over the incense and imagine the cool air of intellect giving you the step-by-step knowledge of how and see the air sending messages to others who will help you. Pass the paper over the water and see the truth of you being nurtured into being and your heart being woken for newness. Pass the paper over the sand or dirt and feel each thing on your list being formed into reality and see anything physically needed as yours. Read the page out-loud once more and set it outside the tub so that it does not get wet.
• While sitting in the tub, release the water and feel it drain away from you. Feel the old leaving and being sucked down the drain. When the tub is empty, there may be bits of pulp sticking to you. Rinse off in cool water. Leave any bits of pulp in the tub for the moment.
• Step out and dry off. Standing in front of the mirror, look at yourself as if you have never seen the person looking back at you before. In truth, you haven't seen this person - what was has been washed away and who stands before you now is newly born and light filled.
• Say the following to your reflection:
  "This day you have chosen to follow a new path of light and your dreams are yours. Blessed are you for you are deeply loved by all that is. And it is so."
• Drink the water (without swallowing the rose quartz). Blow out the candle and see your intentions being taken to the Universe to manifest into your life and being. If the incense is still going, allow it to end on its own. Get dressed.
• Gather the remaining pulp from the tub, take it outside and bury it all in the earth.
• Take the paper with your new self on it, roll it up around the rose quartz that was in the glass, tie the ribbon around the paper and crystal and place it in a safe place. You'll need it in 3 months to review for the next time you do this ritual at the solstice or equinox.
  

Go about your day or evening feeling the peace that comes from a deep letting go and a strong loving intention set. You have all you need and all is given.
Blessings and light.

Photo:  Some items in my meditation "cave"