Letting go

One by one I carefully dropped the envelopes into the flames.  I watched closely, making sure that each envelope burned away completely, transforming their contents into tiny bits of ash, only the writer knowing what had been written on the small pieces of paper inside. 

It was the day after leading my last public retreat.  We had spent a lovely autumn day together learning practices to support us through the season of autumn and to prepare us for the coming winter.  One of the practices was about letting go. 

Autumn energy is all about gathering in, reducing and letting go which is why I chose this retreat as my last one.  It’s time for me to let them go in this current format and go into the winter to dream and vision about what is next. 

It’s not easy to let go, especially when it’s something (or someone) that you love or something that has been a comfort or support to you and yet we usually know, deep down, that we need to do it. 

During the day, each woman wrote down something she wanted (or needed) to let go and by the end of the day, she had a small collection in her envelope.  I received their envelopes and the next day, took them to the fire for the final part of the transformation. 

This practice is one that you can do, too!  What do you need to let go of this season?  What would help you feel lighter, more centered and connected as you progress toward winter?  Here are a few questions that can help you sort out what you need and what you can let go.  Think about each question or even better, get out your pen and paper and write about each one – you might be surprised and what surfaces!

1. What am I ready to “harvest” or gather in from the past 6 months?
2. What in my life is dying and reaching a natural conclusion?
3. In what way can I honor that which is leaving me?
4. What are the ways I need to draw my energy inward and conserve it?
5. What is most important to me now?

It takes courage to let go and there can often be grief in this process and on the other side of that grief is a greater feeling of freedom and eventually joy.  I would love to hear what you are letting go of this season.  I know you can do it – I believe in you!

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