The Elements
These rituals can be done alone or with a group of people. Please be safe. Rituals are done to invoke an emotional response to a change. They must have meaning for the client and be embedded with what the client believes in. Parts of religion, personal sacred and totems can be added.
WATER
PROCEDURE
Stand by a water source. This can be a large bowl of water in the garden, an ocean, a waterfall, a river, a lake or something else.
Write down on a pieces of paper, the parts of you that you love. Ideally the parts of you that are new and you love. Number them 1-10
Gather some grass or leaves or stones x 10
Do a mindfulness meditation. One suggestion is the cliff meditation:
SONG CHOICES:
These are optional and the client can choose based on what has meaning for them.
- Sky Boat Song
- Maeda Tidepools
- Sounds of water – Healing life
- Spring – Vivaldi
Then recite this:
Like the water, I am changing but the same
I am in a different place
I am new
I am seen
I am this lovable self
Becoming more and more of me – SAY YOUR NAME
I AM THIS NEW ME
Then, read search item on your piece of paper and throw a leaf, petal or stone into the water body, saying for instance, “I love that I am now braver. I connect this feeling with all the water bodies of the world” as you throw the piece of nature into the water.
FIRE
PROCEDURE
Stand by a fire source. This can be a candle, bonfire in the garden, a fireplace (real, gas or video). PLEASE BE SAFE.
Write down on several pieces of paper, the parts of you that you love. Ideally the parts of you that are new and you love. Number them 1-10
Do a mindfulness meditation. One suggestion is the cliff meditation:
Then recite this:
Like the water, I am changing but the same
I am in a different place
I am new
I am seen
I am this lovable self
Becoming more and more of me – SAY YOUR NAME
I AM THIS NEW ME
Then, read search item on your piece of paper and throw a leaf, petal or stone into the water body, saying for instance, “I love that I am now braver. I connect this feeling with all the fire and light of the world” as you throw the piece of paper into the fire.
EARTH
PROCEDURE
Stand on the earth in a place that has some meaning for you. A mountain, a hill, a home, under a tree, a place where you had a beautiful memory. Remove some earth from an area about 1’ x 1’
Write down on a piece of paper, the parts of you that you love. Ideally the parts of you that are new and you love. Number them 1-10
Do a mindfulness meditation. One suggestion is the cliff meditation:
Then recite this:
Like the Earth, I am changing but the same
I am moving, yet still and revealing myself
I am new and steady
I am seen
I am this lovable self
Becoming more and more of me – SAY YOUR NAME
I AM THIS NEW ME
Then, read each item on your piece of paper and throw a leaf, petal or stone into the cleared area, saying for instance, “I love that I am now braver. I connect this feeling with all the earth of the world” as you throw the piece of nature into the small clearing.
Cover up the leaves / stones. Let the earth remember your newness.
THE WALK
PROCEDURE
The objective of this ritual is to have the client begin in one place, walk through a doorway of some kind and be on the other side of it at the end. At the beginning, the client will set an intention for what they wish to feel when they are on the other side.
An example:
Draw a line in the sand / grass / pathway. On one side, the client sits with a therapist or a group and they decide what they want to remember about themselves or change when they walk through the “door”. There will be a verbal announcement / declaration of this.
When the client leaves, the group bids them farewell.
I am leaving behind ___________
I am becoming / remembering _____________
Song / drums playing as the client very slowly walks across the line with intention.
The group gathers on the other side.
As the client emerges on the other side, the group welcomes them
This can be accompanied by:
Taking off an item of jewellery / clothing
Wearing something new one the other side.
New music
Dropping an item behind them
Picking up an item on the other side
