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Nature retreats into silence during the dark nights around the winter solstice. In this essential quality of time, humans too feel a stronger need for rest and are invited to look back on the past year and distinguish what is essential from what is no longer needed. This traditional ritual strengthens both our awareness and our willingness to examine everyday issues and to discard those challenges that are no longer wanted.
1.
Choose and prepare a location for the ritual, for example the living room or the kitchen table.
2.
On the chosen location, place a fireproof base (such as a baking tray or large pan), two white candles, matches, a high-quality sheet of paper and envelope, a pencil, a high-value offering, e.g. a small glass of a high-quality beverage, and symbols of the four elements: the candles symbolise fire, a feather or incense will symbolise air; a glass of water or a shell will symbolise water, while stones or coins symbolise earth.
1.
Ensure there is no smartphone, TV or other distraction nearby so that you can perform the ritual undisturbed.
2.
Position the candles: these symbolise protection and vigilance during the ritual. Prepare the other utensils.
3.
Get in the right mood for the ritual, preferably with a short prayer or meditation in every direction, requesting protection during the ceremony to follow.
4.
Light the candles and write a letter to a challenge that you would like to say farewell to, for example “to my inner restlessness” or “to the stiffness in my neck”. Put the letter in the envelope and address it to the chosen challenge.
5.
Invoke the spirit of fire with your own intuitively chosen words, asking it to take on the issue and transform it.
6.
Light the letter over one of the candles and allow it to burn up completely on the fireproof surface. Watch the fire and imagine how the unwanted issues are resolved by burning.
7.
Thank the spirit of the fire. Bury some of the ashes or dispose of them in running water and pour the offering away.
The addition of incense will strengthen the spiritual effectiveness of this ceremony. Intuitively selected herbs can moreover be smoked over a tea light.
We hope that you enjoy this ritual and you come through the winter stronger than ever.
