The Autumn Equinox. There is an energetic shift in the sky above us, the ground beneath us, the air around us, and everything natural in between that inhabits this planet. Everywhere, nature shifts as it dances to its natural rhythms. Nature effortlessly surrenders and lets go. The Autumn Equinox and the weeks that follow are a beautifully symbolic time of year to practice your own letting go.
So often as humans, we resist our natural cycles. We hold onto the things that are no longer serving us; the things that serve our ego, bot not our true selves. Why is it so difficult to let go? We hold on for dear life because we are afraid of the unknown, afraid of change, are attached to our own suffering, or don’t know what we really want. We hold on because our minds are muddled, and we are disconnected from our spirits and our truths. When we are disconnected from our true selves, our natural instincts and intuitions are stifled. When you are connected to your true self, you know what to do, without delay.
When I say “spirit” and your “true self” I’m simply talking about your best self. Your best self is the clearest, easiest, most adaptable and actionable expression of yourself.
Letting go requires both intention and action. Intentions can be easy, but then we have to do something about them. In letting go, action means doing something differently. Taking action is a release, a change that creates an impact and allows something new to replace the old. Not taking action is like holding back the current. It is energy zapping. The inertia occupies time and space, and energy becomes stagnant and stale. The aura of this energy is cloudy. What began as tension can become dull, maybe even numb. Depending on your propensities and constitution, perhaps held tension builds up until it explodes, and perhaps it just creates a thick smoggy stew of meh that can’t explode because it doesn’t have enough energy to boil. Whether it explodes or stagnates, it is rather uncomfortable and unnecessary. If we’re mindful enough, we can release small manageable amounts regularly so we don’t need to explode or stagnate. Staying connected to source energy/your best self will go a long way in both conserving energy and keeping it clear and moving.
Sometimes what you’re wanting to let go of is a thought or a feeling that you’ve been holding onto. Perhaps the action that follows is that thought or feeling is replaced by another specific thought or feeling that is more constructive. If you don’t have something intentional that you want to replace it with, you can simply create space and an intention for something to come in and take its place that is more constructive. Letting go of a thought or a feeling can seem abstract. A great way to let go of something like this is to create a ritual experience around releasing it. Ritual can make it feel more tangible and real. Even when you’re letting go of something more concrete in your life, practicing a ritual can be an inspiring and positive experience. If you are ready to let go of something, and would like some structure and support, try this letting go exercise ~
Letting Go Exercise
Step 1 - Identify what you want to let go of. Write it down. Say it out loud. Not sure of what you want to release? Get connected.
Step 2 - Get connected. See journaling and meditation exercise below. Or whatever activity floats your boat and puts you in the flow. I highly recommend adding the journaling prompt before and journaling exercise after whatever you’re doing to get real intentional.
Journal and Meditation Exercise
Grab a journal or pen and paper, write down and ask yourself this question: What do I need to let go of? What is no longer serving me? See meditation prompt below. Put the journal aside. Set a timer for 5, 10, 15, 20, or 30 minutes. If you are not familiar with meditation, I recommend starting with 10 minutes.
Find a comfortable seat, and close your eyes. If you can’t find a comfortable seated position, you can lay down. Invite in slow, deep, expansive breathing. If you are unfamiliar with meditation or breath work, you can practice this simple breath - Slowly breathe in for a count of five, hold for three at the top, breathe out for a count of five, hold for a count of three at the bottom. If you like, you can visualize a wave rising, cresting at the top, falling, and rolling at the bottom. You could also visualize a balloon expanding in all directions, allow a pause, then slowly emptying out, pause again. After you’ve practiced this breath for several rounds, stop counting but continue breathing expansively at that slow pace. If thoughts come in, bring your attention back to your breathing. Perhaps you will reach a point where you can take your attention off the breath, and be absent of thought. If you don’t reach this state, you have not failed. It gets easier to transcend thought with time. If you have a meditation practice, you can sit and practice in any way that works for you.
Come back to your journal prompt. Don’t delay, just start writing whatever comes to you. Your answer will come. If you still feel blocked, repeat this exercise (at another time and on as many occasions as you need to) until you gain some insight.
If you chose another activity besides a meditation to tap into yourself, you can ask the same question before and journal afterwards.
Step 3 - Get support if you need it. Who doesn’t need it? Accountability buddy, friend, therapist, family member, mentor, spiritual community, your beloved pet, self care, activities that fill your cup, whatever gives you that extra nourishment to move forward.
Step 4 - Take action. Decide what you want to replace whatever you’re holding with, then take an action. If you’re letting go of a thought or feeling, you can take a concrete action if relevant or replace the thought or feeling with a more constructive one. If you don’t have a replacement, you can also set the intention for whatever serves the greater higher good to come in with the timing and manner that is right. If you decide to practice a letting go ritual, do so as part of this action step.
Ritual Suggestions
You’ve already laid the groundwork for this! Here are some suggestions. You can make your ritual as simple or elaborate and personal as you like. Have fun with it.
Clear some uninterrupted time to release, and create a space that feels intentional, grounding and inspiring. Being out in nature can enhance the experience.
Wash your hands and face if possible to symbolically clear away energies of the day.
You can light a candle or a fire, create an altar with items, gather items from nature, use essential oils or burn herbs, or simply be present.
Take some grounding breaths. Practice a meditation if you like. Do some gentle movement or stretching. Take a little time to connect.
Write or say out loud “ I release _____ , which is no longer serving my greater higher good. You can simply state this, or go into more detail through writing or verbalizing how this choice/thought/emotion has impacted you. Give thanks for the lessons you have learned and the ways in which you have grown.
Blow out a candle or put out a fire, burn some herbs, burn what you wrote or rip it up, throw a stone in a river, or anything that signifies release.
If you wish to bring in intention for what you want to replace what you’re releasing with, you can write or verbalize “I invite in ____ “, or simply “that which serves my greater higher good.”
You can re-light a candle, journal about your new reality, draw a picture, build a little cairn of rocks, or something that compliments what you did to release.
End by washing your hands and face, taking a shower, changing clothes, anything symbolic to complete the transition.
If you want to keep things quick, you can make your ritual as simple as stating what you want to release and invite in the good, with any small symbolic touch that speaks to you!
Step 5 - Rejoice, you did it! Rest easy. You’re free. Let the magic unfold.
Practicing releasing like this rewires your brain, so it gets easier each time. Energy flows where attention/intention goes. Enjoy your process!