The Burning Bowl Ceremony: A New Way of Letting Go

The burning bowl ceremony isn't something that I've researched and decided to share with others. It is something I've experienced firsthand and knew I had to share with others. I was first introduced to the burning bowl ceremony two years ago on New Year's Eve at my local Unity Church. A friend of mine had told me about the annual ceremony, and she felt it would be a great idea for me.

At the time, I was need of a powerful outlet to let the old go so I could make room for the new in my life. Previous to this night, I had recited thousands of positive affirmations, performed numerous solitary rituals, and said many prayers for guidance and results. All of them worked according to my own intention and focus, however, I yearned for yet another outlet to add to the already long list of spiritual practices I was involved in.

Everyone was given two sheets of paper - one sheet of paper was for writing down the old things we wanted to let release and the second sheet of paper was for writing down the new things we wanted to attract into our lives to replace the old things we were releasing. The paper with the new things we desired in our lives was folded up and put into a self-addressed envelope that the church would mail back to us later on in the new year as a reminder. The paper with the old things we were ready to let go of was folded so it could be released to the Universe to transmuted into the light we needed in our lives.

This ceremony took a lot of energy. I felt as though I really had to contemplate what I was going to write down on each paper. Even though, all year long, I had a pretty good idea of the things I needed to let go of and a good idea of the things I wanted to attract. At the time the pieces of paper were handed out to us, I had to step back for several moments.

They were playing meditation music in the sanctuary of the church where we wrote down on the papers to give us a nice atmosphere to ponder these lists we were creating. I understood that this ceremony was about co-creating my reality along with God or the Universe. It was similar to the other rituals I had previously performed in that way, but this one was a bit different. It felt different.

I looked at the fire as a cleansing element. I never looked at fire in that way before. Up until that point, I looked at fire as a destructive element, a destructive force. This time I realized that it could be cleansing to one's life as well as one's spirit. As I contemplated this new thought, we were instructed to form a line and walk outside. On the way to our cars, we lit paper with the old things we wanted to release by the fire of a huge white pillar candle that was placed in the middle of a large brass bowl.

Once the papers were lit, we laid them down in the bowl that was partially-filled with sand to burn up completely. We were told to lay the paper down to burn and never look back at the paper, which was definitely symbolic of letting go. As I got into my car and went on my way home, I felt renewed. I felt reborn.

Burning bowl ceremonies can be done at any time of the year. It is a great thing to do as a party with friends or family to symbolically let go of the old together and make room for the new. It's wonderful to share this kind of gesture with loved ones.

To do a burning bowl ceremony of your own isn't hard at all. It does require caution as this ceremony involves fire. Therefore, someone must be present with the candle and bowl at all times during the ceremony until it is time to put the flame out afterwards. Be sure the bowl that is used is a fire-proof bowl. Pour sand or sea salt into the bowl about one-third of the way up the bowl. Sit the white pillar candle in the middle making sure it is secure in the sand or salt. Tell participants to place burning papers atop the salt or sand after lighting by the candle flame.

Have fun!