Releasing Ceremony - Make Room For Your Best Year Ever!

Every December, I schedule a date with myself for my yearly releasing ceremony to review all of the major events of the past year – the good and the bad. By releasing the events of the recent year, I am acknowledging my personal path and I am able to put my life into perspective and refocus my goals for the upcoming year.

Releasing Ceremony in 6 Simple Steps

Supplies: All you really need is a pen or pencil, a few pieces of paper and a quiet place where you will have some privacy.

1. In a private place, find a comfy seat and begin to write down all of the major events of the current year. You will be creating two lists – one is for all of the challenges and disappointments. The other list will list all of your blessings and accomplishments.
2. Take your time reviewing all of the things you wrote down. Remember, all that has transpired over the past year has all been purposeful for your personal growth.
3. After you having reviewed 2015, it is now time to release 2015 with love, respect and the knowing that you do not need to repeat the mistakes and that the knowledge you have gained from these circumstances will help you make room for more blessings in your life. Repeat the following statement out loud, “I am grateful for all of my experiences. I use the knowledge I have gained to empower, heal and grow as an individual. I now am ready to release what no longer serves me.” 
4. You may dispose of these two lists however you wish. Sometimes I burn them, sometimes I shred them and sometimes I bury them.
5. Now it is time to write down your personal goals for 2016. Be sure to not include anyone else’s name on your list. Dream big, don’t settle and really take your time with this step.
6. Get ready for the most amazing year ever!!!

This activity can also be done with a group of people, but do keep in mind that when you perform any type of ceremony, the other people’s energy and consciousness are added to your own intentions. I personally prefer to do this activity alone. It gives me a chance to be alone with my own thoughts and energy and it is much easier to focus on the things I am releasing as well as bringing in.

Blessings and Light,

Laurie 

The 5 Most Common Mistakes People Make With Their Meditation Practice

It has been scientifically proven that a regular meditation practice is beneficial to the mind, body and spirit. Each one of us will have different meditation experiences. There will be days where we will experience profound insights during meditation and there will be days where we feel as if we are unable to quiet the mind. I have noticed there are 5 common mistakes people make in their meditation practice which causes them frustration with their own attempts at meditation. If they were to eliminate these behaviors, they would feel much more confident and be at ease when it comes to their own meditation experiences.

5 Common Mistakes

1. Meditating On a Full Stomach – A full stomach is not good for meditation because the body feels sluggish, uncomfortable and sometimes may cause you to fall asleep. Falling asleep during a meditation is not the worst thing that can happen, however the goal of meditation is for the mind to be awake and body asleep.
2. Compare Your Meditation Experiences To Other People’s Experiences – Each one of us receives information differently. By comparing yourself with others you are setting yourself up for failure because each  individual’s experience is meant to be different.
3. Not Unplugging From The Outside World – By not turning off your ringer, television or going into another room for privacy you will most certainly be distracted and not be able to fully enjoy your experience.
4. Judge The Length of Your Meditation – Just because you only have 20 minutes to meditate, it does not mean that you are falling short with your meditation practice. Sometimes, 20 minutes is just enough to reset your energy and reconnect with spirit.
5. Trying To Control Your Thoughts – Thoughts will come and go sometimes they will be about laundry and sometimes the answers to our dilemmas reveal themselves during meditation. It is best to allow thoughts to come and go without judgment. There is no right or wrong way of clearing the mind, simply allow the flow of ideas and thoughts to move through you. This is a natural process, thoughts come in and then leave us as another stream of consciousness flows in.

By avoiding these 5 common mistakes you should notice a difference in your personal meditation practice. Any time spent with the intention of going within is time well spent.

Blessings and Light,

Laurie Barraco

Laurie Barraco