Copyright 2001, Colin C. Tipping

25: Forgiveness Rituals
T
he power of ritual is underestimated in our so
ciety today. When we ritualize any procedure,
we make it sacred; thus the ritual speaks directly
to our soul. While rituals can be very simple or quite
complex, the complexity matters less than the rever-
ence you show the ritual. The ritual invites the partici-
pation of the Divine in human affairs and, as such, rep-
resents another way of praying.
Rituals become all the more powerful when we create
them ourselves. When devising your own rituals, be as
creative as you can. However, here are some general
guidelines and ideas you may want to use.
Ritual with Fire
Fire has always been the element of transformation and
alchemy. Whenever we offer something up through fire,
we tap into primordial beliefs in fire’s transformative
power. For this reason, a ritual burning of a forgive-
ness worksheet, a release letter, or the letter trilogy pro-
vides a sense of completion and transformation. Carry
out the burning with ceremony and with reverence. Say
a prayer as the item burns.
Burning scented woods, sage, sweetgrass, and in-
cense will intensify any ritual and bring special signifi-
216

---

cance to a forgiveness ceremony. The smoke from
sage and sweet grass also cleanses your aura; thus
removing unwanted energies from your energy field.
Ritual with Water
Water possesses healing and cleansing qualities, and
we give it the ability to make things holy. Ritualized
washing, immersing, and floating all can be used to
good effect. Instead of burning a release letter, fold it
into a boat and let a stream of water take it away.
Be creative with your rituals, and make them meaning-
ful to you. You may recall the story of Jane who had
brain cancer and had put in the attic a box containing
everything associated with a man who broke her heart.
I asked her to take the box down from the attic and bring
it with her to therapy. Had she not had a seizure and
died before we could do so, we would have gone
through the box, examining every item in it and what it
meant to her. Then we would have disposed of them
one by one with a ritual bearing meaning for her. This
process would have released much repressed energy.