Pt. 4 Ritual of Releasing
As I close up this blog series, I wanted to take some time and introduce you to a few other key methods that are a part of my releasing practice. Whether these connect with you or not, I invite you to find methods to develop your own practice of releasing.
For My Body
A Bath - this one is for my body. I give a lot of credit to my body and trust its experience, I never liked baths before but now I see how important they are for my body to process what is going on. For me, dim lights, candles, epsom salt, lavender oil, and a bath bomb, go quite well with some soothing soundtracks.
Healing Sounds
This next activity I use for all things and grieving is no exception is...Music. Specifically bio-lateral sound healing and worship music are the most grounding for me. Whenever I am honoring the need to express the internal anguish that comes with loss, music speaks to those internal parts that need to be heard and validated. I have included a link to David Grand PhD - Brainspotting BioLateral Sound Healing if you want to listen!
Write it down
Journaling - growing up I loved journaling - mainly about what was happening that day or about boys. Now, I have expanded journaling into a practice that holds strong in my life. I worked really hard this past year as I was going through fertility treatments to hone this skill further using Susannah Conway's "Journal Your Life" e-course. I highly recommend it!
Let it Flow
For the last three years, I have been on a releasing journey. Releasing anything and everything that does not serve me, my marriage, or those closest to me. With that releasing journey came a lot of tears. The flood gates probably began upwards of four years ago when I attended a women’s retreat.
Crying is a must for me. If you want to know how I have come to terms with this staple activity and what I thought about crying a few years ago - I have included a blog post I wrote called "Suffering in Silence". Check it out now!
Sharing with Others
Share with someone else - I am blessed to have countless people in my life that listen to my loss. The first way I share is through prayer. I use journaling as a medium for prayer and I am thankful for the release and peace I experience through prayer.
Another very important person in my life is my husband. Sharing with him is not always easy - again - master avoider over here! However, like I talk about in the blog post on tears, I need others' support in processing the losses I experience. Who is one person you can share with, even when it's hard, even when it may involve them?
I wonder what practices of releasing provide the self care you need?
And if you are ready - check out the Shed Your Sorrow course Abbey and I created to support your journey through release.
If this is all new to you, I invite you to be curious and explore what a ritual of release could look like as you navigate losses in your life. ~ Jenna