20 Dec Rituals of Release and Intention

This past fall during a weekend retreat, I made the decision during a fire ceremony to release the need for perfection.  When I arrived home, I came across a quote by Mandy Hale, author of The Single Woman, Life, Love and a Dash of Sass. “Life isn’t meant to be lived perfectly, but merely to be lived. Boldly, wildly, beautifully, uncertainly, imperfectly, magically lived.”

Then a few days after the fire ceremony, I retrieved a letter from my mail box that I had written to myself last December 2012 during a ritual of release and intention held at Unity of Indianapolis. When I first opened the envelope, I did not recognize my own handwriting. I did not remember I had written the letter, and I repeatedly flipped the letter back to front, trying to figure out where it had come from. I finally noticed the return address, and my memory slowly returned.  The entire letter is too long to reprint, so I will only quote a few lines.

One of my releases: “Set fire to all I need to cleanse, on a daily basis as I imagine it.” One of my intentions: “Stay connected to the source of Love, with an open-heart, aware of the signs, occurrences of the day which express the “hidden hand,” and enable me to be more of a peaceful presence.” In addition I set intentions to publish Treasure Link, study dreams, create new groups and work on my writing, while being “grateful for each expression of being and service that calls me to its creation.”

Rereading the letter, I realized that intentions are never really manifested without help from others in our daily lives. I recalled the health care professionals who taught me the meaning of compassion and love during the final weeks of my mother’s life. As I watched the way they treated my mother, I learned “what it looked like” to be more of a peaceful presence. I thought about the loving friends who signed up for my first group outside a school setting, supporting me as I began to create a circle of dreamers.  I remembered the patience of the experts at Author House who guided me through the confusing steps of publishing.  I recalled the “hidden hands” belonging to my editor Wendi and illustrator Antonio who helped the book take its final form and who assisted with the signing events. And of course, I have been amazed by the hands that led me to the beautiful “dreaming family” that has welcomed me into its fold with opportunities for further growth.

As I folded the letter and placed it in my desk drawer, I closed my eyes and whispered, “Thank you.” Most importantly, I was reminded to be careful what you wish for, to set intentions with mindful attention, and to expect good to unfold. For these rituals have REAL power.

Return to the Meredith’s Mindful Moments archive page.