A Ceremony for Release and Receiving: The Burning Jar

Release and Receive
Ceremony of the Burning Jar
March 15, 2014
6:00 pm in Portland, OR
(Almost) Worm Crow Moon in Virgo
“The Virgo Full Moon tells us, "You belong to yourself.   As much as you are part of a whole, you are also a unique drop in the ocean of consciousness.   What do you want to do with your drop?   What does your drop want to do with you?"—Cathy Whyte

Preparation:
Begin your burning jars.  Fill two jars with your intentions:

One is for what you wish to release in your life, that which is no longer serving you, anything that you have been grieving or regretting and are ready to let go of.

One is for what you wish to bring in to your life.  These are thought seeds, intentions you are committing to plant and nourish in the months to come.

On the day of the ritual—for Participants:

1.  Gather your burning jars and two symbolic objects.  One object represents all you are releasing, one represents what you wish to receive.  These objects should have value to you, and yet, prepare yourself, they will be given away.

2.  Prepare a dish to share after the ritual, something seasonal or delicious that represents the “flavor” of all you are experiencing right now.  This can be broadly interpreted:  the salty sweetness of blue corn chips might resonate as well as a kale slaw.  There is no judgment in terms of flavor, choose only what you are drawn to.

3.  Bring an offering for the ritual facilitators.  This exchange is vital to the smooth flow of energy in the ritual, it may be a monetary donation, services, food, a gift.  Consider the value of this ritual in your life at this time, the space and energy needed to create the ritual, and offer of yourself in return.


**A note on the ritual script:  I have written this for multiple uses, for potential facilitators and participants both.  As such it reads wonky at times…

The Burning Jar

Before the Ritual—Preparation and Tools—For Facilitators

Clear the ritual space with smoke (smudging or rekaning) from mugwort or sage.  Build a sacred fire –real or metaphorical—for use in the burning.  Metaphorical fires may look like a paper bag or wastebasket that can be burned later, real fires may be set small (a charcoal in a thick ceramic bowl) or big (firepit or bonfire).  Feel into the fire, the spark of intention, the miracle of synergy—oxygen, matter—the creative as you make the flame.

Next to the sacred fire place a box or bowl to collect the symbolic objects.

You will also need some seed start peat pellets or earth, seeds, and a small pitcher or flask of water.  I recommend nasturtium or bean seeds, as both have a strong will to grow!

You also may wish to have some fresh herbs and flowers for plant brushing, a bowl of water for symbolic washing and some sort of drum or percussion instrument—though clapping hands work just fine.

Gathering

After guests arrive, gather in a circle.  Place a note on the door for late arrivals.  My notes tend to read like this:  “The Ritual is in Progress, enter in silence.  You will be welcomed into the circle without disruption, bring your burning jars and symbolic objects with you.  Please center yourself before you come inside and clear away some of your residual tension so to not carry it into the ritual.  Thank you!”

Separation/Cleansing

All participants gather in the circle placing the burning jars near a sacred fire at the center.  The two symbolic objects should be close at hand.  The facilitator and an assistant wash each woman’s hands with scented water and/or brush her with plants (fragrant herbs like rosemary, pine or fir boughs, roses…all are lovely.  Brush from head to feet, lightly clearing the energetic field). 

Grounding and Intentions

The Facilitator leads the women in a meditation to ground and center the energy of the group.  One of my favorites is the golden tree, where you breathe and envision with each exhale roots extending from your feet into the earth’s core, then drawing energy up from the core through those roots, the trunk of your body, sprouting that energy into branches that bend down again into a circuit.  You then breathe as conduits for that energy.

Once everyone is grounded, round the circle for introductions and intentions.  Everyone may state their name and one intention for the ritual.

Orientation

The facilitator begins a compass orientation, calling focus to the directions and our place on earth at this time.  I find this language works best if it is in flow, for everyone’s symbolic associations with the directions are different and there is no right way to do this.  A silent acknowledgement of the directions—North, South, East and West, Above, Below and Center—is also totally fine.  The purpose is to allow for an orientation on the planet, in space, where are you now at this present place and time?

Acknowledgment of the Ancestors

This is where we call on our sacred tribe, our genetic and spiritual lineage.  I call them Ancestors, Guardians and Guides, and I like to have us vision the long line of individuals whose lives made ours possible.

Sometimes, it feels right to appeal to our ancestors for support in the ritual.  That might sound like this:

“Holy Ancestors, Sacred Ones, be with us in our endeavors.  We are releasing the patterns that no longer serve us, we are opening to possibilities that strengthen and enhance our lives.  May our choices bring honor to you and to our line.”

Acknowledgment of the Self

A huge part of effective ritual is the removal of self-doubt.  I like to offer a moment of self-blessing and affirmation.  It might sound like this…you can have the participants repeat it line by line:

“I am here in this circle, in this community by choice and understand that everything is exactly as it should be.  I release all fear and doubt, and honor this space entire.”

Or each individual might simply say:  I love myself.  I honor that I am here.

Releasing the Old/Transition

The Facilitator introduces the purpose of the ritual.

“We come today holding on to the old, with the intention of releasing these habits, people, places, stories and things that are no longer serving the tale we wish to live.  To create is to destroy, and there is a wisdom in consciously severing ties, in allowing the waste and residuals to be consumed by fire and returned to earth.

Our paths may be different but we are yet united by our core desire:  to let go in public testament of that which is no longer needed, to return this energy into the ever pulsing universal flow, that it may become anew, that we may be relieved and renewed.”

Each participant comes forward to the sacred fire with their jar of release and their object they are releasing.  As they face the fire, they may state one or more things they are releasing.  This is not a time for stories, it is for clear declarations:

For example:  I, Lara, release fear, suffering and anger.

Then the participant dumps the contents of their jar into the fire and places their object into the bowl or box nearby.

When everyone is through, raise some energy by chanting or drumming.  It may be something simple like “Burn Burn Burn” or a more complex song…whatever spirit brings is appropriate…allow the paper from the burning jars to be reduced to ash before moving on.

Facilitator:  You have released the old and let go of an object symbolizing that loss.  Now, cleansed by fire, we move into the new.

Receiving the New

Facilitator passes round the peat pellets or earth.

“From the old comes the new, from the new comes the old.  In acknowledgement of this cycle we will plant our dreams.”

If ashes are cool, have each participant place a spoonful of ashes in their receive jar.  Place the peat pellets or earth atop this. 

Then pass around the seeds, having each person choose three.

“As with the garden, so with our dreams.  If we plant too many seeds, some of them will die.  We must choose and carefully tend what we wish to nourish.  Think about the contents of your receiving jar.  What three seeds will you plant for your future?  Speak their names to the circle as you plant these real seeds.”

Participants plant their seeds as they say what they are planting to the circle.

Facilitator brings around a small pitcher of water.

“As we nourish your seeds for the first time, say one direct action you will take to feed your dreams in this week.”

Participants give their seeds water, speaking their action.

Incorporation/Return

“In this journey we have traveled together, you have given up an object symbolizing what you are releasing.  Now I will ask you to give up an object symbolizing what you are bringing in.  For it is only through the surrender of that which we think should be that we can receive the greatest gifts.”

Hand the box of symbolic objects around the circle and have everyone add their second symbol.

“Now prepare to receive your gifts, community.  Let the wisdom of spirit and your ancestors guide your hand as you choose from these objects two to take away from you on this journey.  Eyes closed, no peeking, take the first two you touch and see how they speak to the new you are endeavoring to make.”

Participants each choose two symbolic objects from the box collected by the community.  After everyone has chosen, it may feel right to go around again and say what each person chose.

Blessing and Opening of the Circle

“Friends, these are your gifts.  Circle, this is your community. 

Within this ritual you have oriented yourself to the earth, drawn on the strength of your ancestors and each other. 

You have released what no longer serves you to the sacred fire.

You have planted your heart’s intentions.

You have given and received symbolic gifts.

Now it is time to speak words of truth, to yourself and to each other, as we prepare to open the circle.  Please set down your gifts and join hands.”

Participants join hands, facilitator begins the final blessing.  This is often mysterious and surprising, so I don’t wish to script it here, but usually each participant says something meaningful and/or makes a vow or promise to carry through the intentions they have made.

We often close with a small statement, made together.  One I particularly love is:

“We begin in beauty, in beauty we begin.”

**Fin!**

As the circle dissolves be sure to put away all sacred objects.  Any ashes should be returned to the earth outside.  Then feast and make merry, for so begins the new!

For a Word Doc of the ceremony, click the link below to download... [image error] release_and_receive_ceremony.docFile Size: 40 kbFile Type: docDownload File