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Why Conscious Letting Go is a Non Negotiable Ritual?



As I age I judge my feelings less and less. It is a joy and privilege to be able to be unapologetically myself and enjoy catharsis as an integral part of life. Letting go is a natural process, it is part of the cycles of nature and evolution. Straight lines are for simplicity but real life is cyclical, each cycle adds to the previous one.


Catharsis:  from the Ancient Greek word, katharsis, meaning "purification" or "cleansing", commonly used to refer to the purification and purgation of thoughts and emotions by way of expressing them. The desired result is an emotional state of renewal and restoration.


Crying has always been one of my favorite ways to let go emotions from my body. I used to judge myself for succumbing to the weakness of tears but now i deeply trust my body's wisdom for it has never lead me astray. If I listen to my body, crying feels so immediately cleansing. I don't like to hold my emotions dammed, ready to explode at any trigger or perceived provocation. Best to get it our of the way instead of letting it fester insidiously on the inside. Crying is actually a safe way to express anger and rage according to Psychology.


As I have created a safe non judgemental space inside me for catharsis, it can occur at any time. It can be on a walk through a beautiful forest or on a beach - water especially is a very cathartic element, directly related to the tears in my body that spring forth with release. Often when I want to be ritualistic with my cathartic moments, I draw a bath and I sit in it crying intentionally. I want the water on my inside to connect with its source on the outside. That notion gives my emotional release a great satisfaction. Other times, I use the cleansing power of fire to let go. I write a poem or journal on my feelings physically and I read it out loud, ultimately setting the paper on fire and turning the past to dust. I often combine catharsis rituals with the timing of the full moon or new moon, either completing a cycle and letting go, or before a new moon cycle begins.


Here is a list of intentional cathartic releases that could speak to you in addition to crying. There are fortunately many modes of expression that are valid, especially if they speak to you:

  1. Journaling:


Be it in a diary or in the form of poetry or writing a short story, journaling helps empty our minds of our thoughts in a non judgemental way. The blank page is yours only. Your therapist and confidante. Journaling is free therapy in a sense. When I have felt the most lonely, journaling helped me regain a sense of connection with myself. I have experienced many a cathartic moment of release while pouring out my thoughts and emotions on the friendly page.


2. Art


The process of letting our inner child play is deeply cathartic. Through art, we are in the moment, in our body and we connect with the parts of ourselves which we might not listen to regularly. At its best art is meditation for our inner child and a safe space to be in the moment. I took drawing classes weekly over a summer and have not stopped drawing since. Art can help overcome addiction as we are expressing ourselves authentically.


3. Movement


Engaging in specific movement-based activities, such as yoga or dance or martial arts, can be effective methods of cathartic release. In case of trauma, trauma-informed yoga can be especially effective. These forms of movement and associated breathing techniques encourage the practitioner to turn inwards and focus on their mind and body as they experience the moment. This mindful engagement allows repressed emotions to rise to the surface and be released. I personally love to dance and follow the movements of my body in that moment to express myself authentically. I think that even twerking can count as cathersis.


4. Yell or Scream:

I remember yelling at the top of my lungs in a wind tunnel on the tip of the Isle of Skye in Scotland: a place where there are more sheep than humans. From the outside watching someone scream can be emotionally unsettling, like watching a horror movie. For the person screaming, it is incredibly gratifying as it completely removes shame around releasing repressed emotions. It is very empowering and gives yours cheeks a rosy glow and your eyes a newfound sparkle once the emotions have passed and the clouds have lifted. Have you ever wondered why fans like to shout at sports and music events? Could it be a collective form of catharsis?


5. Go to Therapy or Talk to a Friend:

Sharing while feeling connected helps to another understanding being can enable a conscious and introspective cathartic process. It is important to feel heard and in cases where there can be emotional overflow, to seek professional help to regulate our emotions in a healthy way. Being able to handle your emotions in a constructive way will give you a profound sense of peace and freedom that will define everything you do.


To conclude, one secret ingredient to letting go is gratitude. Gratitude for the lessons we learned by processing our emotions, integrating the body's wisdom in our experience. Gratitude for trying to protect ourselves as any human being would from uncomfortable emotions, after all we just want to be in homeostasis/cruise control as much as possible. Gratitude for doing the work to let go of that which doesn't serve me and making space, no matter how painful, for new versions of myself to thrive.


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