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Burning Bowl Ceremony Saturday or Sunday?

Miss Critter avatar
Miss CritterBeach Fanatic
9,570 views
Burning Bowl Ceremony Sunday, 1/2/11 at 5pm

Is anyone interested in participating in a Burning Bowl ceremony to usher in the new year? During the ceremony, participants write down all those things they wish to release - negative emotions, bad habits, beliefs that no longer serve us, baggage from bad or ended relationships - basically anything you don't want following you into 2011. Then the list is burned in a large bowl (hence the name) and released to the Universe. (There are multiple references to variations of the Burning Bowl ceremony on the net. Evidently, it's a fairly common practice among Unity churces.)

Burning Bowl Ceremony - letting go and opening up - Los Angeles Spiritual Perspectives | Examiner.com

The Burning Bowl Ceremony: A New Way of Letting Go - Associated Content from Yahoo! - associatedcontent.com

I've never attended this type of ceremony, but am intrigued by it. I thought either Saturday, January 1st or Sunday, January 2nd might be a good time. (I work until 7pm on Saturday, so 7:30 is the earliest I can do it that day. Or we could do it Sunday at sunset or later.) All the new year hoopla will be over, and there'll be more time for introspection and contemplation. For those with an astrological bent, those dates precede the solar eclipse on January 4th. Solar eclipses denote new beginnings, so ridding ourselves of unwanted "stuff" will help clear the way for the new and desired.

As a counterpart to the releasing aspect of the ceremony, I thought it might be a good opportunity to also list those things we wish to welcome into our lives in 2011. We can then re-visit those lists during a follow-up ceremony near the spring equinox, or simply hang onto them as a reminder of our focus.

Let me know if you're interested. I realize it's short notice, but this whole thing is pretty fluid. We can determine where on the beach we meet, and there's still time to get a fire permit. Since we're operating under broad parameters, we can make it up as we go along, and put our own sowal stamp on the whole thing.

What do you think? :wave:

Replies

57
organicmama avatar
organicmamaBeach Fanatic
#27
Gulf Place works for me. I've got an iPod but no speakers beyond earbuds :idontno: and maybe some meditative music but only things like Ottmar Liebert that would be meditative. :roll:
Miss Critter avatar
Miss CritterBeach FanaticAuthor
#28
We've got the permit, the wash tub, the boom box. Tomorrow I'll pick up some firewood and a starter log at Publix, unless someone has those already.
GoodWitch58Beach Fanatic
#29
We've got the permit, the wash tub, the boom box. Tomorrow I'll pick up some firewood and a starter log at Publix, unless someone has those already.

I have the firewood, if you'll get the starter log.
sunspotbaby avatar
sunspotbabySoWal Insider
#31
So, what time is this happening? Depending on when naps fall today, I'd like to come if i can. :wave:
Miss Critter avatar
Miss CritterBeach FanaticAuthor
#32
Around 5-ish, ssb. Please do come!

It should be pretty cool out there, so dress accordingly. I've got at least one extra folding chair, if anyone needs it. Maybe two more; I'll know after I visit the mini-storage. The sand will be wet, so everyone will need something to sit on. I'll bring pads and pens, the starter log, tin tub, boom box and music. Oh, and champagne. And thanks to Glenda, I've got a program for us to follow, but this is not "official" or stuffy. Just some sowallers who want to release the negative and embrace the positive in 2011. All are welcome!

Did I forget anything?
DuneAHH avatar
DuneAHHBeach Fanatic
#33
This is a good idea! I'm going to try to join y'all!

Don't have a dump truck big enough to haul all my 2010 negativity to burn pile, but transforming a '10-back-pack' to ashes will be a necessarily good start!
sunspotbaby avatar
sunspotbabySoWal Insider
#34
This is a good idea! I'm going to try to join y'all!

Don't have a dump truck big enough to haul all my 2010 negativity to burn pile, but transforming a '10-back-pack' to ashes will be a necessarily good start!

I think it shall all fit nicely in a bowl. who's bringing the bowl? :lol:

I do hope i can come. I'm at the mercy of my children....story of my life. :roll:
kitlit avatar
kitlitBeach Fanatic
#35
Dune-Ahh! Please come! And bring the man with you... I wish to hug the heck outta both of you in the new year!
Caroling avatar
CarolingBeach Fanatic
#36
I will try to come. Haven't done one of these since Madrakara in California in the late 1970s. Will edit my list, which has been building up since then. I've always thought bonfires with charcoal and smoke had no place on our crystal sand beach. Wonder if I can release that judgment with the others I need to let go.
DuneAHH avatar
DuneAHHBeach Fanatic
#37
I think it shall all fit nicely in a bowl. who's bringing the bowl? :lol:

I do hope i can come. I'm at the mercy of my children....story of my life. :roll:

I heard there is mediFication for that these daze (and not just for mama ;-))
DuneAHH avatar
DuneAHHBeach Fanatic
#38
Dune-Ahh! Please come! And bring the man with you... I wish to hug the heck outta both of you in the new year!

He's opting out (sundowner syndrome dontchya know?), has a message I'm to deliver to YOU, and sends good wishes for effective collective efforts with "the Coven":lol:

I will try to come. Haven't done one of these since Madrakara in California in the late 1970s. Will edit my list, which has been building up since then. I've always thought bonfires with charcoal and smoke had no place on our crystal sand beach. Wonder if I can release that judgment with the others I need to let go.

I too have pondered the atmospheric pollution aspects of sending out smoke clouds of negativity. I've sorta justified it with thoughts that if Universe-honoring native pipples squared it with The Mother then it should work for us too.
Miss Critter avatar
Miss CritterBeach FanaticAuthor
#39
I will try to come. Haven't done one of these since Madrakara in California in the late 1970s. Will edit my list, which has been building up since then. I've always thought bonfires with charcoal and smoke had no place on our crystal sand beach. Wonder if I can release that judgment with the others I need to let go.

Caroling, we're doing this the right way. Our fire is contained in an aluminum wash tub and, once extinguished, the ashes will be bagged and disposed of.

As far as releasing negative energy into the atmosphere, I figure the Universe can dispel that far better than it can the manifestations of negative energy being carried around and inflicted upon each other. Plus, closing the ceremony with a glass of champagne dispels any latent negativity. It's shaman wisdom. . . . or bacchanalian wisdom, I can never remember which. ;-)
scooterbug44 avatar
scooterbug44SoWal Expert
#40
The fire is on par with burning a stick of incense in a temple or lighting a candle for someone in a church - yes, there is smoke and ash created, but it is being done for a greater purpose and will be cleaned up properly.

Plus, I'm a pyro and so IMO any intentional and contained fire is a good fire ;-).

Warm clothes, chair, bottle of champagne, plastic glass.

Did I forget anything?

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