Ritual for the New Year

Philippians 4:6

Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.

1. Start with a 10 - 15 minute time of meditation and prayer in which you set your attention on releasing the old and opening to the new.

2. On a piece of paper, hand write a list of all the things in 2014 that you'd like to let go of. This can include old patterns that don't serve you, grudges or resentments you're hanging on to, fears that hold you back, or circumstances that you'd like to change. It can also include not-useful habits such as eating too much sugar or not exercising. Make sure your list is as complete as possible with everything that didn't work for you in 2014.

3. If it's easy for you to burn the list, then you can do that. If not, you can
tear the list up in many pieces. As you release this list, imagine letting go of the energies that are represented on your list.  Give these worries over to God.

4. Now, on to creation. Make a list of all that you wish to create for yourself in 2015. Include the habits you'd like to embrace, the external circumstances you'd like to create, and the internal experiences you'd like to have (joy, freedom, ease, love, peace, acceptance of all that is, etc.). Be as specific as possible.

5. Read the list aloud (whether you're alone or with others). Speaking it out adds more energy to it. Feel each item as though it's actually happened.  You can also read it as a form of prayer (see #6).

6.  Pray.  And remember the scripture from Philippians 4:6

‘Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.’

7. Put the list in a special place.

Notice how you feel after doing this ritual

cleansed, lighter, renewed,
 excited about what's ahead.

Merciful God,

We have a desire to let things go,

To give our worries, doubts, and fears over to you.

Let it be as if we have placed them on a stone

which sinks to the bottom of a pond.

Lead us from:    Loneliness to solitude,

  Hostility to hospitality.

  Illusion of control to prayer.

Guide us on our path

and let us embrace the joys you bring our way.

Let it be as a flowing stream,

 always bringing the new possibilities to us.

Thank you Lord.

As we rejoice and pray in Jesus’ name.  Amen.






*the 3 movements mentioned in the prayer -Loneliness to solitude, Hostility to hospitality, Illusion of control to prayer, are topics discussed in Henri Nouuwen's book: Reaching Out: The Three Movements of the Spiritual Life.