2012 is almost here. It is a year that has been highly publisized as a profound time of human potential. Whether you believe it is the coming of a new consciousness or the time of global destruction, or no change at all, you have the opportunity to enter into this New Year awake to your own potential. One way to do that is to reflect on the past  year and let go of what is not in the best interest for your future.

The Reiki Burning Bowl Ceremony is a beautiful ceremony that will help you release what you don't want to take with you into the New Year. I first wrote an article about it for Reiki News Magazine, and I have the complete free instructions for the ceremony and the article on my website, reikilifestyle.com. Last year I began using a different method of burning the paper during the ceremony. In my original instructions, I used dirt in the bottom of the bowl and placed a lit candle in the center. During the ceremony people wrote what they were letting of on paper and then burned the paper using the fire from the candle. That works great for 1-10 people, but if you are having a larger ceremony, it is very slow and quite a bit smokier than what I use now.

I facilitate a Reiki Burning Bowl Ceremony for the New Year for my January Reiki Circle for about 35 - 40 people. So I needed to change the way we burned the paper. First, I found a really large stainless steel bowl. It is made to hold ice and wine bottles so it is a nice size. I line the bottom with aluminum foil, pour Epsom Salts into it, and pour 99% alcohol over the salt. I use a long lighter to light it because it has a little "poof" when it is first lit. It has a pretty good fire, but it doesn't smoke very much. You should practice it at home before you do it so you know what to expect. I give the people a regular piece of paper that is long and narrow. about 1/3 page, cut vertically. (I found some at the Dollar Store in a pad of paper) That way the people can hold it for a moment while it burns if they want to. And the paper has enough room to write down alot of things to let go of! I like the fire in the bowl to be somewhat strong, so the paper burns fast. Sometimes I have had to add more salt and alcohol in the middle of the ceremony when the fire burned out before we were finished, so have some ready just in case. When the ceremony is over, you can add water to the salt, then bury it, or it will disolve in the water if you want to wash it down the sink. Make sure you dispose of it safely. I have placed a photo of the supplies I use for the ceremony on my home page of my website, reikilifestyle.com.

I have the complete instructions for the Reiki Burning Bowl Ceremony if you want to hold the ceremony for yourself or your friends. It is a nice way to usher in the New Year. The ceremony also includes what you want to empower for the New Year. It gives you time to go into your heart and listen for your intentions. I like to have the people attending the ceremony write their intentions on a card, I collect the cards and place them in my Reiki room with a Reiki Crysal Grid over them, and then I send them back to the people on the solstice in June. It is always a wonderful surprise when they receive them. It gives their intentions new life. Here is the direct link to the Reiki Burning Bowl Ceremony, and also the Reiki Burning Bowl Article.

However you spend your New Years, I wish you wonderful blessings for 2012!

The Reiki Gratitude Ceremony is a wonderful ceremony for Thanksgiving and holiday dinners. The Reiki Burning Bowl Ceremony is great for the New Year celebrations.  I have written free instructions for each and posted them on my website, making it easy for you to create your own ceremonies. Just go to my Reiki Ceremonies page and download the instructions, prayers and easy instructions for everything else you need. I have the link to the page below. I have tried to emphazize the word easy so you know that this is something you can comfortably add to your celebrations. They are meaningful, enjoyable, and can be adapted to be appropriate for all belief systems.

I have also written articles about Reiki and Gratitude and the Reiki Burning Bowl and they are here on the website too. I have also placed that link below.The articles add depth to the understanding behind each of the ceremonies. Dr. Usui's Reiki Ideal, "Just for today, I will be grateful," inspired me to meditate, pray and focus on gratitude. I was inspired to create the Reiki Gratitude Ceremony during my meditations. The holidays were coming up and I could envision people gathered together with family and friends and adding gratitude to their homes and out into the world. And if we had the ceremony all over the country and in other parts of the world, there would be a powerful vibration of thanksgiving broadcast all over the planet. The gratitude and love from ceremony is sent to the World Peace Grids and they in turn send the power of the collective prayers all over the world.

The Reiki Burning Bowl Ceremony was inspired by a ceremony I had heard about from the Unity Church years ago. I adapted it and added Reiki.  It is a method of letting go of what no longer serves you. The things that you don't want to take into the new year. This ceremony uses Reiki to release and heal the energy and limitations that hold you back. It then empowers your life force which helps you manifest your intentions and goals.

I hope these ceremonies add beauty and love to your holidays!

Here is the link to the instruction page for Reiki Ceremonies: Reiki Ceremonies.   And here is the link to my articles page: Reiki and Gratitude and Reiki Burning Bowl Ceremony.   Click here to read about the World Peace Grids: Reiki.org. Ioffer my Reiki Articles, Ceremonies, Craft Projects and Photo Galleries for free on my website: www.reikilifestyle.com.

Love and gratitude to you all!

Colleen