New Instructions for the Reiki Burning Bowl Ceremony

by Colleen Benelli

December 20, 2011

2012 is almost here. It is a year that has been highly publicized 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.wpengine.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.wpengine.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!

Colleen Benelli can be reached by email at colleen@reikilifestyle.com, by phone at 503.912.0664, on her website at www.reikilifestyle.wpengine.com, or on her Facebook page, Reiki Lifestyle-Colleen Benelli.

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