Are you looking for a way to connect on a deeper level with yourself, your friends, or nature? Have you been feeling like you need to release some thoughts, feelings, or habits that are no longer serving you? Do you want to set intentions and manifest what you want more of in your life? If you've answered yes to any of these questions, you may be interested in trying a sacred circle of your own!
Birthday celebrations often involve going out and partying, but this year, I wanted something different for myself. I wanted to release the old, set intentions for how I wish to be, and connect on a deeper level with my friends and loved ones.
In my yoga teacher trainings, often we would have circles where we could share our experiences, connect with each other, and practice holding safe space. Once I graduated from teacher training, I craved those types of experiences and wished they were more common practice in the world. Then the thought occurred to me: Why don't I create the experience that I am looking for? Hence the "friendship circle" or "sacred circle" ceremony was born!
I was inspired by reading about cacao ceremonies. These ceremonies are a way of connecting with the self, others, and nature. The sacred circle is a space to reflect, release, and set intentions. Disclaimer: I am not a certified Cacao Ceremony facilitator. My trainings have been in Psychology, Vinyasa Yoga, and Usui Reiki, as well as Ayurveda and the Chakra system. I did incorporate cacao into the ceremony as a means to set intentions and foster gratitude. It was delicious, warm, and fun!
Setting the Space
The day before the ceremony, I advised my friends to eat nutritious foods, hydrate their bodies, be mindful of what they were consuming (media, music, tv, etc.), and to limit alcohol or other substances. In order to get the most out of the ceremony, it is important to have a clear mind. After all, the way that we treat our bodies and minds today determines how we will feel tomorrow.
When you are ready to start setting up for your ceremony, the first step is to clear the energy from the space where you plan to hold the ceremony. Set the tone by incorporating calming, meditative music and using your favorite energy-clearing tools. I suggest saging the room, using incense, or burning Palo Santo. Be sure to open a window to provide a way for the energy to leave the space.
Next, I set up a space for us to sit in a circle and be together. A circular seating arrangement is ideal so that you can all see each other and feel connected. I folded yoga mats in half and provided pillows to sit on or use as back rests. I also provided soft blankets and advised that everyone wear clothes that were comfortable.
Side note: It was raining on the day of the ceremony, so we held the ceremony indoors. However, it may be nice to facilitate it outdoors for an opportunity to connect with nature, as well as with yourself or whoever you invite to join you.
Holding the Ceremony
I began the ceremony by explaining the agenda. Most of my friends had never done anything like this before, so I assured them that we wouldn't be doing anything too "woo woo." I explained what would happen in order to ease any anxieties about the unknown.
We started by finding a comfortable seat and dropping in. I guided them through some breathwork and gentle movement to help strengthen the mind-body connection and feel into their bodies. Next was as follows:
Journaling. Beforehand, I made a personalized journal for each of my friends. I guided them through several journal prompts and wrote them on the inside of the journal in case they needed a reminder.
Sharing. Everyone had the opportunity to share what they had written in a safe container- without judgement, without feedback, just a healing space to be heard. I also reminded them that no one is required to share, it is entirely optional- however, sometimes speaking our feelings out loud can give them less power over us. Tears were shed, feelings were expressed, and we all connected on a deep level by resonating with each other's experiences or finding compassion and understanding for one another.
Releasing. We all wrote on a piece of paper something that may be holding us back that we want to release. It could be a thought, a behavior, something physical, anything that is no longer serving our best selves. Next we ripped or crumpled the paper, allowing what we want to release to infuse into the paper. Then we let it burn, baby, burn!
Meditation. I guided the group through a meditation that ended in setting an intention. This intention is something that we want more of in our lives, maybe a way that we wish to be or how we wish to move through the world.
Drinking the cacao. We infused our intention into our cacao drink. We then took a moment to be mindful and fill our senses with the cacao- looking at it and smelling it before sipping it. As we slowly drank the cacao, we allowed the warmth filling us to be our intention manifesting within us. You can buy ceremonial grade cacao here*- I recommend buying the whole block of cacao, as it is not processed and it’s more potent than the powder. I mixed the cacao with almond milk, cinnamon, cayenne, and honey. Be sure not to heat the water too much as it may burn off some of the health-promoting properties of the cacao.
Expressing gratitude. I went around the circle and expressed my gratitude for each individual who had joined me in the sacred circle. Another way to express gratitude could be to write down a gratitude list and then share around the circle what you are thankful for.
Closing the Ceremony
We ended the ceremony with a cleansing breath and three AUMs. This was a fun way to unite and try something new, as many had never participated in a sea of AUMs before. We closed out with a group hug.
I chose this as the celebration of my birthday this year because I wanted to connect with my friends on a deeper level. I wanted to give them the gift of self-reflection because it is what has been a catalyst in my own self-growth journey. I set the intention this year to be more open and to release self doubt. I did not want to continue on without telling my loved ones how I feel about them and how grateful I am for their presence in my life. This ceremony helped to do exactly that.
This was a unique and special experience that my friends may not have had if I didn't decide to create the space for us. I believe each of them showed up for me, but ended up taking something valuable from the experience for themselves. I highly recommend trying it out with some of your close friends, or do it for yourself as a way to reconnect. Doing this kind of internal work, reflecting on our internal worlds, releasing what is no longer serving us, and setting intentions on how we wish to be is so important. It matters. You matter.
If you are interested in hiring a facilitator for this type of ceremony, email Katie at info@freefloweryoga.com. Thanks for reading and don't forget to subscribe! :)
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