One of my favorite family traditions started when I was about 14-years old. My mother was always very diligent about making sure that my siblings and I were respectful of other religions and diversity. Although we were predominantly LDS growing up, she thought that it was important for us to respect others no matter what their religion was. She made it clear that it was important to have spirituality in our lives, but that that didn't necessarily have to fit a mold. As part of this teaching, she would take us to all different kinds of churches every couple of months or so.
One year, on New Years Eve she took us to the Unitarian church for a ceremony. We had been to the Unitarian church before for Sunday service and I enjoyed the band on stage and the congregation holding hands and singing together. On this night, there wasn't a traditional church ceremony going on - this was a special ceremony that only happened on New Year's Eve. Even though I was a teenager I was excited to be experiencing something new and fun with my family.
The people running the ceremony passed out four items: a tissue paper, a pen, a paper and an envelope. They then asked everyone to write down the things they wanted to get rid if from the previous year - what were the things burdening you, bringing you down, preventing you from moving in a forward progression in your life?We all proceeded to write things in the 3x4 inch piece of paper. I wrote things like - "sadness," "negativity," "fear," etc. They then asked us asked us to walk to the front of the room and burn the piece of paper in a large bowl called "The Burning Bowl."
When I walked up to the font of the room there was a large bowl with fire inside of it. I dropped by piece of paper, watched it disintegrate. I suddenly felt a burden release from my shoulders. All of the things I wanted to get rid of from the past year were now in the past. I could let go of them and move on to more positive things. As we walked back to our seats we listened to what was next in the agenda for the ceremony. We were asked to write a letter to God outlining what we wanted to happen for ourselves and those close to us in the coming year on the sheet of paper they gave us. It was basically an opportunity for us to sit back and really focus on what goals we'd like to set for ourselves in the next year. I wrote and wrote and wrote until type page was full on the front and back side.
They then asked us to seal the envelope and give it to them so they cloud pray on it for the next year. At the end of each year, they mail you back the letter so that you caned it on New Year's Eve and see what you have accomplished that year. It's amazing to see what can be accomplished if you just put it out there in the universe. I didn't do the ceremony the next year, or even the year after but a couple years ago I decided to put together a "Burning Bowl" ceremony at my house for my friends and family. It's not as formal or official, but it still helps us release our burdens from the year before and set new goals for the year ahead. It's become a pretty important and meaningful tradition for me and I am grateful to my mother for introducing such a positive experience my life.
