Things You'll Need:
- Paper
- Pencil
- Barbecue pit, fireplace or large ashtray to burn paper in
- Candle
- Optional, traditional Wiccan altar and tools for circle casting and rituals.
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Step 1
Begin by defining what it is you need to free yourself from. Use the paper to journal it out. Draw it and write a description of what you're letting go of, what you're freeing yourself from. It could be smoking addiction, shopping addiction, going back to a bad relationship or continuing in a bad work or living situation. Write this up and draw a symbolic image of it and how it imprisons you. The art has to be meaningful to you, not beautiful, art critics won't be judging it. Samhain, or Halloween, October 31st is a very good holiday to free yourself of unwanted things in your life as it's the turning of the year. So is the New Moon.
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Step 2
Meditate. Find a quiet place in your house. Light your candle in a safe dish or holder you can carry. Cast a circle. If you are a practicing Wiccan or other pagan, set up your altar for this and be sure your firepot or ashtray is set prominently in the center. If not, search online and read up on basic Circle Casting on any good pagan site. Most versions have you draw a circle, then greet the four elements in order -- Air in the East, Fire in the South, Water in the West, Earth in the North with their colors and symbols in mind. Then banish all evil from the circle, just "If there be anything here that cometh not in the name of the powers of light, then in the name of the powers of light let it begone!" Then call on the Lord and Lady for their blessings. At this point you're ready for your spellwork. Have your paper with what you're freeing yourself from in the circle with you.
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Step 3
State your intent. Ask the help of the Lord and Lady to free yourself from ...and read off what you're freeing yourself from aloud from the paper. Keep this short and simple or take the time to let out your feelings and tell the whole story. It's between you and the gods and they do listen and care. "Lord and Lady, help me to free myself from _____" and then tell the story.
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Step 4
Tear up the paper into small pieces. Break the pencil. Destroying the object that defines your limits will help you break through those limits. Put the paper into the brazier and light it with the candle. Be careful to burn all of it. As you watch it burn, state your gratitude and your intent again. "Thank you, Lord and Lady, for freeing me from the bonds of __. From this night on, I pledge to you that I will resist ___ with all my strength, knowing you are at my side to help me."
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Step 5
Pinch the candle out rather than blow it out. Lick your fingers first and you won't burn yourself. Thank the Lord and Lady for their help with this: "Thank you for your blessings and aid. Go if you must, stay if you will, blessed be." Thank the elemental guardians in the Quarters in reverse order with the same words. End your ritual with a closing like "The circle is open but never broken, blessed be." Your wording may vary. Your religion may vary. Some Christian practitioners may call angels at the quarters, and ask Jesus and the Holy Spirit for help. But the principle is the same -- pray, and meditate, define the problem, burn the symbol to burn it out of yourself.
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Step 6
The last, most important step after the ritual is to take your new strength and confidence and make it so in real life. Take sensible, reasonable steps to quit smoking or break up the bad relationship or look for a better job. If you are at real risk of domestic violence, seek help. Do the things in the real world needed to free yourself of what you've let go of. The purpose of this ritual is to help you stop enabling what is imprisoning you, to help you stop imprisoning yourself in bad situations. No matter how bad it gets, if you free yourself inside yourself you can begin to free yourself in the world too.
