{Exhale} It’s Time to Let It Go

How heavy do you feel? I don’t mean from your body’s weight, but from all the emotional and mental junk you carry around with you every day. It’s like dragging a big piece of luggage around with you that’s full of hurt, pain, anger, and little secrets that you’ve forgotten about. Did you know this can weigh you down mentally, emotionally, physically and spiritually? It’s time to open that trunk and release it.

Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light. – Matthew 11:28-30 (NIV)

Release

Let’s talk about the word release for a minute. By definition, it means to let go. To unburden yourself. To become free. Yet, we find it so hard to release any burden we’re carrying. Whether it was something created by us or someone else, committed 15 minutes or 15 years ago, you can make the choice to lay it on the altar and release it to God.

Instead, we choose to wear it like an old familiar coat. One that you know you need to get rid of, but you would feel weird once it’s gone. How much of a hurtful past are you holding onto and hitting instant replay so you can view it over and over again? Even today, as you experience negative things, you probably add it to your repertoire of negative self-talk.

Girl, it’s time to release it! Instead of holding on to the things you know will weigh you down, hand it over to God and release it. Becoming free, unbound and redeemed in the process.

Sacred Steps

A week ago I experience one of the worst weeks I’ve had in a long time. At the end of the week I was depleted on every level and had nothing left. On the drive home I kept replaying everything from that week trying to make sense of it all. That’s when I finally said, “Enough!”. I’d had enough. The week was over and there was nothing I could do about anything that happened. All I could do was go forward. It was then that I made decided that instead of being pulled down further into that black hole, I was going to go home and take a sacred bath. I was not going to carry this weight around any longer. One week was long enough.

The reason baths are so beneficial is that it forces your body, and mind, to slow down and be at rest. When you’re in the tub, there is no rushing, swimming, splashing, just being in the present. Baths are great for soothing the mind and body, while replenishing the spirit. The addition of healing essential oils makes the bath even more of a sacred experience.

To aid in releasing your burdens, I offer this sacred bath to you. Use it as often as you need it and give yourself at least 20 minutes to really enjoy this sacred time between you and God.

Sacred Bath

• sea salts – releases toxins and impurities from the body;
• eases tension in the body
• 2 drops Bergamot essential oil – for mental release & to relax
• 3 drops Lavender essential oil – encourages you to be present
• 2 drops Sweet Orange essential oil – ease & optimism
• 1-2 unscented candles

Run water for a warm to hot bath and began to layer it with these wonderful healing ingredients one at a time. With every layer you add to the water, pray an intention or purpose for that ingredient. Praying over each element as you add it to your bath makes every component of your bath purposeful. It also prepares you mentally for what is to come when you slip into your bath.

Layer one:

The first ingredient you want to add is the sea salts because they will need the most time to dissolve in your water. An example of the sea salt intention is to make its purpose to soothe the tension in your body and release all the toxins that were introduced into your body.

Layer two-four:

Add your essential oils to your bath one by one. Don’t forget to give each one a purpose and intention. I have added emotional benefits for each oil above so that you can work them into a prayer of your own.

Once you have prayed over your bath, light your candle(s) and turn out the lights. Slip into your bath and close your eyes. Visualize each intention working just as you spoke it. From your toes to your head, see those things being released from you. Do this for about 10 minutes. You can use this time to say a prayer to be unbound from your weight, think or just do nothing. Then, slowly wash away all that was released (it’s a good idea to visualize this process as well). When your bath is done, watch the water carry your burdens down the drain, let it go and move on. Don’t pick them back up!

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