·        Forgiveness can be given and the issues/emotions (stones) connected with them from the past can be released.  Focus your intent on the forgiveness and the wounding (issue/emotion) you want to release. ALWAYS TAKE JUST ONE WOUNDING AT A TIME AND BEGIN SLOWLY WITH JUST A SMALL WOUNDING FROM THE PAST—JUST METAPHORICALLY A LITTLE PEBBLE!

·        Find a stone in nature and ask permission with your mind to use it.  Then take the stone and sit with it alone (preferably in nature) and talk your feelings and emotions/tears/cry/shout/yell, whatever it takes into this stone. You may only spend a few minutes doing this; then put the stone away in a special place or you may even carry it with you. When you are ready to say more words of healing to the stone; repeat as often as necessary. This process may take hours, days, weeks, or months (depending on the ‘size of the stone’). But when you feel ready to release, visit a stream/lake/ocean. It can be at any time of the day, but dawn or dusk symbolically are the best.

·        Sit by the waters edge and relax. More words may need to be said and more tears shed; when you are ready: Let Go, Forgive, and Release—drop (or toss) the stone into the stream/lake/ocean…as you let go of the stone—you are letting go of the stone within your Chalice of Light. If you are unable to open your fingers and release the stone, it just means that you have more work to do on this wounding. Keep this stone and take it back home again.  Repeat talking to your stone. When you feel you are ready again, re-visit the stream/lake/ocean and release.

·        When you have forgiven and let go of this past wounding, sit by the water’s edge and feel the lightness within you. Bless, give thanks, and leave an offering before you depart.  Bless, thank, and love yourself for having the courage, wisdom, and love to forgive and let go.

November 2001