We are going on a four part journey today.
A journey of forgiveness.
Step one,
We will be facing the person,
The event that hurt us.
Recognizing the pain that was caused,
Feeling it and accepting it.
Step two is expressing,
Expressing what we need to so that we can reach step three,
Forgiving and releasing.
Step four,
Our final step,
We will write it all down,
Taking this practice into the physical world,
Making this process tangible and burning anything that's left in our minds and bodies.
Then we will be free.
Forgiveness is non-resistance,
Non-resistance.
So we are confronting,
Feeling,
Acknowledging and accepting.
Find comfort,
Seated,
Supported,
You can even lay down,
Whatever feels right for you and your body today.
Recognize and feel that you are safe.
We are going to face the person who hurt us,
Explore this past pain.
This journey may be hard and it is natural and healthy to let the tears flow.
Bring awareness to the comfort and safety of this room and your body.
Breathe into your power.
Breathe into the courage that brought you here today.
Recognize your strength.
Forgiveness is not for the weak.
You are not weak.
Breathe.
Recognize,
Who is it that you need to forgive?
Have they asked for forgiveness?
Are they sorry?
It doesn't matter.
I forgive you,
Not for you but for me.
Because like chains shackling me to the past,
I will no longer pollute my heart with bitterness,
Fear,
Distrust or anger.
I forgive you because hate is just another way of holding on and you don't belong here anymore.
Bo Toplin spoke these words on forgiveness and this is our reminder when it's hard to forgive those who have not even asked for our forgiveness,
Those who are not even sorry.
But this is your reminder that forgiveness is not for them.
Forgiveness is for you.
So who do you need to forgive so that you can move forward so that you can be liberated?
Visualize them here in front of you in person.
Visualize them far enough away that you feel safe.
Look them up and down.
Notice how you feel just looking at them.
Feel that.
What happened?
What role did they play and what happened?
What role did you play?
What responsibility do you have?
What responsibility did they have?
What happened and how did it leave you feeling?
How does it continue to affect you?
Why has it been so hard to let go?
Perhaps you're trying to protect yourself,
Prevent yourself from making the same mistakes.
And that's okay,
You can still do that.
Forgiving doesn't mean forgetting.
You can still carry awareness,
But with forgiveness you don't need to carry this pain,
This bitterness,
This fear,
This distrust or anger.
Let it go.
What do you need to say to them to let it go?
What's left in your mind and your heart and your body?
What do you need to express?
What happened?
What they did?
That's in the past now.
We have to accept it,
But in this present moment,
Express what you need to,
Verbalize it,
Say it out loud.
Shout it if you need to.
And if you need more time,
You can pause this here as you continue to express,
As you continue to let it all out.
And when you're ready,
Let's forgive.
We recognize the pain,
We felt it,
We acknowledged it and accepted it.
We expressed ourselves and now we forgive.
We forgive.
Say it out loud.
I forgive you.
I forgive you.
Feel that sensation of release that comes with forgiveness,
Releasing the anger,
Releasing the bitterness,
Feeling forgiveness.
What's left in your body,
In your mind,
Anything that's left that you're still having a little trouble letting go of,
Your ego telling you you can't forgive because you need to protect yourself,
You can't forgive because they don't deserve it,
Whatever it is,
Whatever that's left.
We're forgiving not because they deserve forgiveness,
But because you deserve peace.
So anything that's left,
Write it down.
Write it down.
Write down their name,
Write down what happened.
Write down anything that's left.
And then set that paper on fire and watch it burn.
And as it burns,
Feel it.
Feel those feelings turning to dust and release it to the wind.
And as it burns,
Repeat,
I forgive,
I release,
I am free.
I forgive,
I release,
I am free.
I forgive,
I release,
I am free.
I forgive,
I release,
I am free.
You are free.
How does it feel?
Namaste.
