If there is one thing that has helped me the most in all of my times of transition, it is letting-go rituals. If you feel as though you are holding a lot of emotion—whether it is joy, gratitude, grief, or worry—rituals are a powerful way to express yourself and connect with God's Grace.

A life change rocks your world. You feel as if you are in a state of free fall. You may be disoriented, even lost.

I was in a rush to the grocery store to pick up some fruit on my way to our Sacred Self, Sacred Community gathering. In my haste and diligence, I didn't even stop to get a shopping cart, wanting to ensure I wasn’t late for our 10 AM gathering. 

For much of my life, I carried a quiet ache I didn’t fully understand. I knew I was hurting, but I did not always have the words for it. Something inside of me felt unsettled, as though childhood pain had planted itself deep in my spirit and continued to grow, even when I tried to ignore it.

I recently stayed with friends in Portballintrae, a coastal village in Northern Ireland. On one rainy day, I was watching the wind and waves from inside our cottage. I soon became aware that at any given moment there were both potential challenges and signs of hope—it all depended on where I put my focus and how I interpreted what I was seeing.

There is something mystical about the moment you see a rose about to burst open and reveal its divine beauty. It looks and smells like hope and can bring you closer to God's love and comfort. Give yourself a moment with this reflection on finding new life outdoors.