a Yoko Ono prayer for the new year

CLEANING PIECES

Sometimes someone else’s words are best. Here is a cherished and unexpected piece of writing that I’ve carried in my heart since first reading it years ago. Let it sit with you as we move into a new year. Let yourself feel, forgive, accept, love, burn, celebrate, and reflect.

CLEANING PIECE I

Write down a sad memory. Put it in a box. Burn the box and sprinkle the ashes in the field. You may give some ashes to a friend who shared the sadness.

CLEANING PIECE II

Make a numbered list of sadness in your life. Pile up stones corresponding to those numbers. Add a stone, each time there is sadness. Burn the list, and appreciate the mount of stones for its beauty.

Make a numbered list of happiness in your life. Pile up stones corresponding to those numbers. Add a stone, each time there is happiness.

Compare the mount of stones to the one of sadness.

CLEANING PIECE III

Try to say nothing negative about anybody.

a) For three days

b) For forty-five days

c) For three months

See what happens to your life.

CLEANING PIECE IV

Write down everything you fear in life. Burn it. Pour herbal oil with a sweet scent on the ashes.

CLEANING PIECE V

Let a list of arbitrary names come into your mind as you go to sleep. Say “bless you” after each name. Do this with speed, by keeping a constant rhythm, so, in no way, you would hesitate to bless them.

Happy new year. Let this be a softer one.