Day 119 - A Year to Clear - Check In WEEK 17 - Releasing With Water

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Lesson 119: Check In WEEK 17 - Releasing With Water

This week was definitely an interesting week. I didn’t think much of my hands until the exercises of this week. Just being mindful made me admire my hands more and then appreciate my body more. Just the simple actions of taking time to wash my hands, made me more mindful and present in the moment. I tend to imagine negativity washing over and me going down the drain to wash away – I really appreciate that visualisation.

I think if people can practise and revert to letting go with practise of water washing it away, it can do much good. Taking time to wash your hands really made me honour them and it’s a small step towards more awareness to yourself and how you can relax and breathe through it. Was an interesting exercise and I do really like what people can achieve with it.

Day 118 - A Year to Clear - One Minute Washing Meditation

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Lesson 118: One Minute Washing Meditation

Today is about doing a meditation whilst washing your hands. I don’t think I did it the way it was intended but oh well!

You are to turn the tap on and get a temperature you feel good with, fill a sink and breathe in “Ease” as you watch it rise. From there place your hands into the water and start washing them for one minute and breathe as per normal. Once this is done, empty the sink and breathe out the word release as the water goes down the drain.

I personally did not want to do this for real because I didn’t want to waste water. In Australia, we’re taught not to waste it, so I didn’t see this essential for me to do, but please feel free to action this as intended. I visualised all the steps instead. I imagined the temperature, my hands being dipped in and really taking the care to wash them. What I realised is that this is very soothing. It’s a nice way to relax and calm yourself, but also your mind. It’s uncomplicated and simple. I visualise the worries of the day going down into the drain and washing away. I feel like this is a practise anyone can adopt and apply to thoughts, but also assist on releasing all the stuck energy, whether mental or physical.

Try it and see how you feel.

Day 116 - A Year to Clear - Liquid Memory Aid

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Lesson 116: Liquid Memory Aid

Have a moment to reflect as you’re observing a tap running with water going into the drain. Whether it’s your sink, shower, laundry… just remember to “Stop. Breathe. Let go.”

I highly recommend that this be practised every day. I don’t believe it’s an instant fix but one that progresses with time. I always believe that taking some time to just breathe is so helpful in distressing. This just includes water in the exercise because we learned about fluidity last week and our worries, clutter, life should be a fluid turn of events with a natural flow. When you do start getting overwhelmed or bogged down, just stop to take some deep breaths, think of how fluid things can be and go from there. We can let go with practise.

Day 115 - A Year to Clear - Wash and Release

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Lesson 115: Wash and Release

Have you ever used water as a form of release? I have, though I only learned of this method last year. Whatever seems to be troubling you; whether it’s a career worry, some friend that’s upset you, some negative thoughts floating around in your head… you can use washing hands, bathing, showering or even dish washing to “release the charge”. There is some intent in using the water for release as we’re moving stuck energy.

My favourite release activity is usually in the shower. I close my eyes and picture the water washing over me as white, golden light penetrating my body. Anything that washes over me, I picture as black negative energy going down the drain and escaping my body. I always feel uplifted and refresh by doing this visualisation. The water washes away and takes all your worries away. I believe it works and feel better for it.

Today’s exercise is using water with intent. Whether it’s just a simple act of washing your hands, think about what’s being extracted and washing away. You can build a flow of events by doing this.

Let me know how you feel as a result.

Day 114 - A Year to Clear - Scents and Sensibility

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Lesson 114: Scents and Sensibility

Today we are to think about all the steps in washing our hands. It definitely sounds random but I think it’s about bringing about awareness and some mindfulness. What do you notice of the water? How many times do you wash your hands a day? Do you use a paper towel to use or a hand dryer? Whatever the steps, the final piece to it is to think if you go away thinking you feel “loved-up and well-tended”.

I like to use warm water to wash my hands. For some reason, I think that’s cleaner. I watched or read an article about the longer you wash your hands, the more of the bacteria goes away. So, if you wash your hands for 30 seconds it’s cleaner than 5 seconds. Since this article, I always count to 10 so I think my hands is rid of more germs. I’m not OCD but this is just something I do now. I lather with a lot of soap also. I prefer to use a hand dryer as it’s not wasting paper towel. I like when the soap has a nice scent to it because in my mind it seems like I’m more fresh. I tend to wash my hands when I’ve touched something that has dirtied my hands or after the bathroom. For some reason though, I don’t wash my hands before I eat, which you’d probably think I would, but I just don’t. I’m not sure how many times a day I wash my hands – I’m thinking maybe 4-5 times a day, but I have never really noticed to be honest.

I’m not sure if I go away thinking I’m “loved-up and well-tended”. I think I feel washing my hands does make me feel cleaner. So, in that regard, maybe I’m well-tended but I don’t feel loved-up. I guess I will think on this more as the week progresses.