A Prayer of Releasing and Forgiving

Spirit of Renewal, Divine Mystery, Loving Presence,

we gather here in the early days of this new year,

carrying memories of the past

and hopes for what’s yet to come.

 

Today, we pause to reflect on the year behind us,

bringing its joys and sorrows, triumphs and stumbles,

into the light of this sacred moment.

 

We hold out our regrets and our hurts,

all that has weighed on our hearts and minds.

We name them, if only with a single word,

and set them before the cleansing flame or dissolving water,

trusting in its power to help us let go.

 

We pray for forgiveness,

for ourselves, for those we have hurt,

for those who have caused us pain.

In the letting go, may our burdens become lighter,

and our hearts find room to breathe anew.

 

We pray for courage,

courage to take responsibility for our missteps,

to learn from them, and then to release their hold on us.

Courage to face the unknown of the coming months,

believing that growth is possible,

even when the path ahead is uncertain.

 

We pray for grace,

grace to open our hearts to others’ shortcomings,

recognizing that we all walk this journey of life

in imperfect, all-too-human ways.

Grace to see that each moment offers a chance to begin again,

to choose compassion, to rekindle hope.

 

As we drop our old baggage into the sacred fire or water,

may the smoke or swirling dissolve

rise as a testament to new beginnings.

May we release grudges, anger, and shame,

freeing ourselves to welcome all that lies ahead.

 

If the past year held joy and growth,

may those blessings continue to guide us,

forming a strong foundation for the future.

 

If the past year held pain and bitterness,

may we now find relief from that weight,

replacing it with the sweet possibility of renewal.

 

And in this collective act of release,

we breathe in the spirit of freedom and potential.

We open our hearts to the mystery of tomorrow,

prepared to greet it with curiosity, love,

and a bold willingness to begin again.

 

May our forgiveness be real, our hope be bright,

and our hearts open,

embracing ourselves, one another,

and the unfolding gifts this new year will bring.

 

Amen. Blessed be. And so it is.