These group rituals roughly translate as ‘being seen’ or ‘to release and let go of wrongdoings.’ We ask for forgiveness from the past and we heal by cutting the cords to unhealthy ties that we may have been holding on to, such as deep emotional traumas, curses, negative thoughts, grudges, unskillful words, wrongdoings, actions, mistakes made in rituals, and the dishonouring of deities, spirits or ancestors.

Traditionally this important ceremony is conducted at the river bank with participants going into the water and cleansing. Offerings are also released into the water to be carried away. 

After the release ritual, the ‘Sacred Water Vase / Kalasha Awakening Ritual’ takes place, during which the blessings of teachers and infinite sources are invoked. Each participant will go through a cleansing and purification ritual.

On Saturday evening, we will have a sacred fire ceremony. And the retreat closes with a ritual for Raising our Spirits, tying a protective BUTI – amulet on each participant and a song of gratitude.

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In Himalayan shamanism the spirits invoked for this ritual are the goddess Akhalinda, who rides on the back of a Crocodile and Aakash Devi (the goddess of the sky), who rides on the back of an Owl. Akhalinda and Aakash Devi work in partnership to heal deep-seated traumas, fears, and distractions, help us generate inner strength, and support from the outside. Akhalinda helps us empty and release, and Aakash refills and reclaims.

A crocodile’s predatory capacity is due to its ability to pluck its prey from the river bank, take it into the water, and spin it around and around until it is disoriented. The Crocodile spins its prey like a whirling dervish seeking higher connections and using the power of the spin rather than brute force to feed itself.

The Crocodile's place in our bodies is the naval area. Their spiritual medicine is about finding the strength within ourselves to live in solidarity and silence, and realise our psychic power and intuitiveness without slipping into despair and depression. The Crocodile’s spirit is also known to help us regenerate our capacity to create something new and to help us deepen our spiritual work.

Goddess Akhalindeshwari riding on this fearsome predatory creature, neither rejects her fear nor lets it control her; she depends on it. She sits on the crocodile that lives in the river, uses its power to navigate the waves, and spins in the water.