Leave behind what isn’t you!
This visualization was inspired by a shamanic journey and created to help you release what isn’t truly yours—other people’s beliefs, fears, and expectations—and come back to your authentic self. Through symbolic imagery and intention, you’ll shed those false layers and remember who you are underneath it all.
In the early years of life, we have no control over what shapes us into versions of ourselves that later feel inauthentic. We unknowingly absorb other people’s beliefs, opinions, and fears, losing touch with our true selves until it becomes hard to see who we are underneath it all. Family, society, and schools tell us how to think, feel, behave, and even dress. And we pretend to be like others so they will accept and love us.
I created a visualization exercise to share a technique of reconnecting with yourself that was shown to me during a shamanic journey. I hope it will help you shed those layers and reconnect with your authentic self.
PREPARATION
Do this when you’re not distracted—early in the morning before the day starts is ideal, or in the evening, when you can finally rest and relax. Find a comfortable position; lie down or sit if you feel you might fall asleep. Have a pen and paper ready to write everything down afterward.
You can play soothing theta waves or shamanic drumming if that helps, or simply close your eyes. If it’s daytime, put on a sleeping eye mask; it is easier to concentrate and visualize in the dark.
The imagery you use is up to you—accept whatever will come to you. This is a personal journey, so trust your intuition. Also, whatever you see can be a metaphor or expression of you and your state of mind or heart. Write down what you saw so you can interpret it later.
LET’S BEGIN
Imagine standing in front of the entrance to any space—it could be a house, a room, a cave, a tree, or any other place that comes to mind. Here is where you’ll release what’s not yours and heal. But before you enter, you must remove everything that isn’t you.
In your mind, start shedding these layers. They could appear as clothes, energies, or anything that feels “stuck” to you. As you take them off, name them—this might be your mother’s judgments and jealousy, your father’s fears and superstition, your sibling’s negative beliefs, your friend’s opinion, or any stuff you picked up along the way that is not necessarily associated with any specific person. Keep going until you feel lighter, until everything that isn’t truly you is lying on the ground.
Now, step into the space. You may see yourself as a naked body of light or simply feel different—lighter, more joyful, and peaceful. You might even feel other emotions, and that’s okay. Let it out, cry to purify yourself if you need to.
In the center of this space, there’s a fire pit. It can look like anything you like. Take everything on the floor—all the false beliefs, fears, and opinions that don’t belong to you—and throw it into the fire. The flames can be any color that symbolizes purification and cleansing to you. Let it all go as the flames consume everything that’s not yours. Gather the ashes into a clear jar when it’s all burned and put a lid on it.
Now, it’s time to transform and release what doesn’t belong to you.
Set your intention to release what’s not yours and live only by what feels true to you, to recognize when you’re carrying someone else’s baggage and leave it behind, to drop it, and to live not by other people’s rules, opinions, and beliefs. It’s time to be you and live by what you know and feel is right.
While setting your intention, you can imagine a few different ways of transforming and releasing.
· Imagine standing on the shores of an ocean or in a meadow. Open the jar and release the ashes into the air. As the wind takes them, say your intention. Then, visualize the wind spiraling around you gently, healing and mending the new you and blowing away what isn’t you.
· Or imagine yourself in a beautiful forest. Pour the ashes into the hole in the ground and bury them. Say your intention at the same time. Imagine touching this ground as Earth transforms the ashes into grounding and healing energy that goes to you from the Earth through your feet and hands to your entire body, giving you strength and courage to live as you are.
· Or imagine the ashes inside the jar transforming into glowing little white balls or flames that now represent healing energy for you. Open the jar and press that healing light to your heart, head, or anywhere that feels right. You can cover your whole body with it. Imagine that it all goes inside you and fills you with a warm, healing light. Feel the peace, the joy of being free, and your true beauty.
When ready, slowly open your eyes and write down your experience.
The transform and release visualizations are just suggestions. Feel free to adapt the exercise however suits you best.
If it’s difficult to remember, you can convert text into speech using an AI voice generator or record your voice to create a guided meditation. Return to this exercise anytime you need to.
Good luck on your journey! 🖤
“Who looks inside awakens.”
