The Forgiveness Inventory

I have been using the Forgiveness Inventory for years now with clients and students with phenomenal results. It is one of the most powerful healing processes you can do for your heart chakra. I strongly recommend that it is done for anyone wanting to attract more abundance and love in their lives. In order to create space for newness, we must let go of old stagnant feelings from the past. In order to experience a life filled with love, our heart must be open. When we experience painful events or experiences it can cause us to close down the heart.  The act of true Forgiveness is key in letting go of the past and experiencing more LOVE in the present.

Please note that FORGIVENESS is not about excusing bad behaviour or accepting that what has happened is “okay” – true forgiveness is about letting go of the blocked energy around the story and person so that YOU can become FREE. When we let go of old resentment, anger, grief, shame, regret, disappointment, rejection, expectation and hurt from the heart it free’s you. You become lighter, more peaceful, more compassionate and more joyful. Amazing things will start to happen as your energy is free to create in the present moment, rather than being drained on keeping old ghosts of the past active.

The Process

1. Write down the name of EVERY person, living or deceased who has ever hurt or upset you.
2. Continue then writing the names of every person, living or deceased that you feel YOU have hurt or caused pain to. 

You will find your own name appears pretty quickly on the list. You will find yourself writing down all the obvious people but then also probably be able to recall names of people you haven’t thought about in years. The first time I did it I had an enormous list (around 4+ pages worth) and was able to recall full names of people from primary school and kinder – CRAZY. 

3. After you have finished the list, set aside an hour or so. Light a candle and create a sacred meditation space. Then make your way through the list and say out-loud individually to each person;

“{insert person’s name} I release you, I forgive you, I love you, I let you go”.

This process may take 30 mins or longer. However, its important to stick to it without interruption until the entire list is complete. During and after the ritual, be gentle with yourself – allow any old emotions to flow. If you feel like crying, cry. Anger may rise, just acknowledge it’s feeling in your body and let your body process it rather than getting stuck into the story about why you are angry. Remember this is about releasing. Your energy levels may fluctuate from feeling really energised to exhausted. You may need to go to the toilet. You might get sneezy, or giggly, or itchy. These are all normal reactions. You will feel the shifting and healing in whatever way is right for you. Honor the moment and really allow yourself to surrender the old.

4. Once you are done. Burn your list. If you can’t burn it – Destroy it. You may like to rip it into tiny pieces and flush it down the toilet. Or bury it in the earth. After destroying your list it is then nice to take a ritual bath or shower afterwards, to symbolise the releasing you have done, and wash away the old.  

Don’t be surprised if after finishing the list over the coming days and weeks you find yourself dreaming about people from the list, or you may bump into them, or hear news about them. This is just confirmation of the shifting and releasing. It is important to notice if you do bump into them if the same emotional charge is there, or if it’s gone. If it’s gone, the work has been done – if it’s still there some more work might need to be done.

Common things people will report after doing this ritual is that they feel lighter, more joyful, more alive. With an open heart they attract more harmonious relationships, new opportunities and feel more loving within themselves and towards others. Physical healing can occur, emotional harmony and greater peace of mind + clarity.

If you need support and assistance in healing your own heart I would love to help you. I work with clients 1:1 in Melbourne + anywhere in the world via distance in my Soul Medicine Sessions. For particularly difficult or painful relationship dynamics that you are struggling to liberate yourself from then I recommend the Cutting Of The Ties Ritual experience.

x Sara