154 - Nature-Based Rituals for Transition: A Story about Marking What's Ending

What do you do when a place that’s held twenty years of your life history is about to be sold? You bury a shell in the sand and say good bye imperfectly, with sand still stuck between your fingers. In this episode, your host Elizabeth Mintun (licensed psychotherapist, certified qigong teacher, and mindfulness coach), shares the story of saying goodbye to her uncle’s property on Oak Island, a place woven through more than two decades of family life, births, and losses. The episode moves between a literal ending - a beloved property about to be sold - and the constant endings in life we rarely notice. Elizabeth reflects on a “Sacred Pause” retreat she co-led with Ami Peacock just days before this trip and weaves it into a larger question: what does it mean to consciously practice letting go?  Key takeaways:Creating a simple ritual (finding an object, naming what you’re releasing, marking the moment) can help an ending feel complete, even if imperfectly so. The body already practices letting go constantly. Every exhale is a small release, happening thousands of times a day. Bringing conscious attention to small, everyday endings (a season, a day, a breath) builds the same muscle needed for the larger ones. ResourcesFree live workshop: “Who Am I Now? Finding Your Footing When Life Changes Shape” on August 26th, 1pm EST: https://thecalmingground.com/free-workshopFree Guided Meditation: https://thecalmingground.com/free-guided-meditationQuestions or reflections from this episode? Email Elizabeth at [email protected] to go deeper in your own practice? Learn more about 1:1 coaching with Elizabeth Mintun here Find Elizabeth on Facebook & IG @thecalminggroundSubscribe to The Calming Ground Podcast so you never miss an episode. If you loved this conversation, please share it with a friend