Based on writings by Ingrid Collins
This is a Zen method of healing old arguments or tidying up unfinished business with someone. The name comes from the shape of the number eight, two touching circles.
Begin with 3 intentional breaths and body awareness practice.
Guided meditation: Let your imagination take you on a journey through a beautiful turquoise or violet-colored cloud to a safe sacred place. / You can be at peace here. Maybe you’re in a garden or sitting near water. Or you might like to create a new place in your imagination like a crystal cave, sitting by the ocean or relaxing in a comfortable chair by a fire.
Look around this beautiful sacred space and settle yourself into a comfortable position. Invite the person you have unfinished business with, to come and sit with you. Don’t overthink it, go with the first person who comes to mind.
Draw a figure eight around you both, so that you are sitting in two touching circles.
Tell this person everything within your heart you need to say, however difficult or painful it might be. When you’re finished, tell yourself, “Yes.”
Now listen while the person tells you everything that they need to say, however difficult or painful it might be for you to hear. When you have finished listening, tell yourself, “Yes.”
Now that you’ve exchanged your thoughts with each other, look down into your hands and see your gift for the other person. Maybe it’s an object or perhaps a memory, something that is significant to you, and necessary for you to give, for healing to take place. Breathe into the peace of letting go.
As you give your gift, look into the other person’s hands at their gift for you. It could be an object or memory that is significant to you both, and necessary for you to receive, for healing to take place. Breathe into the peace of receiving love.
Now be aware of very fine silver strands connecting your body to the other person. Take a pair of golden scissors and mindfully cut every single thread. When you finish, tell yourself, “Yes.”
From the ground within the two circles where you’re both sitting, there emerges a brilliant azure light that calms and heals the anger and resentment. The light the rises in two shimmering circles above your heads. Now you and the other person are sitting in two touching cylinders of blue light.
Separate the two cylinders. Now both you and the other person are no longer entangled or enmeshed. You are both free. Breathe into the peace of freedom.
When you’re ready, very tenderly come back through the beautiful colored cloud and into the room where you are now. Take your time. Gently open your eyes.
Take another intentional breath. Write down any sensations, feelings, realizations or findings from your experience.