When you can’t get out of your own head to really tap into  Spirit or meditate and you’re dealing with a problem or a pain  that is too big to feel around, this ritual can help you zoom  out and see it from a wider perspective. When you do this, it’s  much easier to face the problem and come up with a solution. 

Here’s what you’ll need: 

• One pen 

• Two pieces of paper 

• Some incense  

1. Begin the ritual by writing down the problem or difficulty,  in as mucg details as possible. Do it like you’re writing a story  in the first person: “I am dealing with…” “I have to…” “I don’t know how to…” 

2. Write the story down on one page. When you’re done, take  the other page and write another story, this time in the third  person, as if you’re an all-knowing narrator. 

3. The first sentence of this new story is about the problem  you're experiencing. Summarize everything in just one  sentence, then continue the story, writing down details about  future plans that excite you, or make up an entire day of  activities. 

4. Then take the two stories and look at them, side by side.  Realize that the long problem-story is essentially just a  sentence in your life’s story. You have many other things to  look forward to. 

5. When you’re ready, burn the page with the problem-story  and your incense (as a fire offering). Keep the full-perspective  one close by and reread it when you need to remind yourself  your problem will pass.

6. Practice your Integration every time you finish a  meditation, ritual, or happy activity and purposefully guide  your thoughts where you want them.