Dealing with heartbreak is often one of the toughest emotional challenges we encounter.

Whether you’re healing from a broken romantic relationship, a friendship that has come to an end, distancing yourself from a toxic family member, or any significant emotional bond that has ceased, achieving closure and healing is crucial for moving on.

Unresolved feelings and persistent energetic connections can heavily burden your heart, making it challenging to welcome new opportunities and experiences.

A potent method to let go of these persistent energy ties is by performing a cord-cutting ritual. This practice fosters self-love and emotional liberation, paving the way for fresh starts. Rather than suppressing feelings or quickly seeking distractions, cord cutting empowers you to consciously recognize and release connections that no longer benefit you.

Energetic cords are metaphysical links that develop between individuals, places, or circumstances. They are intensified by strong feelings and shared moments. While some cords provide nourishment through love, support, and uplifting energy, others can sap our vitality—particularly when a relationship has ended or turned unhealthy. These draining cords can result in cyclical thoughts, emotional stagnation, or a sensation of being energetically “stuck.”

A cord cutting ritual does not eliminate treasured memories or sever positive emotions you may have experienced with someone. Instead, it concentrates on releasing unhealthy bonds that obstruct emotional freedom and personal development. By dissipating these residual energies, you create space for tranquility, clarity, and new opportunities to enter your life.

Spiritual, or energetic, cord cutting is a practice that focuses on severing emotional connections or energies that no longer benefit you, allowing you to let go of people, places, or experiences from your past ~ Jen Leggio

Cord cutting is a gentle yet purposeful practice that enables you to reclaim your personal power. It allows for the release of emotional weights, liberation from patterns of attachment, and the creation of energetic space for healthier connections and new experiences. Participating in this healing practice can rejuvenate your sense of calm, emotional equilibrium, and self-empowerment.

During the cord-cutting process, you acknowledge the necessity of honoring your emotions while deciding to release what is no longer in sync with your highest good. By letting go, you welcome healing and transformation, enabling you to progress with an open heart and renewed vigor.

Whether you’re confronting heartbreak, cutting ties with toxic relationships, or simply seeking emotional understanding, a cord-cutting ritual can be a significant step toward embracing your future with hope and positivity. Here’s how to proceed:

Getting Ready For The Ritual

This cord cutting ritual focuses on closure, emotional rejuvenation, and energetic independence. Approach this practice with compassion for yourself and the individual involved.

You will need:

✵ A recent photograph of the individual you’re letting go (ideally with them looking directly at the camera and alone in the image).

✵ Two candles, black or white (black for dispelling negativity, white for peace and healing—select what resonates most with you)

✵ A piece of obsidian or rose quartz (obsidian for protection and energetic cleansing; rose quartz for emotional healing)

✵ Essential oil (lavender, rose, or sage for emotional calmness and cleansing)

✵ A cord or string (symbolizing the energetic connection being severed)

✵ Scissors or small ceremonial knife (to cut the cord during the ritual)

The goal of a Cord Cutting Ceremony is to sever the emotional and energetic connection you have with a toxic person in the spiritual realm. Sometimes these cords are robust, and it’s okay if you can’t address it all in one go—you’re allowed to repeat it if needed ~ Hana O’Neill

Step-by-Step Cord Cutting

1. Create a sacred space: Choose a tranquil area where you won’t be interrupted. Set up a table or flat surface. Place the photo between the two candles. Lay the cord over the photo to signify the connection. Anoint the candles with your selected essential oil, concentrating on your intention for peace and release. Light the candles as a symbol of clarity and illumination throughout the process.

2. Ground and center yourself: Sit comfortably with your chosen stone in both hands, resting on your lap. Close your eyes and take several slow, deep breaths. Inhale peace; exhale tension. Feel grounded and visualize roots extending from your feet deep into the earth, anchoring you in stability and support.

3. Visualize the energetic cord: With your eyes closed, envision an energetic cord stretching between your heart and the individual in the photograph. Observe its texture, color, and weight—without judgment, just awareness. This cord symbolizes the emotional and energetic ties between you both.

4. Summon Archangel Michael and Archangel Chamuel: Michael is recognized for protection and severing the cord, while Chamuel offers loving energy and heart healing. Call upon their presence with these words or your own:

Archangel Michael, Protector and Guide, I call upon you to assist me in releasing this energetic bond that no longer serves my highest good.

Archangel Chamuel, I invite your loving energy to fill this space with compassion and healing. Thank you for your support in this process of letting go.

5. Recite a release affirmation: Hold the string over the photograph. When you’re ready, speak these words aloud with heartfelt intention:

I lovingly release the ties that bind me to (person’s name). I honor what was, but I choose peace, freedom, and my highest good. With gratitude, I release what no longer serves me. May we both find healing, happiness, and growth on our separate paths.

6. Cut the cord: With deep, intentional breaths, take the scissors or ceremonial knife and gently cut the cord in the center, symbolizing the release of the energetic connection. As you do, visualize the cord dissolving into light, taking with it any lingering attachments or unresolved feelings.

7. Conclude the ritual: Gently extinguish the candles, imagining that the smoke carries away any remaining energy. Hold the stone in your hands and offer a final blessing or affirmation, such as

I am free. I am whole. I am open to new beginnings of love and peace.

Dispose of the cord respectfully—ideally by burying it or burning it (if safe)—to symbolize the closure of this chapter.

8. Aftercare and self-reflection: Healing is a journey, not a one-time event. After the ritual, allow yourself to process any emotions that arise. Writing in a journal can help provide valuable insight. If emotions resurface, hold your stone and repeat affirmations of self-love and resilience.

Consider participating in nurturing aftercare activities such as:

✵ Walking in nature to ground and restore your energy

✵ Practicing gentle yoga, meditation, or breathwork to sustain emotional balance

✵ Spending time with supportive friends or family to bolster positive connections

✵ Taking relaxing baths with cleansing salts and essential oils to clear residual energy

Remember, cutting the cord doesn’t erase memories—it merely liberates you from the energetic burden of the past, allowing you to embrace the present and future with renewed vitality.

Letting go can be bittersweet, but it is ultimately a profound expression of self-love. By releasing what no longer serves you, you honor your value and create space for new experiences filled with joy, growth, and peace. Each step you take toward healing gets you closer to living fully in the present, receptive to all the possibilities life has to offer.

Whenever you sense the pull of the past, gently remind yourself: I release with love. I am worthy of happiness, peace, and fresh starts. With patience, compassion, and faith in the process, you will discover that moving on is not only achievable, but profoundly empowering.

How to Execute a Cord Cutting Ritual for Letting Go and Moving Forward

In life, we frequently find ourselves clinging to past experiences, relationships, or feelings that no longer benefit us. These connections can impede our development and keep us from progressing. One effective method to liberate ourselves from these attachments is by performing a cord cutting ritual. Cord cutting is a symbolic action that assists us in severing energetic ties with the past, enabling us to welcome new beginnings and continue with our lives. In this article, we will guide you through the steps to perform a cord cutting ritual.

1. Define your intention: Before initiating the ritual, take a moment to contemplate what you wish to release and why. Be explicit about your intention and the particular connections you want to cut. This step is vital as it helps you concentrate your energy and establishes the groundwork for the ritual.

2. Establish a sacred space: Locate a calm and comfortable environment where you can carry out the cord cutting ritual without interruptions. Clear the area of clutter and create a serene atmosphere by lighting candles, burning incense, or playing soothing music. You may also want to collect items of personal significance, such as crystals, feathers, or photographs.

3. Center yourself: Take several deep breaths and re-center yourself. Close your eyes and envision roots extending from the soles of your feet, anchoring you to the earth. Feel the firmness and support of the ground beneath you. This grounding activity will help you remain present and focused throughout the ritual.

4. Identify the cords: Envision the energetic cords that link you to the individual, situation, or emotion you want to let go. These cords symbolize the attachments that hinder your progress. Visualize them as actual cords or streams of energy connecting your body to the source of attachment. Pay attention to their color, thickness, and texture.

5. Call upon your guides: If you have spiritual beliefs, invoke your guides, angels, or higher power to assist and guard you during the cord cutting ritual. Seek their guidance and support as you release these attachments and advance in your life.

6. Initiate the cord cutting: Using a pair of scissors or a symbolic tool of your choice, hold the intention of severing the cords that bind you. Visualize the cords in front of you and, one at a time, cut through them. As you do this, repeat affirmations such as “I release you,” “I let go,” or any other phrases that resonate with your goal.

7. Envision healing: After cutting each cord, visualize the energy flowing back into your being, filling the void left by the severed attachment. Imagine being surrounded by a healing light that purifies and revitalizes your energy. Experience a sense of liberation and freedom as you release the connections that no longer support you.

8. Show gratitude: Take a moment to express gratitude for the lessons and experiences that these attachments have contributed to your life. Even if they were challenging, recognize the growth and wisdom gained from them. Gratitude helps to shift your perspective and allows you to move forward with a lighter heart.

9. Conclude the ritual: Once you have cut all the cords and expressed gratitude, take a few deep breaths to anchor yourself once again. Thank your guides or higher power for their presence and support. You may choose to close the ritual with a prayer, affirmation, or any other personal practice that resonates with you.

10. Self-care and reflection: After performing the cord cutting ritual, it’s essential to take care of yourself. Participate in self-care activities that encourage healing and self-love, such as taking a bath, journaling, meditating, or spending time in nature. Reflect on the experience and observe any shifts or changes in your energy and mindset.

Keep in mind that cord cutting is a symbolic action, and its effectiveness is rooted in your intention and belief. It may require time to completely release attachments, so be patient and gentle with yourself. Repeat the ritual as often as necessary to reinforce your intention and further the journey of letting go and moving on.

Conducting a cord cutting ritual can be a valuable instrument for personal development and transformation. By letting go of connections that no longer benefit us, we make space for new opportunities, relationships, and experiences to enter our lives. Embrace the ritual with an open heart and trust in the process of letting go and moving forward. Continue reading →