Letting Go and Letting God: A Reflection on Elul, Elevation, and Divine Trust

Over Labor Day weekend, I went to the Hudson Valley Hot Air Balloon Festival.

As the sun rose, each of the colorful balloons glided upward gently, surrendering to the air, looking so majestic, defying gravity.

And in that moment, I realized, this is exactly what Elul is about.

This sacred month is a time of reflection, softness, and return. It’s a quiet invitation to come closer to Hashem, to release the burdens we carry, and to make room for something higher. We often think that to grow, we have to push harder. But what if growth, like flight, begins by letting go?

We carry emotional and spiritual “sandbags”: fear, control, shame, regret, pressure, and expectations. It feels like holding on keeps us safe, but the truth is counterintuitive: when we release those weights, we don’t fall; we rise

The Fire That Lifts Us

There’s another part of the balloon that struck me, the fire.

Before each lift-off, a burst of flame shoots up into the balloon, heating the air so it can rise. That fire is essential. Without it, the balloon remains grounded.

Spiritually, we all need that inner flame, the fire of the soul, of yearning for something more. That spark within us that longs to elevate, to grow, to connect. The fire of Elul is not about guilt or fear, but about waking up, warming up, and rising into who we are meant to be.

Teshuvah, true return, isn’t cold and mechanical. It’s passionate, alive, and fueled by our desire to draw close.

Journal Prompts for Elul

• What am I holding onto that is keeping me from rising spiritually?
  
  
• Where in my life can I release control, shame, or fear, and choose trust instead?
  
  
• What does my inner fire look like? What fuels it?
  
  
• When have I felt most connected to Hashem? How can I return to that place?
  
  
• What would it look like to approach Rosh Hashanah from a place of lightness and love?
  
  

Mindfulness Practice: Balloon Meditation

Close your eyes and imagine yourself in a hot air balloon, at sunrise. The flame burns bright, the air warms, and the balloon begins to lift. With each breath, name a burden or thought that weighs you down. With each exhale, imagine soaring higher and higher. You are rising, light, steady, supported.

Repeat silently:
I release what no longer serves. I feel lighter. G-d is near.

Final Reflections

This Elul, I’m learning that when we release the need to control everything and reconnect to the fire within, something beautiful happens.

In that space of release and trust, we are held. We are guided. We are invited to float. We are untethered. We are free.