Anubis Transition Rituals: Ending Business Relationships Gracefully and Sacredly
By Nicole, Founder of Mystic Ryst
In Egyptian mythology, Anubis—the jackal-headed god of death, mummification, and the afterlife—guided souls through the transition from life to death. He was the psychopomp, the guardian of thresholds, the one who ensured safe passage through endings. Anubis didn't fear death or avoid it—he honored it as sacred. He understood that endings are necessary, that transitions must be navigated with care, and that how you end something matters as much as how you begin it.
For spiritual entrepreneurs, Anubis teaches us the sacred art of endings. We're good at beginnings—starting client relationships, launching programs, beginning partnerships. But we're terrible at endings. We ghost clients, let relationships fade awkwardly, avoid difficult conversations, or end things messily. We don't know how to end with grace, honor, and completion. But Anubis shows us that endings are sacred transitions that deserve ritual, respect, and conscious closure.
Let's explore Anubis's wisdom and how to end business relationships gracefully.
Understanding Anubis
Who is Anubis?
Anubis's roles:
- God of Death: Oversees the dying process
- Guardian of Souls: Guides souls to the afterlife
- Embalmer: Preserves and honors the dead
- Weigher of Hearts: Judges the worthiness of souls
- Threshold Guardian: Protects sacred transitions
- Psychopomp: Guide between worlds
Anubis's powers:
- Safe passage through transitions
- Honoring what has ended
- Judgment and discernment
- Protection during vulnerable times
- Completion and closure
- Sacred ritual
Anubis's wisdom:
- Endings are sacred
- Transitions require ritual
- Honor what was
- Complete before moving on
- How you end matters
- Death enables rebirth
Anubis's Lessons for Business
- Endings are natural and necessary: Don't avoid them
- How you end matters: End with grace and honor
- Completion creates space: For new beginnings
- Ritual honors transitions: Make endings sacred
- Preserve what was good: Even as you let go
Why Endings Matter
The Cost of Poor Endings
What happens when you end badly:
- Damaged reputation
- Burned bridges
- Lingering resentment
- Energetic cords that drain you
- Incomplete closure
- Karma that follows you
- Lost referrals and opportunities
Common poor endings:
- Ghosting (disappearing without explanation)
- Passive-aggressive communication
- Blaming and attacking
- Abrupt, cold termination
- Avoiding the conversation
- Letting it fade awkwardly
The Power of Graceful Endings
What happens when you end well:
- Reputation intact or enhanced
- Bridges preserved
- Clean closure
- Energy freed up
- Completion and peace
- Good karma
- Potential for future connection
- Referrals even after ending
Graceful endings include:
- Clear, honest communication
- Respect and appreciation
- Proper closure rituals
- Honoring what was
- Clean energetic completion
- Leaving door open (if appropriate)
When to End Business Relationships
Signs It's Time to End
With clients:
- They've completed your program/service
- They're no longer aligned with your work
- They violate boundaries repeatedly
- They're abusive or disrespectful
- They're not doing their part
- The relationship drains you
- You've outgrown each other
With partnerships/collaborations:
- Vision misalignment
- Values conflict
- One person doing all the work
- Trust has been broken
- The partnership no longer serves
- Natural completion of project
With team members:
- Performance issues not improving
- Cultural misfit
- Business needs have changed
- Budget constraints
- Role is no longer needed
With offerings/programs:
- No longer aligned with your vision
- Not selling or serving well
- You've evolved beyond it
- It drains more than it gives
Anubis's Sacred Ending Process
Phase 1: Discernment (Weighing the Heart)
Before ending, assess honestly:
- Is this truly complete?
- Have I done everything I can?
- Is ending the right choice?
- What's my true motivation?
- Am I acting from integrity?
Anubis weighs the heart against Ma'at's feather of truth. Weigh your decision:
- Is this decision aligned with truth?
- Am I being honest with myself?
- Is this for the highest good?
- Can I end with integrity?
If yes, proceed. If no, address what needs addressing first.
Phase 2: Preparation (The Embalming)
Prepare for the ending:
- Gather your thoughts: What will you say?
- Plan the conversation: When and how?
- Prepare logistics: Final deliverables, payments, transitions
- Ground yourself: This is hard but necessary
- Set intention: To end with grace and honor
What to prepare:
- Clear, kind communication
- Final deliverables or refunds
- Transition plan (if needed)
- Referrals or resources (if appropriate)
- Your own emotional readiness
Phase 3: The Conversation (Guiding the Soul)
How to have the ending conversation:
-
Be direct and clear:
- Don't beat around the bush
- State the ending clearly
- "I've decided to end our working relationship"
-
Be honest but kind:
- Share your reason (briefly)
- Don't blame or attack
- Use "I" statements
- "This is no longer a good fit for me"
-
Acknowledge what was good:
- Appreciate what worked
- Honor the relationship
- "I'm grateful for..."
-
Provide closure:
- Explain next steps
- Handle logistics
- Answer questions
- Give them closure too
-
Wish them well:
- Genuine good wishes
- Offer referrals if appropriate
- Leave door open if appropriate
Example script:
"I want to talk with you about our working relationship. I've decided that it's time for us to complete our work together. This isn't about you doing anything wrong—it's that I've realized this isn't the right fit for me anymore. I'm grateful for [specific things], and I've appreciated [specific aspects]. Here's how we'll transition: [logistics]. I wish you all the best, and I'm happy to refer you to [alternative] if that would be helpful."
Phase 4: The Ritual (Sacred Transition)
After the conversation, perform a closing ritual:
- Acknowledge the ending: This relationship has ended
- Honor what was: Gratitude for the good
- Release what wasn't: Let go of the difficult
- Cut energetic cords: Free yourself and them
- Bless the transition: Wish them well
- Close the chapter: It is complete
Anubis's Ending Ritual (detailed below)
Phase 5: Integration (The Afterlife)
After the ending:
- Process your emotions: Grief, relief, whatever arises
- Extract lessons: What did you learn?
- Complete any lingering tasks: Final emails, payments, etc.
- Clear your space: Remove reminders if needed
- Make space for new: What's next?
Anubis's Ending Ritual
A Ritual for Sacred Closure
What you'll need:
- Black candle (endings)
- White candle (new beginnings)
- Obsidian or black tourmaline
- Scissors or knife (cord cutting)
- Paper and pen
- Something to burn paper in
- Image of Anubis
The ritual:
- Create sacred space
- Invoke Anubis: "Anubis, Guardian of Transitions, guide me through this ending"
- Light black candle
- Acknowledge the ending: "This relationship has ended. I honor this transition."
- Write what you're grateful for: All the good from this relationship
- Speak gratitude aloud: "I am grateful for..."
- Write what you're releasing: The difficult, the pain, the attachment
- Burn the release list: "I release all of this. It is complete."
-
Cord cutting visualization:
- Visualize energetic cords between you and them
- Use scissors to cut the cords (physically cut the air)
- "I cut all cords between us. We are free."
- Bless them: "I wish you well on your path. May you thrive."
- Light white candle: "I make space for what's next. New beginnings are welcome."
- Thank Anubis: "Thank you for guiding me through this transition."
- Close sacred space
Daily Integration Practice
For the days/weeks after ending:
- Notice what arises (emotions, thoughts)
- Process without judgment
- Remind yourself: "It is complete"
- Redirect energy to what's next
- Trust the transition
Specific Ending Scenarios
Ending with a Difficult Client
Script:
"I've decided that we need to end our working relationship. This isn't working for either of us. I'll [refund/complete current work/transition you to someone else]. I wish you the best in finding the right support."
Key: Firm, brief, no negotiation
Ending a Completed Program
Script:
"Congratulations on completing [program]! You've done amazing work. As we close this chapter, I want to honor your transformation and celebrate how far you've come. Here are some resources for continuing your journey. I'm so proud of you."
Key: Celebratory, honoring, supportive
Ending a Partnership
Script:
"I think it's time for us to complete our partnership. We've created great things together, and I'm grateful for that. But I feel we're moving in different directions now. Let's discuss how to transition this gracefully and honor what we've built."
Key: Respectful, collaborative, honoring
Sunsetting an Offering
Communication to audience:
"I'm sunsetting [offering] as of [date]. This program has served so many people beautifully, and I'm grateful for that. But it's time for it to complete so I can focus on [what's next]. If you've been considering it, now's your last chance. Thank you to everyone who's been part of this journey."
Key: Clear timeline, honoring, invitation for last chance
The Promise of Sacred Endings
When you end like Anubis:
- You maintain your integrity and reputation
- You free your energy completely
- You create space for what's next
- You honor all involved
- You complete the cycle
- You enable new beginnings
The Invitation
Anubis teaches us that endings are sacred transitions that deserve ritual, respect, and conscious closure. Don't ghost, don't avoid, don't end messily. End with grace. End with honor. End with completion. Let Anubis guide you through the threshold. Honor what was. Release what's complete. And step into what's next with clean energy and clear conscience.
What endings do you need to honor? How will you create sacred closure? I'd love to hear your Anubis-inspired transition rituals.