Greetings, dear Sunny Optimists,
We are well into January now when daylight increases, but a deep winter chill remains. I see how tranquil the land is at this time. Not a lot is happening on the surface. It can be somewhat counterintuitive to remain in a reflective 'being' state. because January can feel like a bursting forth towards tomorrow energy. But this type of 'bursting forth' is Spring rather than Winter energy. If we push or leap into too much action, we ride over our need for extended rest and rejuvenation. A delicacy is needed to flow into the New Year in the way of wholeness and balance.
I love the image below. In the darkness, our desires are like pulses of light. Can you see the lovely little seeds glowing in the dark? Just delightful. It is now time to bring these light pulses into the form of intentions for the year to come. We want to make them visible and gently nurture them into form.
To begin, I invite you to remind yourself of the question you created in week one and let it guide you for this final piece of our winter dreaming time. My question was, ‘What is needed to step fully into my Soul’s purpose now?’ It has been like a guiding star to the process, keeping me aligned and attuned with my deepest desires. I am in my 70s now. As I look out ahead, I am seeking insight into my life as an Elder who wishes to respond to ageing with curiosity and fervour. Mmmmmm.
If you would like to share your question with me, please do so here.
As always, I love hearing from you.
Crafting your Intentions
Begin by exploring what you have gleaned over the last five weeks. Intuitively look for groupings of aspects with a similar theme. It might take a few iterations to do this. Do not rush, just let options arise with ease.
When you feel this first step is complete, then think about which grouping calls your attention first. All are important, but some may be more urgent. Another way to decide where to begin is to feel into which territory of your life an aspect resonates with. Your life territories could include personal development, relationships, health and wellbeing, vocation, spiritual life, learning, finances, travel, leisure, etc. Take your time with this, and let the process ebb and flow for a while.
Then, when you feel you have settled on your first grouping, craft a single sentence that best captures your desire for this part of your life. Start the sentence with the words ‘I will….’ This way of formulating your sentence signifies intent and indicates forward motion. It does not let you become tactical too early:)
Repeat this process until you have a maximum of eight statements. If you have more than eight, please review them to see if there is any overlap. Perhaps there is a way to take a higher perspective that would bring two or more together. The reason for this is so as not to overtax your remembering of them.
Then I suggest you write each of your ‘I will’ statements on separate pieces of paper, ready for the completion piece below.
Cherishing your Intentions
You can bring energy to your intentions in different ways. Here are some suggestions, but feel free to follow your own sense of what is best for you.
You can take each of your pieces of paper and beautify them. You could then place them in a folder or in your journal. Last year, I kept mine in an envelope on my altar. I then took them out every so often to consider what might be unfolding.
You can create a Vision Board. This is where you could marry each of your sentences with an item of nature. The board lets you see your dreams in one place. It also enables you to play with interconnections. I suggest you place your vision board somewhere where you see it frequently during the day.
Another option is to create an altar that holds the energy of your dreaming. Feel free to add items from nature or special personal items to your altar. Every so often, you can light a candle and sit quietly in contemplation.
You may wish to create a 'seed bundle'. To do this, gather some plant seeds, a circular piece of cloth or leather and a tie. Then, place one seed for each intention in your fabric and tie it together as a bundle. It can be placed on your altar or on a tree if you have a garden.
Whatever you choose, it is good to connect every day with what you are calling in for yourself in 2024. You can send prayers to clarify your desires and invite them to manifest in a timely manner. There is no rush here, just the delicate willingness to be well, to be happy, to be fulfilled and to be optimistic about what is coming,
As always, If you would like to share what is in your seed bundle, I would love to hear from you.
Thank you for the last five weeks, and I wish you a happy week of exploration.
Ann
Thank you, Ann, for this lovely final step in our journey. I look forward to writing my I Will statements for the question I brought forward this year: What is needed to live fully in my authenticity? It's such a rich question for me, I can't wait to see what emerges! Sending you and David loads of love today!