During the time between Christmas and New Years, I engage in reflection about the year and gain perspective. I sit with the biggest challenges and the biggest growth. Interestingly, but perhaps not surprisingly, these are often tied together.
I also take stock on where I want to focus my energies in the twelve months ahead. Once the clarity comes, I form healing intentions to guide me. These intentions are spiritual in nature. They differ from goals in that they are open-ended with no specific outcome in mind. When we state a sincere healing intention to the Universe, the divine compassionate ones listen and help manifest this growth.
This year, I’ve settled on three:
1) I make choices that are kind to my body.
2) I embrace my becoming.
3) I trust the divine plan Spirit has for me.
Each of these address an issue that currently causes pain in my life.
“I make choices that are kind to my body” leads to greater health and well-being.
“I embrace my becoming” releases fear and resistance around growth and change.
“I trust the divine plan Spirit has for me” helps me be patient in the liminal spaces.
Healing intentions are most effective when they are simple. Notice that none of these are flowery or wordy. They express my desires clearly and directly. And therein lies their power.
These short phrases use immediate language – they are framed in the present tense. Sentences using the “I will…” construction put things out into the future. For example, if I say, “I will make choices that are kind to my body,” it implies that I’m not now but may eventually sometime down the road.
I also make a point to use active language. Saying “I am embracing my becoming” is passive. Notice the difference in “I embrace my becoming.” This reminds me I need to take action. Although I am inviting the assistance of Spirit, I also need to do my part to welcome these shifts in my life.
Once my healing intentions are developed, I do a simple ceremony to set them. I prepare by creating sacred space and calling to Spirit. I might light a candle, smudge, drum, or ring a brass bowl. Then I get grounded and centered and breathe into my power center (the solar plexus). Slowly and with deep presence, I state each intention out loud one at a time.
I ring the bowl in between each one and pause for a time to let the sound reverberate. The intention ripples out to the Universe as sound waves, and the Universe responds by bringing the situations, the people, and the insights that will lead to transformation.
I have worked with healing intentions for almost fifteen years, and I remain in awe of their power to shape my life. Others find them helpful too. We create intentions at the beginning of my ongoing classes to guide us in our explorations. The last night of class we reflect back over our time together and notice with delight the changes that have resulted in our lives.
This work is real, and it matters.
December 31, 2021