You might have heard this before: our attention is the most powerful tool we have as humans. And if you have ever fallen prey to the instagram or facebook scroll vortex ( or even have watched the Netflix documentary 'The Social Dilemma') you also understand that there are big companies that are benefiting from attracting our attention.
After 12 years of living on this deeply spiritual island of Bali, surrounded by beings practicing deliberate intention setting (locals and foreigners alike in their own unique ways), I could not believe more strongly in the power of this practice.
The busier and crazier this world gets (hello 2020?!), the more important it becomes to take the steering wheel of where we put our attention. As some of you know, Abraham Hicks is one of my favorite teachers and they often speak about this power of our attention. Here are some of their beautiful and powerful words:
"You cannot look at that which you do not want and not join and perpetuate that vibration. Take your attention from that which is not in harmony with who you are, and in taking your attention from it, your “now vibration” will adjust to who you really are, and then you can uplift others."
Today I'd like to take the time to dive a bit deeper into this practice and share some of my own tips and tricks around staying in charge of where my attention goes.
Setting intentions form a directive to follow along with the cruisy and sometimes unexpected, unplanned patterns of life. It gives perspective, creates impact and goals to strive for - yet not in a coercing, forceful way. To set an intention means to activate a part of your receptivity.
When I enter into a new day without having set a clear intention or having said a little prayer, it could feel like I am hopping on my motorbike without any defined direction of where to head next.
However, there is also nothing wrong with that. Sometimes it is great, as I can remain open to wherever fate takes me.
It seems most common for people to set intentions on a daily or monthly base - the latter commonly aligned with the cycle of the moon. However, intentions can be set anytime, everywhere. Whether it is during a morning routine such as a yoga or meditation practice, every time the moon is full or invisible, with every year that continues to end and begin, with every new chapter one chooses for oneself or every challenge that may suddenly come upon us.
Having an intention is a powerful tool, as it slowly allows people to remember their intangible power and sovereignty. The power behind intentions lies in putting out that which you want to attract and call into your life.
Here are three beautiful rituals of how and when to set intentions:
Daily intention setting
The way I wake and rise in the morning sets the tone for my day. That’s why I follow a specific morning routine before I get ready to face the joys and the bumps of running my own business.
Every morning before I get out of bed, I place my hand on my heart for just a few moments, and I connect to myself through breath or prayer, I send love to myself, to the humans in my life and I send love to the day. Then I set an intention for my day. I drop in with pen and paper and usually write it down.
If I feel a stronger need to connect deeper with myself I love to make use of the power of mantra.
‘Om nama shivaya’ brings clarity and awareness and helps to let go of all the sticky thoughts that captivate my mind. From a space of love and clarity, it is where I can call in the intention of the day.
While I get ready I love to pick a piece of jewelry that serves as a beautiful little reminder of that intention throughout the day.
Monthly intention setting
The night when the moon turns invisible and the night dark marks the beginning of a new moon cycle. A start from zero. A continuation of another beginning.
This is a particularly beautiful time to call in wishes and purpose for the following month.
On a new moon night, I love to take 1 or 2 hours to myself, light up candles and incense and play my favourite music, bring out my journal and pen. I often start with sitting for a few minutes to attune to my vibration, to find peace and clarity of the mind.
Before I step into the ritual of manifestation I invite gratitude into my field by writing down 10 things that I am grateful for this past month. Then I add a list of 10 people that I am grateful for this month. I keep them close to my heart and send them my love.
A crucial part of the ritual is to find a few moments of gratitude for things that have happened in the month you're completing. Gratitude is a very important part of the intention-setting process because if you're always just wanting and wanting and wanting, you are operating from a place of scarcity, when it is about an appreciation of the present moment, too.
It is from this place that I start inquiring and journaling about my wishes and purpose for the upcoming weeks. I start writing my Wishlist. I sit with every intention for a short moment and tune into the vibration and sensation of how it would feel if it was real in this present moment. I observe the sensation in my body, with the help of it I fully experience the effect of my intention.
Behind the art of manifestation lies the idea of the law of attraction, simple quantum physics. Through embodying a specific frequency, like atoms in our world do, I attract what is meant to match this frequency. With the power of my own will and intention, I get to realize what is true to me and meant for me.
With this, I surrender and let go. I trust and allow the universe to work its magic. (Maybe used as a mantra, too).
—> Wear a crystal or symbol that supports your intentions for the coming moon cycle
Intention setting for the next season
As we entered the fall/spring equinox last week I suddenly found myself sitting with a sense of nostalgia while I remembered the sensations of seasonal change from long and warm European summer days to the crisp and colorful autumn air. Cravings for cozy nights with hot tea, pumpkin soup and gingerbread made me light up my favourite scented candle that smelled of cinnamon and clove. While I was leaning back into the comfort of my cozy home I started to contemplate the question of what I would like my last quarter of 2020 to look like.
I sat in stillness with myself for a while. Allowing thoughts and dreams to travel places while listening to the gentle inhale and exhale of my breath and nothing else. Feeling into the energy of the upcoming months.
A simple journaling question: What would I want the rest of 2020 to look like - for me personally?
If I had to find a word for each of my intentions which one would it be?
For the rest of 2020, I am calling in:
- Integrity
- Allow
- Spaciousness
What are yours?
I love to close my ritual with a prayer of 108 x ‘Suksma’, which is the Sanskrit and Balinese word for Thank you or Gratitude.
Whether it is a daily, monthly or any intention – after completion of my little ritual I usually pick a piece of my jewelry, cleanse, bless and charge it up with the intentions I have set for the upcoming period. Wearing it throughout the time will help remind me of my path and the things I am striving for.
May you be blessed, may you be loved always.
