We unconsciously, or consciously, perform rituals throughout our days, throughout our lives. At birthday parties we make wishes while blowing out candles, without letting anyone in on what they are (otherwise they don’t come true, right?). At weddings we exchange vows and rings to seal the deal. At graduations we wear special garb and celebrate transitions.
In Tibet, and elsewhere, we hang prayer flags asking for good health, love, abundance and peace (for ourselves, our family, our community, our ancestors).
Although we often participate in rituals as a community, there is power in solitary healing rituals.
Rituals bring our intentions, dreams and goals to the surface; rituals help keep our attention on what we’d like to manifest.
The act of keeping a journal, creating a vision board or a collage dedicated to manifesting your dreams and goals is a healing ritual. You may want to heal physically, emotionally, financially or spiritually. You may want to heal a relationship, or find the strength to let go of relationship that may be not be in your best interest.
Repetitive rituals, such as keeping a journal or designating a time each day to light a candle and say a prayer while reviewing your vision board or collage, provide the important ingredient of discipline in reaching your goal. After all, if you want to strengthen any muscle or dream, you need to exercise it more than once or twice. It must be exercised on a regular basis with appreciation and anticipation of reaching your goal.
It is best if you create your own healing rituals to move closer to your dreams and goals, but here a few ways to get started:
- Healing Journal for a Healing Journey
- Decide on a specific journal. It can be a simple spiral notebook that you decorate with images of your dreams and goals. I can be a journal purchased because it makes you feel motivated and excited to go back to each day.
- Be sure to clearly identify your dreams and goals and refer to them daily.
- You can write down steps you’ll take (have taken) towards your dreams and goals.
- You can glue images that keep your attention on your dreams and goals.
- You can cut out horoscopes that support your dreams and goals.
- Whatever you want to include is perfect. Make if fun and be sure it holds your interest; be sure it holds your truest dreams and goals.
- Healing Vision Board or Collage
- Find yourself a large sheet of poster board.
- Get a stack of magazines (you can often ask your local library for those they are recycling or tossing out).
- Be sure you have a good variety to choose from. You don’t want to feel limited in your selections.
- Collect photos, post cards, other images to include.
- Be sure they make you feel wonderful.
- Have fun positioning the images and words onto your vision board – you’ll be looking at it often.
- To create a healing ritual:
- you might want to light a candle celebrating manifesting your dreams and goals
- you might want to say an affirmation or prayer as you create your vision board
- you might want to put on music which brings the feeling you hope to manifest when your dreams and goals are realized
- To create a healing ritual:
- Hang or place your vision board someplace you will see it often. Be sure that it is placed in a private area (remember what happens when others know your birthday wish).
- Combine a Healing Journal with Collage
- I like to combine a daily healing ritual of using images and printed materials in a large format journal. I tend to be more visual so this works for me. This is fun and works for me. Be sure to create a healing practice that is fun and works for you.
My Healing Journey
- I like to combine a daily healing ritual of using images and printed materials in a large format journal. I tend to be more visual so this works for me. This is fun and works for me. Be sure to create a healing practice that is fun and works for you.
Jan facilitates national workshops for therapists and life coaches. She presents at conferences on topics related to holistic psychology and living your dreams.
