A Practice for Exploring Intention

I recently guided a 3-day exploration of energetic boundaries for sensitive souls that included this practice for exploring intention.

A Practice for Exploring Intention

Here’s the practice that you will find in the YouTube video linked above written out for you to follow along if you’d like:

“I’d like to pause here for a second and take a moment to tune into what might be the intention that we want to work with. So if you imagine that we’re consciously tuning our personal energy so that we can move through the world, show up in the world with the resonance that we wanna have – we wanna add a certain flavor, a certain spice to our own lives –that’s what we want to show up as and consciously tuning our personal energy through intention is part of how we bring that to bear in the world.

So what I’d like to do right now is kind of step back for a second and step into ourselves and begin to ask ourselves “what is the intention that I want to start working with?” – understanding that this might change entirely by the end of the day or the end of the week. Who knows? It’s an ever-evolving process. So this is more asking ourselves “what will be our starting point?“.

So if you are able to, then let your eyes softly close and begin by tuning into the slow, steady rhythm of your breath – just inviting your awareness inward (the breath is kind of this natural vehicle that draws us inward); closing the eyes, if we feel safe to do so, also just starts to naturally turn our attention inward.

And for the space of a few breaths, just rest there. This might be the first time today or the first time in a little bit that you are pausing and turning your awareness inward so just take a moment to check in and notice, to observe what you observe. Just be with yourself without making any demands, having any expectations.

Just a couple more breaths, just feeling yourself, inviting yourself to be fully immersed in the experience of you in this moment, whatever that is.”

Connecting to the Intention in Your Heart Center

“And then with your next exhale, imagine just allowing your attention to drop down into your heart center. Imagine being at the center of your heart and sort of operating from that place and just pause for a couple breaths to take in the experience of maybe shifting your point of view from wherever it was before to your heart.

And then when you’re ready, ask yourself “what is my intention?”.

See if any response comes back and if it’s sort of a confused, like the way your dog turns its head sideways like “huh?”, then maybe think of asking it a different way –

What is the energetic resonance that I wish to move through the world with?

How do I want to feel as I move through the world? (maybe you’re a feeler)

And see if you can begin to allow a word to come forward that makes sense. Maybe you already know, maybe you’ve been working with peacefulness, groundedness; maybe you’ve been working with stepping into your power or using your voice.

What is sort of the stepping stone- what is the word, the felt sense that you wish to etch in that first stepping stone of this idea of tuning your energetic self through intention? Where do you wanna begin?

Maybe it’s joy. Maybe it’s love; peace.

Maybe it’s an image, a sunny day or a rainbow; a butterfly.”

Allow Your Intention to Evolve

“But as you sit with it, allow it to continue to evolve. So if you have a word or a phrase that comes forward, ask yourself what color that word would be; what texture does the felt sense, the resonance of that intention have for you?

If it were warm or cool, what would it be?

Is there an image?

And notice as you engage with each of these layers, how resonant, how accurate each one feels to you; how in alignment. So we’re kind of exploring, moving into greater alignment with finer and finer detail – so you might start with the word love, but love is this really broad concept. And so then as you ask about the texture or the color, it starts to take a little more shape for you, a little more unique individual personality for the aspect of love that you wish to lean into; the resonance and the energy of love that you’re going to offer as your starting point, for instance.

And if nothing is unfolding, that’s okay.”

Reset if Your Find Yourself Frustrated

“If you find your gaze narrowing, you find yourself sort of folding in on this idea, then release it for a second and just breathe.

Step back into that savoring, immersing yourself in being you for a moment – noticing your breath – and then maybe it’s ease, freedom. Maybe start with an image and work back toward a word.

Just be with whatever unfolds- whether it makes sense to you intellectually or not. Notice if it makes sense in that inner knowing, intuitive sort of way – like if there’s that rise up, I-wanna-move-closer-cuz-I’m-curious kind of energy to it for you. See if you can trust that – if you can follow that thread – not the logical one that your mind might offer – if you have a choice between the two.

Let’s just take three more breaths here. Seeing what comes forward, not making it mean anything, not judging.“

End with Gratitude

“Okay, take a moment to express gratitude in your way, in your heart, for yourself, for your heart, for your intention, and your willingness to go inside to be curious, loving, and kind with yourself.

And then start to allow your attention to rise back up into your waking self, your conscious world. Maybe you notice the breath; notice the feel of air on your skin; the play of light and shadow beyond your closed eyes; any sounds in the room or outside the room you’re in.

Just slowly kind of zooming back out and reconnecting to your physical existence.”

Reorient to Your Physical Space

“Opening your eyes when you’re ready and just casting your gaze around your room. Maybe it rests on something that feels soothing or comforting; joyful, pleasurable to you. Maybe there’s something in your room that reminds you of your intention. Let your eyes rest there for a moment and just sort of drink it in.

And then when you’re ready, bring your attention back to us here together gathered, and I’ll invite you to take a couple minutes to write down any reflections that you’d like to write down. Allow yourself to be as detailed about your intention, whatever it is that might bring it alive for you, as possible.”

Journalling Your Reflections

Take a moment to journal your observations and experience with this exploration of intention. You may find it useful to make note of what supported your connection to the intention that came forward or that you chose to explore – the images, sensations, colors, textures, etc through which the intention began to take more shape for you. Over time, these associated impressions become support mechanisms we can use in our conscious life to remind us of our intentions – like the string tied around your finger to remind you of something important. For instance, when you associate a butterfly with the intention to allow more joy in your daily life, you are reminded of joy every time you see a butterfly – the energy of the two are connected and seeing a butterfly supports you in allowing joy.

More Guidance Working with Intentions

Interested in learning more about setting intentions? Please visit my previous journal entry “Living with Intention” and for an additional intention-setting practice suggestion, check out “3-day Intention Meditation”

May we all be a little more intentional in how we move through the world.

Sending you Love,

Tawnia