07 Feb Set Your Feng Shui Intentions: A Vision Board Says it All

This past weekend, the Wind & Water School provided some women the opportunity to participate in its first ever retreat.  Due to the extreme cold weather, we mostly huddled together inside in the warmth of one another providing a safe place in which to unwind.  There were exercises and alone time, yoga and silly times, conversations and silence.  One of the exercises we did was create vision cards for the upcoming Year of the Snake.

I’ve done lots of vision boards over the years and know their power.  Yet over and over I am amazed at how they come together and how they capture an essence or message.  The week before I had been in Tucson working with my business coach, planning the year, strategizing program offerings, etc.  So my thoughts had already been pulled forward when I had to put together my year-long marketing plan.  But working with images and colors and shapes enabled me to translate my goals for the year into another language—-one that was more from the heart.

If you’ve never done a visioning exercise, it’s an engaging process.  You need old magazines, scissors, glue and a board or a series of cards.  Set an intention (in the case of our retreat, it was for the upcoming year) and allow yourself some time.  Here are some practical things I’ve learned about the process of creating your vision into a 2-dimensional expression:

1. When paging through magazines, cut out anything and everything that seems remotely interesting to you.  You probably won’t use all of the images but you want options.
2. Look for phrases and words as well as pictures.  Don’t limit yourself to pretty pictures—-there might be some meaningful messages in the form of phrases.
3. Remember that no one else needs to or should see your end-product so be as outrageous as you want.  No explanations will be required.
4. Don’t be afraid to make an absolute mess.  Some of us neat-freaks have trouble with this part and find ourselves continually tidying up.  Get over it.
5. Don’t get discouraged if you only find a few images that resonate—it doesn’t mean you aren’t getting the idea or you aren’t good at this or you’re being too fussy.  Use what you have—it will be perfect.

Once done, keep your vision creation somewhere where you can be continually inspired about the direction you’re heading.  That said, I had a vision card that had gotten tucked away for several years that brought about an outcome long after I had made the card.  Truth is, I hadn’t looked at it with my physical eyes for a very long time, but evidently it had sat in my heart until the right time for it to emerge.  I was moved to tears when I realized that the vision was alive and well despite my lack of involvement.  What would have happened if I had kept it front and center?  I can only imagine.

It’s fun to do vision boards with other people but doing it alone is also appropriate.  I’m always looking for images that resonate to me—-a piece of jewelry, an adorable picture of a cat, a saying, a fabulous pair of shoes, scenery—and then one day they all find their way onto a board.  I’m newly inspired.  What’s interesting about this process is that you feel like a little kid when you’re doing it, but you feel like a fulfilled individual when it’s done.

No magazines?  The internet can provide you some great ideas that you can print out and use. No place to hang your vision?  Then make it small enough that you can carry it with you.  What to do with your old vision boards?  I keep mine and refer back to them from time to time—-I enjoy seeing how far I’ve come and what themes keep referring.

So start being the cut-up you’ve always wanted to be.  Clear an hour or so from your schedule and refrain from running with your scissors.