I've thought of his story several times over the years but had never given any thought to creating one for myself. Then I was in a place of looking for a tool to keep me focused on what I learned and the goals I created in the Red Tent. Enter, Vision Board!
What is a Vision Board?
It's typically a poster board on which you paste or collage images torn from magazines. You can use a bulletin board and pin images to it if you like. I prefer the intimacy of creating the collage though. I also like including words or phrases that inspire me and support my goals. After all that is the purpose: a focal point for what you are drawing into your life.
The Law of Attraction, simply put, says that "like attracts like." If you surround yourself with images of who you want to become in the life you want to live and believe that you're worth it and live as if it's already yours, the Universe conspires to give it to you. Your life changes because you draw change into your experience. What you think about you bring about!
A few years ago, I began journaling about a partner to share my life with. I wrote pages and pages about the type of man he would be. I listed everything I could think of from getting along with my son, to love and companionship, to shared morals and values. I didn't want to go through the getting-to-know-a-stranger bit so I added the caveat of him being someone I already knew.
As I was writing, I really let myself get into the space of being in that relationship. Every night before bed, I would feel, deep in my heart, the amazing love we shared. Love is omnipresent; he didn't have to be physically present for me to feel love for him. I had total faith and trust in the Universe to fill in the blanks ... all I had to do was love him.
One night, a few weeks later at a Christmas party, an old acquaintance walked through the door. *B~L~I~N~G* "Order up!" I was the first person he saw and years later we still talk about the bolt of lightening that surged between us as the Universe aligned our trajectories.
My journal, my writing was like a vision board in that it was a physical reminder of my goal ... a loving and kind partner. Taking the time to write about him and love him helped me to live as if I were already in the partnership I so desired. A vision board is a pictorial reminder of your desire.
Supplies
One of the best parts is it doesn't cost a lot of money. I bought poster board at the $1 store, picked up some rubber cement (don't use Elmer's glue, it makes the pages ripple) from Wal-mart and asked my friends for old magazines they were ready to recycle. You could also ask at your local library or doctors offices. I got stacks of magazines! The more diverse the subject matter the better. You'll get bored looking at the same things but too, limiting the subjects limits your imagination. Limitations are not part of this process!
Before you begin
It's exciting seeing the possibility before you and it's hard not to dive right in. But before you begin have a little ritual to help you get clear about the purpose of your vision board. Sit quietly and focus on your breathing for several minutes. Gently and with kindness ask yourself what you want. Maybe one word will pop into your head. Or maybe you see images. Sit with them for a bit, feel them, and allow yourself to be guided by your intuition. This deepens your experience and helps you set your ego aside to get at the root of what's important to you.
I like to include soft music and incense or candles (safely out of the way) to create a luscious ambiance. I'm all about the luscious ambiance! I like Steve Roach or Anugama for this process. Use whatever speaks to your heart though, that, after all is the whole point. Let's get started!
Steps of Creation
- Dive into the magazines tearing out the pages or images, words, or headlines that resonate with you. No gluing yet! This is about finding inspiration. Have fun with it. The perfectionist in me sometimes gets stuck trimming the images to be just right. If that works for you, go for it. There is no right or wrong. It's all about you, in every moment of this process. Follow your heart, it's where Spirit speaks to you.
- Sort through the images you've collected and begin to lay them out on the board. Trust your intuition in this. You may be led to create columns or themes for each corner, such as Spirituality, Relationships, Career, and Health. You maybe led to fold the board as if it were a book telling a story. The images may want to scatter randomly across the board. Go with it! Allow yourself to be wildly creative!
- Glue everything to the board. Feel free to add your own touches or words with paint, marker, or glitter.
- An optional but extremely powerful step is to include a fantastic photo of yourself. Choose one where you are radiantly happy. Save space in the middle or design your board around it. Paste yourself in the center of your board, in the middle of your new life!
- Hang your board in a place where you will see it often.
That's it! Simple huh?
There are many types of vision boards and yours may evolve as you go through the process of creation. That's okay, it's called creativity. Go with it! it's the yummy, sparkly, magical part of life. Trust that you are being Divinely guided to create the BEST goal, experience, or life for YOU. Remember it isn't about imposing limits. Release the thoughts of "how" you think it should happen and focus on the end result. Focus on living the great relationship, having a loving family, beautiful house, the job you love, whatever it is that you're VISIONING!
Go make magic, baby!
