Setting Intentions
Creating a space for intention and mindfulness this winter.
Welcome to my first piece on the Good Winter project!
I like to begin all journeys with intentions, personal rituals and goal-setting. I believe these practices help us recognize the value of our life experiences and how much our mindset and preparation can change the outcome of our lives.
In the Good Winter, I want to acknowledge and express gratitude for this valuable time with the non-human world around me. By taking time to recognize my intentions going out into the world, I am able to act with awareness and keep my goals at the forefront of my experiences. These intentions can be as small as being mindful of the sounds one hears on the trail or they can encompass whole understandings of oneself and the world around them.
I have a fascination with the way humans use rituals and routine to explore life’s meaning. Many cultures and religions center these practices around connection to hallowed ground. My goal this winter is to explore my own understanding of the outdoors and who I am because of what I surround myself with.
My Opening Rituals
I would like to start his month, and every small adventure with intention-setting and reflective practices. These ideas came into fruition through conversations I had with my dad this Christmas. He told me about the Puja ceremony that is done on the base of Chomolungma (Tibetan) Sagarmatha (Nepali) or better known, Everest, before a climb. It's done in efforts to bless the group, the mountain, thank the mountain for allowing a human journey and for beauty that the land holds. The ceremony often includes the hanging of prayer flags and the burning of incense. I chose to take elements of this and combine with my own philosophies to have a “Puja” ceremony at my home in Colorado before I started my first adventures.
I chose to burn sage in respect for the Native American tradition of burning sage, inviting a cleansing spirit of energy, wisdom and gratitude. I also built a cairn, a traditional practice in the Scottish highlands, oftentimes symbolizing respect and groundedness, essential values when entering the non-human world. I also hung my parents’ set of Tibetan prayer flags from an old friend. I reflected and set intentions for the month as I burned the sage and sat in the sun under a tree by the cairn.
My main goals for the Good Winter are to remain in a space of gratitude and presence. I also set out to expand my reciprocal relationship with the land. Our souls and practices are inextricably connected to the health of the earth. When we nourish the earth, we also nourish ourselves.
As I will often be adventuring with others this month, I believe it beneficial for a group to set intentions out loud and for us to discuss our desires together. This helps us keep ourselves and each other true to our intentions and helps a group form trust and open communication. To speak this out loud emphasizes the amount of respect we have for the needs of ourselves, each other and our surroundings.
I often take being outside and enjoying nature for granted and I want to remember how special this opportunity is. After the hardships of the last year, getting to step outside of our normal routines to embrace all that winter has to offer seems like a gift from the Gods. If we can start with intention and know why we're doing something, we can connect to our experiences and to how privileged we are to learn from them.
I would like to share these new traditions with whomever joins me this winter in my journey both literally and from a distance, and for those who join the journey in the years ahead.
Traditional dried sage, fresh sage, and jasmine incense.
Creating your own practices.
Not every trip will be the same. Our practices, routines, and mindsets are always changing. There are a number of ways to include intention in your everyday life. Here are a few more ideas to engage our mind/body/soul relationship with the outside world.
Land Acknowledgement- Our land and Native populations wear the many scars of oppression. Please be mindful of the Native land you explore. (Explore the underlined link to discover which Indigenous land you are visiting).
Make your own prayer flags- My parents gifted me a set of handmade flags with symbols from all different religions and faith practices to encompass my beliefs in the multiplicity of truth and spirituality.
You could make personalized flags with friends and exchange them with each other.
Meditate- I highly recommend 365 Tao by Deng Ming-Dao for daily meditation. A moment of mindfulness, or a quick body scan, can completely change your day.
Journal- Write intentions and gratitudes before and after every trip.
Burn sage and incense- Please be safe with open flames!
Build a cairn
Bring along supplies for sketching, watercolor or flower pressing.
Create a playlist that captures the moment.
Get Creative, be Mindful, have Gratitude.
Songs for Intention
Live Well- Palace
Heavy- Birdtalker
I return back to this post after our adventures have finished for the month. I just wanted to express my gratitude for the wonderful women, siblings and parents who accompanied me in adventures this winter. It was incredible because of all of you.
My friends and I decided to make prayer flags and shared them with each other to have for the month. We reflected on intentions and the things that were important to us and created a string for each of us that represented the whole group. I love you all! Thank you for your joy, individuality, presence, memories and the tangible symbols of our time together.
The making of our prayer flags.
