Happy Newest Year…!

Our newest New Year brimmed with both trepidation and hopeful possibility. With the focus on mental wellbeing, social justice, practical protection from a prolonged pandemic, and staying encouraged and connected, we welcome tools for processing the difficulties and creating renewed enthusiasm and hope for the future.

In Spiritual Direction, reflection on our past journeys are just as important as the stillness of meditation, or the present moment that helps guide us in envisioning the next steps. Many people feel a deeper connection with themselves in creative refection or creative visualization activities. If you are still riding the waves of uncertainty, I certainly understand. Although we can’t control what we collectively experience, we can reflect, release, and set a philosophical or spiritual ideal for our journeys. I’m sharing one way to explore these themes to keep hopeful.

Just a quick reminder before we begin– please use a professional mental health support person if you feel this creative exploration is triggering; a Therapist, support group, or Trauma-Informed Spiritual Director can help guide us with reflective processes.

As a brief creative exercise to take 2021 through the heart and mind, write down or audio record your word reflections when you think about these topics:

• Joys
• Challenges
• Hopes
• Fears
• Accomplishments
• Sorrows
• Healing
• Work or Service
• Wonders
• Films, music or the arts
• “What-got-me-through-it!”
• “How-awesome-was-that?”

Next, select paper, Word Cloud Generator, background music to play while recording, or an online audio platform to populate your word cloud for 2021:

• Draw or cut a shape, choose a shape in selected generator, or select a track
• Add color and fonts, or reflective tracks or tones
• Reflect on why you chose the shape, color(s), or tones

In the shape or spoken over the sound track:

• Write, type or record 2021 words
• Use colors or sounds
• Draw symbols or pictures
• Empty space, or silence is also a tool for the 2021 reflection

Pause to view or listen to 2021…

What words are you leaving in 2021?

Pause to remember, circle, and embrace the words, images, sounds and reflections you want to place in your New Year word cloud.

Add a mindful breath, hear a cleansing song, or meditate on 2022...

Make written or mindful note of any words or images, colors or sounds in your pause. Add any words or phrases when you ask yourself:

• How do I want to feel in 2022?
• What words will help me relax?
• What words reflect 2022 hope?
• What words reflect 2022 strength?
• What words express my creativity?
• What new tools are in my 2022 toolbox?
• What are my vocation or volunteer words?
• What words would I find in my own 2022 treasure box?
• What issues call my heart to advocate for and share in 2022?
• What might be my health, mental wellness and resiliency words?
• Which spiritual or philosophical words call for me to listen deeply?
• What character traits or talents do I want to build 2022 muscles for?
• What questions unique to my life or community can I ask to identify words?

Next, select paper, Word Cloud Generator, or audio platform to populate your word cloud for 2022:

• Draw a shape, choose a shape in selected generator, or select a track
• Add color and fonts, or reflective tracks or tones
• Reflect on why you chose the shape, color(s), or tones

In the shape or spoken over the sound track:

• Write, type or record 2022 words
• Use colors or sounds
• Draw symbols or pictures
• Empty space, or silence is also a tool for the 2022 reflection

Generate…

Listen.

This can be your reflection image for:

• Daily meditation
• Before bedtime
• Once per week on a designated day
• Once per month or every few months
• Screensaver
• Printed for posting or mail it to yourself
• If it is audio, use it as a alert or set as your reminder settings
• Create and share your own way to use your 2022 Words
• Record a video about your process to view later

Share.

Take care sharing images or sound that require attributions or permissions.

Transform…

If you have a business or a practice, I invite you to create a word cloud image or audio word cloud for 2022 intentions, vision and dreams. Follow the same steps, then add your services or goods with thoughts intending your highest good, and your hopes for customers, clients or communities that you serve.

Identify more descriptive words by contemplating these questions:

• How do you want to feel in your profession?
• How do your 2022 clients or customers feel?
• What experiences would bring you fulfillment?
• What are the leadership words that define you in 2022?
• What 2022 challenges do you need to be prepared for?
• What words can help to build strength, intuition and innovation?
• How do you want to show up for employees, your customers, and yourself?
• What questions unique to your business can you ask to find more 2022 words?

As you search the virtual resources for image and audio platforms you will find many tools for word or sound cloud creativity. Traveling inwardly to attune to the landscape of your own mind to set your words into the clouds, you will develop inner listening skills that may connect you to a sense of calm and hope for finding experiences in 2022 that reflect those good words.

We may not experience all of the best words in our wonderous clouds, but we can hope for the best even as we prepare for the continued challenges by holding our image or audio ideal in our vision, hearts or ears. Sometimes an image or a song is all we need to recalibrate the year!

Happy New-est Year, friends! I wish you all the most vibrant and beautiful words for 2022 and beyond!

Hearts, Peace & ALL the Good Words, Danielle