candleWhat does it mean to set an intention? The dictionary defines intention as a determination to act in a certain way, purpose, aim, objective. For me it means being mindful, purposeful, direct and clear about asking the Universe for what I want to manifest in my life. At yoga class one morning the instructor invited us to set an intention for the next 48 hours to focus on body/mind balance. What a great intention! An intention can be set on a daily, weekly, monthly or yearly basis. I have to admit I don’t set intentions every day. When I do set a daily intention, my day seems to unfold in a good, orderly direction.

In her best selling book The Woman’s Retreat Book, Jennifer Louden shares her thoughts on intentions. She suggests stating the intention as a question rather than a statement.  “A loving, questioning intention gives your inner knowing something precious to gaze on, the illuminated essence of your retreat. Your intention is a still point of purpose to refer back to when you feel lost, unmoored from your ordinary life, or anxious or selfish or guilty. It helps you to concentrate your time in a way that has heart and meaning. The word intention comes from the Latin root intendere, meaning to stretch toward something.”

I will be facilitating a retreat September 12th at the Carondelet Center in St. Paul. As we form our sacred circle, I invite each of the women to set an intention for the retreat. These are very personal in nature and we don’t share them with each other. A few examples of meaningful intentions for a women’s retreat might look like this. How can I become comfortable with being silent? How can I be kinder to myself for the next eight hours? How can I be more present in my primary relationship? How can I trust that I am exactly where I am supposed to be at this moment in my life? What can I do to make peace with my body? How can I listen to and honor my inner wisdom? How can I learn to enjoy my own company? What do I need to do next in the area of spiritual growth? How can I practice deeper listening with myself and others?

I invite you to join us at the retreat if you are looking for a day of introspection, women’s wisdom, aha moments and delightful surprises! Only two spots left! Details are on my website.

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Setting An Intention
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2 thoughts on “Setting An Intention

  • September 2, 2015 at 5:02 pm
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    Thank you for your comments Deborah. There is something about setting an intention before each retreat that is centering, grounding and very personal for each and every participant.

  • August 28, 2015 at 8:49 pm
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    I think it’s lovely you start your retreats with intention setting. And how fabulous to learn the etymology of the word intention Nancy – that feels so expansive and wonderful! I’m going to remember that now every time I set an intention. I work a lot with them and find it a very useful way to bring myself back to center and focus throughout the day.

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