Co-creation: The Energy of Intention 

       As you activate energy toward the manifestation of your desires, you engage in co-creation—a process in which your own actions and the events of the universe attune and synchronize to provide guidance and clarity. What this means is that everything that you do, think or feel impacts the experiences that you have. As you move through your life, the universe responds in kind, providing more experiences with which to grow. Together you create a pathway.
       So, what is energy and how do we follow its flow in a way that enhances our lives? My personal definition of energy is the interchange of time, space and movement as they link with matter. Matter—physical form—is inherently tied to how we perceive our world. How our brain processes sensory information creates an image or a sensation for us to interpret. We consider this image as it relates to our past experience. A major compass for interpretation is the feeling the experience evokes, which includes our gut instinct. How we feel about an idea, a sensation, or an interaction provides us a potential pathway. To “harness energy” means that we are conscious enough of our perspective to actually impact our physical life experiences. In other words, we successfully change our lives through active and responsive awareness. We pay attention. We notice our feelings and we are drawn to experiences that our own energy emits. In turn, we develop the ability to adjust our attitude and reconsider a habitual response. We learn and grow, fine-tuning our perception and continuing our lives with increased awareness.
       For example, the experience of having had an intense political discussion with a friend over a passionate issue may create a sensation of excitement in some people or a sensation of dread in others. The next time this particular subject arises in conversation, the person who experienced the excitement may want to further engage and deepen their understanding of this subject. On the other hand, the person who experienced a sense of dread may avoid the conversation entirely, seeking instead to avoid a frustrating experience. Each person’s ability to learn and grow is impacted as a result. In either case, the awareness of why a particular pathway of experience was chosen is the key. Given the same set of circumstances, each of us responds differently and sets in motion a sequence of events that propels us energetically toward a set of experiences. If the expectation is to be disappointed and sad, this is likely the result of our perception and attitude going into the experience. If our expectation is to be stimulated to learn, we are enriched regardless of the event.   

Energetic Tenets of Soothe the Spirit

       Understanding energy helps us as we seek to interpret the meaning behind experiences in our lives. Engaging in actions of reflection and ceremony will help guide us as we move through our lives.
       The tenets below offer a foundation of energetic understanding upon which Soothe the Spirit’s ceremonial practices were developed. 

• Each of us has a field of energy that encompasses our physical being. Much of this energy is emitted from our core energy centers, often referred to as our chakras. The energetic field that radiates from our body is referred to as our aura. It may be helpful to consider that each individual cell in our body has energy that is both proximal (within the core) and distal (moving out from the core). Our energetic field is affected by internal and external experiences and how we perceive and interpret them.

• Our soul and our spirit remain intact and evolve throughout our life as we respond to and engage with our world.

• Clearing our energy field of limiting thoughts and feelings—such as regret, inferiority, or anger—allows new energy to enter our field and hence new physical experiences to enter our life. Many of the ceremonies in this book have a “preliminary exercise” designed to clear an energetic pathway for new events and experiences.

• Within the human experience, energy follows intention. The more time you spend with a thought, a feeling, or an idea, the more likely it is to call forth life experiences that reinforce it.

• The expression of gratitude through the action of a blessing ceremony honors a specific gift and energetically brightens the core of our internal energy source. This, in and of itself, leads to a more fulfilling life experience.

• The routine practice of a ritual ceremony enhances the energy around a specific thought/idea/desire by providing a framework for it to expand within our conscious awareness. In this way, the time we spend with this desire is focused and responsive, allowing the intention to impact the physical realm.

Symbolism and Beyond:

Creating Meaning with the Materials and Actions of Ceremony

       The rituals and blessings on this web site use materials and actions that are symbolic in nature, representing a larger and deeper meaning in order to tap into awareness that is collective and cosmic. For example, using a stone as a physical reminder of a desire transmits the power of the earth element towards physical manifestation. The stone keeps the wish or desire close to one’s consciousness by continually popping up either visually or tactually, jogging the memory to recall the sensation of a wish come true. 
       The most common materials are listed below, and with them, their significance or symbolism as related to the ceremonies. Intimately related to the symbolism of the materials are the natural elements they represent. This web site does not profess to enlist each and every symbol’s meaning. It simply offers an interpretation possibility, based upon Becky’s references and practice. If you sense a different meaning, it is important that you follow your own idea. Each of these ceremonies is open to the creative process, and all of the ceremonies will be enhanced by your individual signature. 

The Four Elements

       The four elements (fire, earth, water, and air) are used symbolically to create meaning within each ceremony, while the actions of each ceremony assist in becoming more aware of your intentions. This will focus your energy toward those intentions, thus enhancing your life.   

1. Candles/Matches. The element of fire represents change and transformation. Lighting a candle with matches assist with focused intention, creating energy within the ceremony.
2. Stones. The element of earth, representing the record of an intention, is essentially a physical reminder that carries the energy of the intention.
3. Paper and Pen. These tools document a wish, idea, or desire - preserved to savor, review and treasure. At times an issue or thought pattern that you wish to release is written on a small piece of paper and burned in order to let it go and transform the energy.
4. Water. The element of water represents emotional immersion and enhances the intention of the ceremony. Typically a small amount of spring water is available in a small ceramic bowl and a stone is placed in the water to symbolize the full engagement of emotions.
5. Air. Although it seems strange to list air as a material, it is important as a symbol of using the power of the mind to achieve the manifestation of desires.

Preparing for Ceremony: Preliminary Considerations

       In some cases, a ceremony may involve preliminary actions or exercises that will greatly enhance the effect of the actual ceremony. The most common is the suggestion that you engage in some sort of cleansing energetic action, such as walking, writing in a journal, listening to music, or sitting by a river. This action is designed to clear energy that may have accumulated from a past experience or series of experiences. Some people use the burning of sage to clear energy. If a clearing can occur before you engage in the ceremony, the effects of the blessing or ritual are significantly enhanced.
        Some ceremonies may require additional materials due to the complex nature of the ceremony’s intention. These could include a small piece of fabric, a small box to store special objects, scarves or necklaces that represent belonging, or fresh flowers representing new beginnings. More complex ceremonies may require preparation and planning, especially if they involve group participation. 

Creating Sacred Energetic Space – Pause, Clear, Deepen 

        The first step to creating sacred energetic space is to find a private space where you won’t be disturbed. I have friends who have set up this space inside a closet so that they are less likely to be interrupted and so that they can protect their space when they are not using it. Although it isn’t necessary to have an altar, I highly recommend that you consider creating one. An altar can be as simple as an arrangement of your favorite objects along with a candle or vase of flowers. The materials that you use for each ceremony can either add to an existing altar or create a sacred space in their own way. A wonderful resource for creating altars is Peg Streep’s Altars Made Easy.
       At the beginning of each ceremony, there is a reminder to “Pause, Clear, Deepen…” This is a call to place your mind and spirit in a reflective state whereby you can create energetic pathways anew. It is an important step in the creation of the sacred energetic space needed to perform the ceremony. In some cases, you may be setting up an elaborate altar of fresh flowers, candles, and objects. In other cases you may be alone in nature without any materials at hand other than a candle or a campfire. In any case, begin each ceremony with these simple steps: 

 Pause: Be still physically and take several deep breaths into the lower part of your stomach, filling your solar plexus, diaphragm and lungs, and then release each breath slowly, allowing your entire body to relax. Spend at least 30 seconds pausing in this manner.
       Clear: Let go of any tension, release any mind chatter, and continue to breathe deeply and consciously, with the intention of clearing energetic pathways. It is helpful to visualize a clear fresh breeze of air moving through a tunnel, gently clearing all of the pathways in your brain, your body, and your aura.
       Deepen: Allow your spirit to guide you by deepening into a state of ceremonial awareness. You may “ground” yourself by visualizing energy or light that secures you to the center of the earth. In addition, imagine that above the top of your head there is some sort of opening to receive the energy of the heavens and activate your spirit guides. If this feels foreign to you, simply just rest and continue to breathe deeply. Your spirit will naturally deepen into a sacred space with your intention to do so. 

       It is also important to signal the completion of the ceremony. After finishing the steps to the ritual or blessing, take care to end the ceremony with reverence and the intention of completion. This is often as simple as saying, “The ritual is complete,” while blowing out the candles.


Rebecca Burns © 2007