As I mentioned in my newsletter recently, vision is one of those things that frequently lands in the verbal morass of “corporate-speak” and loses all meaning. “What’s your vision?” does not mean “What’s your plan?” Vision is more than that; it’s a plan mingled with a daydream combined with hope and creativity, and a little willingness.
I’ve seen this for myself this year as I’ve re-envisioned my living space, not just in getting rid of things I don’t need anymore, but also asking myself how I want this space to work for me. For instance, I called dibs on the family rocking chair many years ago, and have had it for four or five years, but have never been able to figure out where to put it in my living room. Any space I tried blocked access to or from something that was important. But when I removed three out of four bookcases from my bedroom (yes, you read that right), I suddenly had a vision of the rocking chair in the now-empty space between the remaining bookcase and my dresser, with a nice reading lamp beside it. Once the image of a small reading nook was born, it stuck with me until it was realized.
It seems fitting to me that I made a Visionary card back in January as part of a Vision Quest class. Vision seems to be alive and well for me this year. The rocking chair is far from the only part of my house that has been re-imagined, and I continue to ask myself what might work better or differently (asking yourself questions like this is also a part of Kaizen-Muse Creativity Coaching™, though KMCC does not officially draw the connection to vision). I love the symbolism in this card, which seems to cover every visionary possibility–transformation, going within, and looking outside for unexpected inspiration.
With the help of my dear friend and coach, Paula Farrington, I spent an afternoon making my first vision board a few weeks ago. I knew very little about this process, but Paula takes an approach that’s almost like SoulCollage®, in which you sort through a few magazines and pull any image that calls to you, and then you mount it on your board. I had previously been looking for specific images for my board—terribly left-brained of me!—so I was surprised by this direction, but not at all surprised when it yielded some interesting new images I wouldn’t have expected, and words! Since words are discouraged on SoulCollage® cards, finding and saving them for my vision board felt deliciously subversive.
I’m terribly curious to see what will happen now that the board is complete. It’s currently sitting on top of the bookcase back in the bedroom, where I can see it but don’t really focus on it. I’m sure there are those who think it should be front and center, but having read Martha Beck’s take on how to use a vision board, I wonder sometimes if mine is too visible (she advocates making it and then putting it away somewhere so you can forget about it). Though really, I suspect there’s no one right or wrong way.
I’d love to hear from those of you who have vision board experience. How have you used it? Is there anything that really seems to work (or not!) for you? What results have you seen from the vision board process? How else do you find and use your vision? Please leave a comment below or zap me a note; I’d like to compile a reference post from different people’s experiences so we can all add to our visionary experiences!
SoulCollage® cards are made either from one’s own art or from images found in materials which have been bought by or given to the SoulCollage card maker.
These collaged cards are used only for the cardmaker’s own inner exploration. SoulCollage cards are not sold, traded, bartered, or copied (except as a back-up for the cardmakers own use) as is stated in the Principles of SoulCollage®. Where SoulCollage cards are available to be seen by others, it is for the purposes either of demonstrating the SoulCollage process or of sharing the cardmakers’ inner process in the context of community. SoulCollage® is grateful to the artists and photographers who make this deep awakening process possible and in all ways SoulCollage® seeks to be respectful of their rights.
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Sorry about the blank comment above…hit some key and it posted before I wrote!
I am due to make a new vision board…I’ve been planning to do it for several weeks now and haven’t. The last one I made was nearly 2 years ago, when I was beginning Martha Beck’s coach training. I did it on a pinboard and took it apart after photographing it. It had manatees and beaches and Florida’s freshwater springs on it. I lived in SC. I now live in FL and swim in the same springs as the manatees (just not WITH them…that’s illegal). I should look at my pic and see if anything else showed up. Oh, raspberries! A store nearby always has an abundant and affordable supply. For me vision boarding is a way to play, to find my own clarity. I’ve only done one other in the past and I realize that one was more about where I was at the time than what I was envisioning.
Martha Beck’s most recent book actually talks about visioning, or imagination, in much the way you’re referring to it here- allowing what wants to happen to come into being. It’s a fun way to play!
Lesley Reid Cross recently posted..Getting started on the path of rest and play
No worries, Lesley—the blank comment is gone!
I love Martha Beck and am often tempted to take her coach training. I think she’s onto something with the idea of making the board, putting it away, and then seeing later how much of it happened. Mine’s been sitting on a bookcase and I think I notice it too much. I don’t look at it, really, but I know it’s there and can name a lot of what I used on it. Might be time to put it somewhere else so I can see what happens when it’s not always poking my consciousness.
Congrats on FL, by the way! My parents live down there and it’s gorgeous!
I have 3 or 4 vision boards. Only one of them is actually on anything that resembles a board. The others are pictures pasted into a blank notebook. I love vision boards and think that anything we put onto paper, whether in word or image form, has a good chance of becoming reality. By putting it out there, it goes to the forefront of our mind and we look for ways to (usually subconsciously) make our dreams reality. It’s a little bit woo woo and a little bit science!
Cassandra recently posted..Life at 30
Hi, Cassandra!
Your last line sounds like something Martha Beck would say.
I still have just the one board, and am trying to ignore it most of the time so I don’t fixate on “progress,” which I suspect would get in the way of the far more important process! I agree that putting things on paper helps cement them in our heads so they have a better chance of taking shape in our lives.
I made a vision book for 2012. I collages a number of different things and refer back to it periodically. It has been both a guide and an inspiration to me.
Ooh, interesting! I would love to hear more about how you use the book, Loran. I’ve never heard of that before.
Hi, Nancy!
I made a vision board about 4 years ago…magazine cut-outs glued to 20×20 poster board. After I created it (with lots of love and concentration), I promptly put it away.
I occasionally get it out and “assess” my status. What’s funny is that I have already “attained” three of the things I put on there–and without even consciously thinking, “Oh, this is on my vision board so I’m going to do xyz..”). Last time I looked at it, I decided to take a couple things off and add new items because my goals have changed. Right now I can’t even remember what those items were…we’ll see what happens next time I get it out and have a look
Christine recently posted..Follow your bliss: Find where it is, and don’t be afraid to follow it
Hi, Christine!
So you actively update your board? How cool! Maybe I should do that with mine. (Of course, I just said I was going to tuck it away out of sight for a while, so I don’t know if those two things counter each other!) I love the idea of modifying one board, though. I’ll have to think further on that!
I love vision boards and run a 6 week life coaching course for women here in the Uk and on week 3 is collage/vision board week, so every 6 or so weeks i create a new one.They are magical and most of the ladies who have come on the course over the years (100+ ladies) have had many of the symbols or things on their boards manifest, its funny sometimes we create them and put them away only to rediscover them months later to realize everything has manifested. I like to have mine in clear site and have hung it in my bedroom so i look at it everyday. I feel its important to have a vision of how we’d like our life to be/feel
Mary recently posted..Make Your Dreams Work For You
Hi, Mary!
A new board every 6 weeks! That sounds like it could get overwhelming, but it obviously works for you. Do you carry things over from one board to the next, or do you do something new with each one? I’d love to hear more about your experience.
I’ve heard several people talk about creating vision boards but never made one myself – I’d love to try at some point.
I’ve always thought of myself as predominantly auditory (words, cadences, rhythms and music are what drive me), and secondarily kinaesthetic (touch and movement). I’m not totally non-visual – but mostly so. That said, I still like the idea of creating a vision board!
Blessings
TANJA
Go for it, Tanja! At the very least, you’ll find out whether it’s for you or not. (I am a weird mix of visual and verbal, so I wouldn’t want to presume that your experience would be anything like mine.) And it’s fun to cut and paste like you’re a little kid all over again.
I have not worked with vision boards, but, like Tanja, am drawn to it. My visioning involves imagining living through an entire day in my new life. How my family fits into it, what I do, how I feel, what I eat, etc. I did this for 21 days with remarkable results – job that no longer served me went away, had tons of time to create, long walks with my dog, high quality time with my children. A clear, consistent dialogue with the Universe. It was amazing. The other absolutely key piece of this for me is heart-centered intention setting. I created the Heart-Led Woman Intention Planner to capture this process.
crystalheartledwoman recently posted..Moving through Fear
Oooh, Crystal, your process is fascinating! I am going to have to find time to give it a try. Did you just take a few minutes each day, or was it multiple times a day, or…? Thanks for sharing it!
Hey Nancy! thanks for sharing your experience, really enjoyed reading it – love the fact you got to the technical side of vision board too
I use vision board but I normally write texts and draw images myself, then once it’s done, I put it in a box (I call it dream box), put it away for one year (and add more items if I feel like it). I think putting it away means we are not overly check the progress, it helps us to surrender. I actually wrote a post two weeks ago about why we shouldn’t over-check our progress
wanna share yours with me next year? should be fun
all my love
Yiye
http://yourlifeexpression.com/2012/07/22/why-competition-is-irrelevant-for-real-winners-olympic-special/
Yiye Zhang recently posted..1 secret to get you started or smash any blocks to get you re-started
I tried to use vision boards for a few years, but I found that they never really called to me – I think, like you, I was being too ‘left-brained’. Then last year, Jamie Ridler’s (http://www.jamieridler.com) Full Moon Dreamboard practice fell on my birthday and I decided to join in. The Dreamboard practice is a lot like Paula’s approach – you choose the images that call to you. I am in love with every single one of them. I have no expectations of them ‘coming true’ – I just see the joyous messages they show me for a month until it’s time for the next one. And I fully anticipate that the things that show up on my dreamboard will show up in my life (while having no expectation, if that makes sense!) x
Donnaonthebeach recently posted..Olympic Gold in Baby Steps
Ooh, I’ll have to look at Jamie’s process. I can’t quite imagine doing a new one every month, but it would be fun to try it and see how it works. That anticipation/expectation thing is a tricky one, for sure. I’m not sure I’m very good at it yet, but perhaps the monthly process helps there, too. Thanks so much for mentioning it!
Yeah, I think doing it monthly takes a lot of the thinkology out of it, and the ‘gotta get it right’-ology, and lets your intuition just go with what’s here now. It’s really interesting to watch the change over the months, the recurring patterns, the feeling of the boards. I wouldn’t go back to doing one every now and again now! x
Donnaonthebeach recently posted..Whose Idea Was Growing Up, Maturing, Getting Serious?
I took a look at her site today. Does she do a mailing list for the dream boards, or is it just a blog prompt, or does she do it some other way? I want to check it out next time, but I didn’t see a way to sign up.
Hey Nancy – it’s a blog prompt – here’s a link to the ‘new moon’ post: http://jamieridlerstudios.ca/new-moon-in-august?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+JamieRidlerStudios+%28Jamie+Ridler+Studios%29 – this has links to the full moon dates and Jamie’s free workshop x
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Ooh! Thank you!