2013 Gratitude Jar & the Magic of intentions.

After a bit of a hiatus..... I logged back into Facebook and reviewed the blog in preparation for setting up 2013 posts. And bumped into what I am calling the Gratitude Jar.  It's a fabulous idea and one that I'll try out myself this year.  

But it got me thinking about alignment and intent and magic. 

The wonderful thing about the Gratitude Jar is that it helps teach mindfulness.  If you have the Jar and you are thinking about what you can put in the Jar then you focus and are mindful of daily blessings, and experiences worth savoring.  You also align with the beauty of nature.  One of the things my Jar will have on it "Nature as the Great Teacher Moments".

Then there is the alternate approach to using a Yearly Jar.  One that is aligned with the secular tradition of New Year Resolutions.  It has been said by many (even non-pagans) that writing down your goals makes a difference. 

Few have said it better or to as many people as Stephen Covey:
"All things are created twice. There's a mental or first creation, and a physical or second creation of all things. You have to make sure that the blueprint, the first creation, is really what you want, that you've thought everything through. Then you put it into bricks and mortar. Each day you go to the construction shed and pull out the blueprint to get marching orders for the day. You begin with the end in mind."

The "all things are created twice" concept is the essence of all magic work.  You build the idea with your energy and mind. And then you free it on the Astral Plane (or release it into the universe if you prefer) and then you work on the physical plane until it manifests. As you write your goals down and place them in the Jar imbue them with your intent. Then release them by placing them into the Jar. 

At the end of the year (or Cornucopia) you can open the Yearly Jar, reassess or renew your goals.

I can promise you this: The more aligned you are with the ebb and flow of the universe, the more mindful and aware you are (and the Gratitude Jar helps with this) the easier it is to "make magic".