The Power of Intention in Everyday Life

I remember a few years ago when I was gifted the mantra “I live my life consciously and intentionally” – it felt like, up until that point, life was something that just happened to me. 

I started off small by taking a few mindful moments when I had my coffee in the morning. I learned that my natural instinct to stir anti-clockwise was actually following the flow of energy (as opposed to in the northern hemisphere where energy flows clockwise), so each time I stirred my coffee I did so consciously, knowing that by following the energetic flow I was attracting the good. 

Before this, I was just stirring coffee – now, I was stirring with intent. Now, I was practicing magic. 

It’s small things like this that can lead you to living your best life. It doesn’t have to be some elaborate sky-clad, full moon ritual with all the bells and whistles in order for you to use magic to improve your life. 

Real magic is subtle. The well-known ‘Law of Attraction’ is really just based on mindfulness, rather than having something land in your lap. It functions on your ability to be present and grateful; on your ability to be mindful and act intentionally. 

So, what is intention? Intention is the act of setting a goal and then focusing your energy and effort toward achieving that goal. We’ve all heard the saying “be careful what you wish for”, and when it comes to the Craft, this phrase holds especially true. Because intention is the key foundation of any magical practice, and its power is not to be taken lightly. It’s the driving force of magic, and every thought and action has power. 

When we set an intention, we are sending out a message to the universe that we are ready to manifest our desires. And manifesting is really just a sparkly way of saying ‘envision the life you want and consciously take the steps to align yourself with that vision’. In psychological settings, you hear them say things like: you can change the future from the present moment. Witches, the lot of ‘em!

So, clear your focus. Act with purpose. Watch your life transform.

The thing is, once you start focusing your intention, you inevitably become present – and being present in the moment is a key component of being able to receive support and guidance from the universe. 

It can be surprisingly simple integrating your intent to everyday activities. Sometimes just repeating a short and sweet mantra enhances your energetical input of what you are doing and why you are doing it, even with mundane tasks like folding your laundry or washing the dishes. It reminds you that you are doing these things for a reason; to align yourself with your best life. So, here are a few tips on intention setting to help get you started:

• Focus on what you do want, not what you don’t want. 
• Vision boards! These are great for focus and drive. They keep the dream alive.
• Practice mindfulness. Act with purpose. Take for instance, those who wear crystals simply because they are pretty. What does that crystal actually do? What energies does it invite, what energies does it block?

Make today the day you start acting with intent. You’ll be surprised at just how much of what is meant for starts to come your way.