time out of time, part one joanna powell colbert 1

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1 time out of time, part one joanna powell colbert 1

2 TIme Out of Time: Dreaming and Visioning the Year to Come Copyright 2012 Joanna Powell Colbert. All rights reserved. Published by: Joanna Powell Colbert Artworks, th St. #172, Bellingham WA This little booklet is a gift, and you are welcome to share it freely. If you re interested in going deeper with the material, you might want to sign up for the self-study version of my popular e-course, Empower Your Dreams & Visions with Tarot. You can find out all about here: Keep in touch: Facebook: Twitter: 2 time out of time, part one joanna powell colbert

3 Out with the Old, in with the New... It s time to shut the door on the Old Year and welcome in the New. I always do a life review at this time of year, often during the week between Solstice and New Year s. I celebrate my successes and release my disappointment over the things that did not go well. Then I dream and envision the year to come, which is followed by setting intentions, goals, and action steps. As a priestess, artist and heart-based businesswoman, I ve found that this practice is essential to creating the kind of life I want to live. And while it s lovely to take advantage of the magical energy after Winter Solstice, your own personal New Year might begin at another time. You could choose the Capricorn New Moon, Chinese New Year, the festival of Imbolc/Candlemas (February 1-2), or Spring Equinox. All these are auspicious dates for new beginnings. Choosing Candlemas is especially appropriate because it s traditionally a time of initiation, taking vows and making commitments. Your birthday also makes a potent personal New Year. You can consciously take a time out of time retreat each year before your birthday, for example. You could arrange for time off from work and go on a retreat that lasts several days. Even one day on a weekend that you spend alone, away from distractions, is a good idea. If there s no way to disengage from your everyday responsibilities, then take at least an hour a day for a week or two to envision and plan the year to come. While it s lovely to take advantage of the magical energy after Winter Solstice, your own personal New Year might begin at another time. You could choose the Capricorn New Moon, Chinese New Year, the festival of Imbolc/ Candlemas (February 1-2), or Spring Equinox. All these are auspicious dates for new beginnings. I m lucky that my birthday falls on January 7th, which is just after New Year s and often close to the Capricorn New Moon. So, for many years, I ve loved taking the time between Solstice and my birthday to do this inner work. time out of time, part one joanna powell colbert 3

4 Vocation is the place where your deep gladness meets the world s deep need. - Frederick Buechner Your dreams matter! They matter to you. They matter to your friends, family, and community. They matter to our global village. You were put here to make a difference, and only you know the unique gift you have to offer the world. Bringing your dreams into action and manifestation is not a selfish act; it s the way you serve the world. We need what you have to offer! And we re waiting for you. 4 time out of time, part one joanna powell colbert

5 Ready to dream? Great! But first let s deal with the Old Year. Before I start dreaming and planning the year to come, I do a life review of the year gone by. It helps if you keep a journal, blog or even an appointment calendar, as these help to refresh your memory. I ve found that reviewing my blog posts and personal journals helps me identify overall themes and patterns for the year. I take a look at the goals I set at this time last year, checking off the ones I accomplished and putting an X by the ones I didn t. I make another list of all the things I accomplished that were not on the list (after all, we can make our plans but we must leave room for serendipity!). And I make yet another list of the curve balls that were thrown my way. These are the things I had not planned or anticipated and were not necessarily welcome. (This is where we get to course-correct.) You can do this now. Write down the goals from last year that didn t come to fruition. Find a pretty little dish or sit by the fire in your fireplace. Burn the paper up. I release thee! Bye bye, Old Year! Last year I set too many goals in too many different areas. So, in essence, I set myself up for failure. My natural tendency is to look first at everything I did not accomplish, instead of feeling great about what I did get done. So I need to consciously make a change, not only in how I set my goals, but also in how I frame the results at year s end. If you take a look at the lists of what I did and didn t do last year (starting on page 8), you will see that I accomplished many more things than I had anticipated when I set my goals last December. So why should I be so bothered by the things I didn t do? I shouldn t. And these are the things I now need to release, especially the feelings of guilt and failure when I see all those X s. So it s time for a little ritual. I ll write down all the goals from last year that I did not accomplish. I ll burn the paper in a little dish, stating my intention to release all negative feelings associated with them. I release the ashes to the wind. So long, Old Year! time out of time, part one joanna powell colbert 5

6 Set a date to gather with a friend or two for a little boasting and toasting. It s good for the soul! Then I celebrate my successes! Woo hoo! It s great to do this with others; we call it boasting and toasting. We get to witness each other and cheer each other on. Look at all I did accomplish this year! Rock on! Go on with your bad self!! It s good to spend a fair amount of time on the celebration of your successes, to allow the energy to grow. This good energy is what you want to take with you into the new year. I also take a close look at the curve balls that came my way. I ask myself: What is the hidden wisdom in these unexpected, unwelcome events? I often pull a Tarot card or two to give me insight into them. I may also pull a Tarot card, asking: What is the Deep Wisdom of the year gone by? You can do this one with friends, or by yourself. I m a big fan of reading Tarot cards with others, as I ve found that each person has a little insight into the cards that you might miss yourself. And, if I am still feeling bad about my failures, I will read this poem by Rumi out loud: Come, come, whoever you are. Wanderer, worshipper, lover of living, it doesn t matter. Ours is not a caravan of despair. Come even if you have broken your vow a thousand times, Come, yet again, come, come. 6 time out of time, part one joanna powell colbert

7 Pulling Tarot Cards for your Life Review Ask: What is the hidden wisdom in the year s unexpected, unwelcome events? Pull a card: Insights gleaned from the card: Ask: What is the Deep Wisdom of the year gone by? Pull a card: Insights gleaned from the card: time out of time, part one joanna powell colbert 7

8 Time to dream, time to vision... Forget resolutions go for your dreams instead! Many self-aware spiritually-inclined people know that resolutions don t work. Just feel the difference in the energy between these two statements: I should I mean I resolve to lose 30 pounds. (Groan, moan, please, anything but that...) or: I dream of having a healthy, radiant, energetic body. (Yay! Oh boy! Sounds like fun!) The shoulds repel us and the dreams attract us. How simple is that? What s your BIG dream? You know the one. It makes your eyes light up when you think about it. It s the one you d do if you knew you couldn t fail. If time and money were no object, you d do it. Maybe you have more than one dream. Most of us do. They usually fall into categories like these: Relationships Health Fitness Finances Career Creativity Spiritual Path Which ones are calling your name? Family Friends Community Travel Recreation Service Write down your Big Dream here! 8 time out of time, part one joanna powell colbert

9 Write down as many categories and specific dreams as you like: Relationships: Health: Fitness: Finances: Career: Creativity: Spiritual Path: Family: Friends: Community: Travel: Recreation: Service: time out of time, part one joanna powell colbert 9

10 Now winnow them down to the 3 most important dreams, at this time in your life. (Is your BIG dream one of them?) How does it feel to choose only three dreams to focus on? If you re like me, it comes with a big sense of relief. Managing more than three dreams (each with its own vision, goals, projects and action items) leads to overwhelm and its attendant feelings of failure. (Trust me, I know this from experience!) If you re having difficulty choosing only three go into sacred space, get centered in your heart, and choose from there. You probably have your own way of connecting with Spirit. You might meditate, or go for long walks, or write in your journal. You might play with Tarot cards. You might cast a circle, go into trance and slip between the worlds. Write down the three dreams that are most calling your name right now: 1. Here s what I often do: Light a candle on my altar. Ground and center. Call in the four directions plus above, below and center. Call on the Beloved... She Who Hears the Cries of the World. Chant Her names or sing a devotional song to Her. Once I am centered in Presence, I speak from my heart to Her and ask for help in making choices. I hold the idea or concept in my heart (for example, each one of the dreams) and notice my emotional response to it. I listen for the voice of intuition. I may turn up a Tarot card for further insight and information. When I m done and at peace with my choices, I thank Her, release the directions and blow out the candle You might try a practice like this until you have your most important three dreams for the year. 10 time out of time, part one joanna powell colbert

11 Now that you have your Three Dreams for the Year, write an affirmation for each one in the present tense: (Examples: I am glowing with radiant health. Money comes to me easily and frequently. I remain close to the Heart of the Beloved.) Dream #1: Affirmation: Dream #2: Affirmation: Dream #3: Affirmation: time out of time, part one joanna powell colbert 11

12 Winter Solstice Tarot Circle Game (James Wells designed this game to be played at Winter Solstice, but it s also a good game to played at the beginning of any personal New Year.) A. Gather in a circle, around a table, on the floor, or wherever you re all comfortable. Remove the Sun card (Trump XIX) from the tarot deck and place it in the centre of the playing surface beside a beeswax candle. Light the candle. B. One at a time, each person receives the tarot deck as it s passed clockwise. Each person, when s/he receives the pack, says one word or one phrase that lets the group know how s/he is as s/he enters this game (e.g. I m a bit tired this evening. or Feeling aligned with my best good. or Curious about what we re about to do. ). Then s/he mixes the deck and picks three cards at random before passing the pack to the person on hir left. This continues until everyone has checked in and has three cards in their hands. F. After everyone s cards have been returned to the deck, the Sun card is shuffled back into the pack and the candle is extinguished. Note: People don t need to play their cards in the order drawn. They can lay down whatever card seems appropriate to the round they re in James P. Wells. Used with permission. C. Three rounds are played clockwise (each round s topic is below). During each, every player gets a turn to lay a card on the surface in front of hir and use its image to inspire a continuation of the open sentence provided. This is done one at a time. Each player can expand on the sentence as much as s/he chooses. First round: The deep, dark place I entered this year was. Second round: The shining gift that I received in that place is. Third round: The gift I received has the potential to renew me by. D. After everyone s cards have been played, allow a fruitful, respectful conversation to unfold, continuing until it reaches a natural conclusion. E. For the final round, the tarot deck is passed around counterclockwise. One at a time, people receive it, express gratitude for one thing they ve heard or said during the game, mix their three cards back into the pack, and pass it to the person on their right. 12 time out of time, part one joanna powell colbert

13 From Dreaming to Doing (or: Planning the New Year) I know that planning doesn t sound nearly as sexy as dreaming (or maybe it does, to Virgos), but if we don t create goals, projects and action steps for our dreams, they will stay in the ethers and our lives will never change. Here s where we get down to business. Each dream or vision has a number of goals. Each goal has a number of projects. Each project has a number of tasks, or action items. So, choose one of your Big 3 Dreams for the year (from Part One). Then, for each one, set 1-3 specific goals. For each goal, think of 1-3 projects that will support the goal. For each goal, create tasks and actionable steps and (this is critical) mark them on your calendar. Here s an example. Dream #1: My Business. I maintain a sustainable, flourishing business that serves others and provides me with a comfortable living. Goal #1: My monthly income goal is $XXXX.00. (Notice how specific it is? I mean, it would be if I had actually written numbers in!) time out of time, part one joanna powell colbert 13

14 Project: Track income daily in a notebook. Action step: Print out monthly pages and set up notebook. Action step: Fill it out every day. Project: Make an affirmation vision board with my monthly income goal on it. Action steps: gather art supplies, create vision board, hang it where I can see it every day. Project: Brainstorm various income streams to support the income goal. Action steps: Choose certain income streams from the brainstormed list and create goals, projects and action items for each of them. 14 time out of time, part one joanna powell colbert Goal #2: Move towards a teaching and service business model and away from product sales. Project: Choose which classes to teach, and when. Action step: Send out a survey to my list in order to find out which class ideas are the most interesting to them. Action step: Based on the feedback, choose several classes to teach in the coming year and place (flexible) dates on the calendar. Project: Plan the first class. Action step: Put together a notebook or other system to keep all the details of the class together in one place. Action step: Create the materials for the first class. (This is further broken down into specific tasks.) Project: Plan the marketing and promotion for the class. Action step: Put together a notebook or other system to keep all the details of the promotion together in one place.

15 Action step: Create the marketing plan for the first class and put it on the calendar. (This is also further broken down into specific tasks.) Project: Teach first class. Action steps: Weekly to-do list for teaching and giving feedback to students. Goal #3: Find a spiritual business coach or mentor in order to have support as I move ahead with my business. Project: Research the various coaches and programs that are available. Action step: Read blogs, sign up for newsletters, consume freebies. Action step: Contact one or more of them with questions. Action step: Go into sacred space and listen for guidance in order to make a choice. Project: Work with a mentor. Action step: Get started with his/her program! Here s another example. This one is simpler (business is most definitely complex, with lots of little pieces to pay attention to). Dream #2: Health. I am glowing with radiant health! Goal #1: Have more energy. Be more fit. (More specifically: Be able to walk 5 miles easily by April 1st.) Project: Choose one or more exercise plans that are sustainable. Action step: Make a list of possibilities: daily walks, gym, yoga classes, swimming, 5 Rhythms Dance classes. Action step: Get information then choose 1 or 2 of these. time out of time, part one joanna powell colbert 15

16 Are you more committed to remaining where you are or to getting where you want to be? The evidence is in the action you are or are not taking. - Marcia Wieder Action step: Put regular times for each activity on the calendar daily or several times per week. Action step: Commit to doing it whether I feel like it or not. Action step: Ask a friend to be an accountability buddy with weekly check-ins. Action step: Put check-ins on calendar. Project: Make an affirmation vision board with my health and fitness goals on it. Action steps: gather art supplies, create vision board, hang it where I can see it every day. Goal #2: Continue eating healthy foods. Project: Eat mostly vegetables, lean non-corporate meats and whole grains; gluten-free, partly raw. Action step: Make menu plans. Action step: Create a system for preparing food. Action step: Ask a friend for cooking lessons for easy, yummy, healthy dishes. Action step: Create strategies for dealing with cravings for unhealthy foods. Action step: Ask a friend to be an accountability buddy with weekly check-ins Action step: Put check-ins on calendar. One of the things I appreciate so much about this way of goal-setting is that it addresses both the inner and the outer; both the spiritual/magical and the practical. It s not enough to set an intention and visualize the desired outcome without following it up with shoeleather activity. And it s not enough to put goals into action without a vision behind them. 16 time out of time, part one joanna powell colbert

17 Now it s your turn. Choose one of your Big 3 Dreams, and go through the process. Brainstorm goals and actions steps. Let your imagination run wild! Then winnow down your goals, projects and action steps to the ones that will best serve you. Get some feedback from a friend or accountability buddy. Dream: Goal #1: Project #1: Project #2: time out of time, part one joanna powell colbert 17

18 Project #3: Project #4: Project #5: 18 time out of time, part one joanna powell colbert

19 Goal #2: Project #1: Project #2: Project #3: time out of time, part one joanna powell colbert 19

20 Goal #3: Project #1: Project #2: Project #3: 20 time out of time, part one joanna powell colbert

21 Systems and Calendars Once you re clear about your goals, projects and action steps, you ll want to put the action steps on a calendar. I do this in two places: in ical on my computer and also on paper printouts of the calendar months. I use a different color in ical for different topics, and I have one set of paper calendar printouts per project. For example, I have a marketing calendar for each class I ll be doing with all the action items written in. I also double up on digital and paper notebooks or folders for most of my projects. (Some are easier left as digital.) It s important to have one central place to keep all your ideas, plans and calendars so you can stay on top of all the details. On the right you see my ical calendar for December 2010, with color-coded action steps. Blue is Personal, green is Work, red is Payments Due, orange is Holidays, pink is Events and purple is Gaian Tarot Circle work. I like ical because you can view the calendar by month, week, or day, and can put in as much detail as you need. Also, it synchs to my ipad calendar. Very nice. I also use the program Things to supplement this system. In the following pages I ve included calendar planning pages for 2011, with New Moons, Full Moons and Mercury Retrogarde and Direct marked. (I m always aware of the lunar cycle when making my plans, and it doesn t hurt to track Mercury either.) I use one of these calendars per project and write all the details on it. For example, if I have a marketing plan for a certain project that lasts six weeks, I ll print out the two calendar months in question and put all the action steps for the marketing plan on those calendar pages. I then put the highlights into ical but leave the nitty-gritty details on the paper calendar sheets. time out of time, part one joanna powell colbert 21

22 Productivity tips: On Sunday evening, plan your week. Make sure all the action items for the entire week are on your calendar. And every evening before you go to bed, review the calendar for the next day. One last little bit of wisdom: Even with all this planning, it s important to be flexible and to course-correct as necessary. Make a Commitment to your Dreams in Sacred Space Choose an auspicious day or evening a new moon, full moon, or other holy-day. Create sacred space in whatever way works for you. Light a candle, and as you do, make a commitment to your dreams, visions, and goals for the coming year. It s that simple. Blessed be! It s important to put down-time days and me days on your calendar too. And always leave room for serendipity. 22 time out of time, part one joanna powell colbert

23 About Joanna Powell Colbert Joanna is an artist and author whose Tarot cards and book, The Gaian Tarot, was published by Llewellyn Worldwide in September She released a deluxe, Limited Edition of 1000 decks in March As of January 2012, over 75% of those have found happy homes. She hosts the engaging membership site, Gaian Tarot Circle, which she created for people who want to participate in a study circle centered on the Gaian Tarot. She teaches online courses and workshops around the country on earth-centered spirituality, manifesting your dreams, soul work as right livelihood, and the Tarot. Her artwork and writing have appeared frequently over the years in SageWoman, PanGaia and Circle magazines, among many others. She sells her colored-pencil paintings and mixed media pieces as originals and limited edition prints. Amber Lotus Publishing calls her one of the most accomplished and well-loved artists in the Goddess-spirit community. She lives in the woods outside Bellingham, Washington with her husband, musician Craig Olson, and two cats. Oh, and her baby granddaughter Gracie is the most beautiful child in the whole, entire world! This little booklet is a gift, and you are welcome to share it freely. If you re interested in going deeper with the material, you might want to sign up for the self-study version of my popular e-course, Empower Your Dreams & Visions with Tarot. You can find out all about here: Keep in touch: Facebook: Twitter: time out of time, part one joanna powell colbert 23

24 DREAMS & VISIONS PROJECT PLANNER ~ January 2012 ~ Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat FULL MOON NEW MOON Notes: Joanna Powell Colbert

25 DREAMS & VISIONS PROJECT PLANNER ~ February 2012 ~ Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat FULL MOON NEW MOON Notes: Joanna Powell Colbert

26 DREAMS & VISIONS PROJECT PLANNER ~ March 2012 ~ Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat FULL MOON MERCURY Rx EQUINOX NEW MOON Joanna Powell Colbert

27 DREAMS & VISIONS PROJECT PLANNER ~ April 2012 ~ Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat MERCURY D 5 6 FULL MOON NEW MOON Notes: Joanna Powell Colbert

28 DREAMS & VISIONS PROJECT PLANNER ~ May 2012 ~ Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat FULL MOON NEW MOON Notes: Joanna Powell Colbert

29 DREAMS & VISIONS PROJECT PLANNER ~ June 2012 ~ Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat FULL MOON NEW MOON 20 SOLSTICE Joanna Powell Colbert

30 DREAMS & VISIONS PROJECT PLANNER ~ July 2012 ~ Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat FULL MOON MERCURY Rx NEW MOON Notes: Joanna Powell Colbert

31 DREAMS & VISIONS PROJECT PLANNER ~ August 2012 ~ Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 1 FULL MOON MERCURY D NEW MOON FULL MOON Notes: Joanna Powell Colbert

32 DREAMS & VISIONS PROJECT PLANNER ~ September 2012 ~ Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat NEW MOON EQUINOX FULL MOON 30 Notes: Joanna Powell Colbert

33 DREAMS & VISIONS PROJECT PLANNER ~ October 2012 ~ Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat NEW MOON FULL MOON Notes: Joanna Powell Colbert

34 DREAMS & VISIONS PROJECT PLANNER ~ November 2012 ~ Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat MERCURY Rx NEW MOON MERCURY D FULL MOON Notes: Joanna Powell Colbert

35 DREAMS & VISIONS PROJECT PLANNER ~ December 2012 ~ Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat NEW MOON SOLSTICE FULL MOON Notes: Joanna Powell Colbert