Intentions

by Rev. Rita Scheibeck

In many different spiritual practices, we use the word “intention” as something to strive for, something to express to the Universe or Divine Energy what we want or desire. The other day, while thinking of the word “intention,” I wrote this affirmation:

“I am grateful in advance for fulfilled intentions.”

I pondered that for a few days, feeling a little incomplete about the words “in advance.” I couldn’t let go of how much the “future” of that statement disturbed me. As I frequently do, I started searching the dictionaries for the word “intention” and at the risk of sounding like a school teacher, here’s what I found.

Oxford Languages defines it as an aim, a plan or a target. All of these meanings are good, but maybe we should narrow down our own specific definitions to something that speaks of the now moment, instead of the future. One of the meanings that stands out to me as an immediate fulfilling of intentions is the word purpose, which talks about a more settled determination, therefore more in the now.

Miriam Webster.com, among other definitions, includes, as synonyms, the words “mind,” “acceptance,” “essence,” and “spirit,” all of which speak to me of the spiritual now. (As a matter of fact, all those words sound like something Charles Filmore, the co-founder of the Unity movement, would say and use frequently.)

When I looked at my affirmation more closely, I began to think of the word “intention” as something already fulfilled, an “essence” or “mind” if you will. Most of the time I think we put off our good and our happiness until sometime in the future, mostly because we don’t see it in the physical right now. But if we back up our intentions with a strong belief and an unshakable faith that our blessings are already here, in the now, we instill the gratitude for them in our minds and our hearts immediately. Then, the fierce emotion attached to our gratitude sheds a great light on our blessings, the ones we see and the ones just out of our physical sight. With that strong feeling of gratitude, we automatically move into acceptance of the “spirit” of the physical substance that is already ours.

Needless to say, after all this research and these more spiritual thoughts, and some emotion-filled beliefs, I revised my original affirmation.

Affirmation: I am grateful now for my fulfilled intentions. And so it is.

As a regular contributor to "The Rose", Rev. Rita's column "Sacred Thoughts" will feature her blog posts. She is a psychic psychometrist available for readings in person or by phone.

Feel free to contact her for details by email at revritascheibeck@gmail.com or by phone or text at 352-284-8609