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Letter from the Future
A 5 min creative retreat
The fog around the coastline is stitched like a tight hem, and for days the horizon has been but a blur. It’s oddly comforting; clothing these end of year days with a haze; perfect for an inward turn, and sitting into the invite to listen. It’s one of the things I cherish most about these in-between days of Christmas and New Year. The daylight is still tucked, and nights still lingering, and after a few days with family, I am ready for some time alone. I know I am fortunate to be able to carve this space. It’s not so easy for everyone, with multitudes of responsibilities still to attend to. So, this week’s creative retreat bears that in mind; a five minute practice, to support listening inwards, and towards… the kind of listening so ripe at this time of year.
My creative invite to you this week is to write a letter back to yourself, from the future. This is a practice I have been doing every year for at least the last ten, and it constantly amazes me with it’s clarity and power. It is a practice I include in my Intentional Year Guidebook, as part of the process for setting clear intentions for the year, but in itself is a powerful self-coaching tool, which cultivates an engaged form of listening to ourselves, and our deeper longings.
The practice is simple: imagine yourself a year from now. Imagine where you will be, who you will be with, and what the year will have brought for you. Now, imagine that future self– the one a year from now–writing back a letter to your current self.
I give myself a minimum of five minutes for this, but of course, you may want to take longer. But if you only have five minutes, then this can be a very powerful way to use them!
As you are writing the letter, including as much detail as possible. You may want to write it in a journal, or on letter paper, which you tuck away for safe keeping in an envelope, to be opened a year from now.
As you are writing, here are a few questions to guide you…
What made you feel most alive?
What gifts did you offer?
What did you learn this year?
What brought you the most contentment?
What did you release?
How much did you earn? How did you earn it?
Who did you spend time with?
What did you create?
Each year, I look back on the previous letter I wrote to myself and always am amazed at the seeds that were planted; tucked away in the dark to germinate and grow in their own time over the course of a year, and sometimes beyond… like a magical map written in ink and dreams.
Happy writing.
…
If you’d like more tools, meditations, creative practice and prompts to help to tune into yourself and the year ahead, my ‘Intentional Year Guidebook 2025’ is now available.
You an find out more over on claremulvany.ie/intentionalyear
Payments are made via an ‘honesty box’ system, and contributions include access to a kick-off workshop on January 7th 2025. It would be lovely to have you there!
Coming up in January for paid members:
I have lots of opportunities coming for paid members of The Wild Edge coming in January, including creative practice ‘Owl’ Hours, a guided writing sanctuary and a special Imbolc salon to mark the Celtic season of spring.
January 2025:
9th January: 8-9pm GMT Owl Hour- Creative Practice.
12th January: Writing Sanctuary, 6-7pm GMT
16th January: 8-9pm GMT Owl Hour- Creative Practice
23rd January: 8-9pm GMT Own Hour- Creative Practice
(Gold Membership) 31st January: Imbolc Salon: An evening of poetry, writing and creative ritual.
Thank you,
Until soon
Clare. x
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