Don’t you love it when your life flows, when you catch every green light and there’s an awesome parking spot waiting when you get there? Do you ever wish your dating life could flow the same way, that the Universe would lead you to the perfect person for you?

This flow is what many indigenous cultures sought to create with their spirituality. Creating this flow was often critical to their survival, whether it was healing disease or growing good crops. The peoples of the Andes Mountains of South America believe this flow is created by being in Ayni—right relationship—with the subtle energies that underlie and organize reality, from our physical and emotional health to our relationships.

There are as many ways to influence these energy flows as there are indigenous cultures. Acupuncture and Reiki are two well-known examples, but one of the most ancient methods shared by many cultures is sand painting. Sand painting is a simple, intuitive technique that you can use to move in to right relationship with the energy flows of your romantic life and attract a wonderful relationship.

The concept behind sand painting is to create a collection of objects on the ground that symbolically represents you and your energetic system. You can then connect your energetic system to the painting and shift your energies by working with the objects in the painting.

How to Create a Sand Painting

 

To begin a sand painting, start by meditating on what you are seeking to create and attract into your life—in this case, a wonderful relationship. Once you have a clear vision of that relationship, silently ask Spirit, Universe or Higher Power where to do the painting and if you need to include special objects that you can’t find lying around there. You may also get a sense of when to do the painting, such as on the full moon or solstice.

You should be directed to a private spot where your painting won’t be disturbed, but close enough that you can return to it a couple of times over the next few days.

Clear a small area on the bare ground to create the painting, but don’t place your painting on a large rock or grass unless specifically instructed to do so. Collect objects such as sticks, small stones and leaves from the area around your painting and then use them to create a border to the painting within the bare area. Be sure to leave some of the bare area outside of the border.

Next, meditate and ask Spirit, Universe or Higher Power about which objects to place in your painting. The goal is for the painting to symbolically represent you and your energy system. Keep moving objects in and out and within the painting as feels right until you have a sense of completion. Remember you are creating a symbolic representation of yourself, not a literal picture; it may not look like anything specific.

Before you continue to the next phase, gently blow three deep breaths on your painting while focusing your intention on connecting your energy to the painting. Allow the painting to sit for several hours or overnight so it can fully connect to your energetic system.

When you return to your painting, sit and meditate and ask what to move. You will be directed to move one or more objects, either within the painting or to add or remove objects. By shifting the items in the painting you are shifting your energetic system, allowing it to heal blockages and manifest the relationship you seek.

Once you have a sense of completion, leave the painting for a few hours or even overnight again as feels right. Don’t be surprised if objects seem to shift in the painting while you are away. It is also okay if something messes with it or it is even washed away. As long as you built it when and where you were directed, trust that whatever happens is part of the healing and attracting process.

When you return to your painting the final time, sit and meditate again on how to dismantle it. While in a meditative state, remove the objects in the painting in the order that feels right and then return them to the specific locations you are directed. It is important to intuitively deconstruct your painting in order to properly disconnect the painting from your energetic system or there can be unintended effects. This is why you should never abandon a sand painting unless you are clearly instructed to do so.

Sand paintings typically take 30-60 days to manifest the intended result, but you may need to do additional paintings if you have multiple energetic blockages around love and relationships. Continue to meditate regularly to see if you need to do additional paintings.

You may also receive messages to go to certain places or meet certain people during your meditation. Trust and follow those messages if they seem to be part of the creation process. Of course, always use good judgment and be mindful of your safety when listening to intuitive messages. If something seems unwise or dangerous, you can ignore it or continue to meditate to see if it evolves into something more appropriate or reasonable to do.

As you work with your sand paintings and continue to meditate, don’t be surprised if someone shows up in your life unexpectedly. You may not be particularly attracted to them at first or they may not be your type, but if they don’t have major red flags, give them a chance. You could be surprised at how well you click and how good they are for you.

This is what it feels like when you seek the assistance of Spirit, Universe or Higher Power to manifest something in your life. The blessings we receive are often not what we had in mind, but they turn out to be far better for us than anything we could have planned or imagined. So be open to your blessings, whether or not you seek them through sand painting.

As always, please sign in and share your comments, questions and experiences below.

Namaste,

Dr. Scott

[photo: via lisa sorensen on flickr]