follow these 4 steps to turn your wishes into reality

Plans, hopes and wishes … no matter how hard we might work to make our dreams real, there are times we would appreciate a little boost of support behind them. Whether your desire is to send heartfelt care to someone navigating a health crisis, or to find funding for a much-needed vacation, there are many ways to set an intention with a little extra oomph behind it.

Tomorrow the New Moon will be in Virgo—the perfect time to solidify your plans for learning something new, recommitting to your wellness routine, or organizing that cabinet under the sink. Virgo is all about getting things in order, so use this powerful New Moon energy to set your ideas into motion. Here’s how:

take time to let it unfold: Let your thoughts linger on your heartfelt desire. Getting to the “why” behind the “why” can often reveal what we’re truly looking for. While your first thought might be to find a new job because your current one is no longer fulfilling, by delving into the reason why you may discover that what you really need is a lighter schedule so you can find space for creativity. And that could happen with a little extra time off, or help around the house.

solidify your wording: I’ve written about this before when it comes to forming a sankalpa instead of a New Years resolution—it’s the same idea. No matter which words you choose, put them in the present tense so you can visualize your intention taking shape in front of you, in 3D reality. “I get out of bed at 6:55 a.m. each day so I can spend 5 minutes writing before getting the kids up.”

keep it top of mind: Sticky notes on your bathroom mirror. A special crystal in your pocket, or a meaningful piece of jewelry. Key words in your app passwords. There are countless ways to drop little reminders to yourself throughout your day. I’ve used a combination of all of these over the years, and honed my focus such that every task I did had a connection to the reality I was trying to manifest in my life. And yes, it works!

add some fun: I like to bolster my intentions during the New Moon by writing them down and spending some focused time with them, while the night skies are dark and the energy of endless possibilities surrounds me. You can make that time even more meaningful by playing with unique ways to send your intentions out into the Universe.

We opened our self-care weekend retreat last month—my first in-person gathering in almost two years—with a yoga nidra designed to help us embody the abundance and joy of the summer season through our personal intentions. We bookended that practice with a dramatic way to visualize our wishes taking flight—something you may draw inspiration from for your own personal ritual …