Back in late June, I signed up for Colette Baron-Reid’s Summer Self-Care Webinar which was so much fun. As always, I learned much more than I expected as CBR is dedicated to giving more information and ideas (the queen of over-sharing) and I am grateful to be a recipient of her generosity. On this particular webinar, CBR mentioned her “God Box” which had everyone on the call erupting with questions. Once off the call I immediately went onto Etsy in a search for an appropriate box to hold all of my needs in order to serve my highest good.
Best line of the webinar? “If we’re not full of spirit, we’re full of shit.” Love her. And bonus: I was one of the half dozen participants who won a “The Good Tarot” deck!
What is this all about?
Traditionally, a God Box holds your worries and concerns. It holds your past and your future which is exactly where all worries and concerns start. I still find myself in the occasional “spin cycle” when life gets away from me and my anxiety gets the better of my days. The idea is to give to a higher power your troubles and leave it at that. I do journal and meditate daily, but this is a more physical, tangible, practice. (You might ask, why not a vision board? Well, I’m not a fan of the wasted hours scouring magazines. I have a hard time finding words and images that resonate with my desires. This box is built with things that mean something to me.)
What do I have to be anxious about?
- Worry about the future: employment, travel, income, etc.
- My tendency to be impatient, ahem.
- Concerns about my weight and overall health.
- My kids and their lives which are increasingly more independent – and complicated.
- Not getting mundane chores done quickly so I can enjoy the things I love.
- My lack of a companion.
- The residual goo of being forced to put the agenda of another ahead of my own needs.
Letting go of these burdens gives me time to focus on what is real RIGHT NOW. Daily I do my best to heed Theodore Roosevelt and “do what you can, with what you have, where you are.” Sometimes my brain is not cooperative and I end up in a perpetual “spin cycle”. It does not serve me to be attached to the stories of my past or too focused on expectations in the future. Those takes away the enjoyment of today.
The beauty of the God box is the physical component of awareness: writing my concern down and placing it in the box. There is a hopeful finality in that gesture in that it has been safely handed over to a higher power to sort out. It gives your brain a reprieve. You are able to let go of thinking about issues you cannot or do not know how to change.
The God Box is not permission to sit back and do nothing, you still participate in your life! Giving your worries to your God Box should result in a quieter, more peaceful mind since you have made space to focus on what is going to help instead of what hurts or what is currently in the way of a desired result. It will all work out in whatever way it is meant to work out.
CONTENTS:
- From Liz Lamoreaux: Post Card reading “inhale compassion. exhale love. inhale love. exhale peace. inhale peace. exhale compassion. repeat. repeat. repeat.” as well as another post card from her monthly talisman package which reads “find your center”.
- From Elise Joy: Post Card reading “I believe in fresh starts, big dreams & getting your goals down on paper” as well as another small post card which reads “big things happen one day at a time”.
- A teak turtle.
- A happy buddha.
- A quartz point.
- The 6-Love card from The Good Tarot which is my Life Soul Symbol as well as my Personality Symbol.
- The 5-Hierophant card from The Good Tarot which is my Annual Growth Symbol for this, my 53rd, year.
- A happy “shine” rock.
- Hemetite is placed in all four corners of the box.
- Crystals: Yellow Jasper, Green Agate, Amethyst, Red Onyx, Blue Lace Agate, Rose Quartz, Carnelian (attracts property!), Black Tourmaline, Red Jasper, White Opal, Citrine, Green Aventurine (encourages love at an older age – who knew?) and Tigers Eye (to help improve health). Click on any of the names of the crystals to discover their properties. I outlined for a few the specific reason they were chosen. The rest are for their general use.
- A few envelopes outlining my intentions and concerns.
- Not shown: after I took the photo I decided to sprinkle on top of everything, some Himalayan pink salt. I have no idea why, I just did and it makes me feel good to have done it.
The box was put together on my birthday – last Monday. I’d like to incorporate this idea into my annual celebration. Next year, after I create my new God Box contents, I’ll read what was on my mind this year. I wonder what will have disappeared and what will need more time to work itself out. Time and trust will tell!
* Anyone who knows me knows that I don’t mean God with any religious connotation. To me it’s just a quick and catchy name for a box. When I give my burdens to the box, my address is usually to “Spirit” or “The Universe”.
Oh, I love this idea! Is this the kind of thing you would crack open and take a look at from time to time? Add to? Remove from? My eldest would benefit from this too.
I think you can crack it open any time and my idea is to add and subtract each year. I’m sure you could do it once a week if you wanted! I think it’s a great way to manage overwhelm and anxiety – and there are no rules! Whatever works best for you 🙂 xoL