Working with Personal Touchstones and Talismans for Change

Where and how do you find simple, beautiful ways 
to restore your commitment to what you want, and
what’s whispering to you in your life right now?

Often I'll be working with a client who arrives in the place 
where she starting to feel really grounded and intuitively powerful, 
really loving that she’s coming into a place
of enjoying the way she’s nourishing herself now with food.

But fear comes in, and she's wondering…
Can I stay here, though? 
Can I do this by myself now?

Yes, she can…and yes, you can.

This is a beautiful season and time of year to use the powerful tool of touchstones and talismans to assimilate change; 
these short, velvety nights inspire reflection, a turning inward towards the mysterious unseen, yet already beginning to be known.

 Like the still dormant seed under the snow…
yet so very alive, so ready.

I started using touchstones and talismans many years ago 
as a way to anchor myself down into what I really cared about, 
how I was feeding myself in body, mind, heart and soul.

They are simple powerful and creative.

I think of the words talisman and touchstone interchangeably. Precious, significant little nuggets you carry with you – 
in your purse, your heart, or your awareness. 
Or ideally all three, the best of all! 

When, with intention, you touch them, gaze toward them, think of them or notice them, 
you’ll touch back into what you've brought them into your life to assist you with.

Start by actively go looking for a touchstone to support your intention or your desire to either change a behavior or to more fully embody one you're practicing right now. 

Go for a walk, dance, meditate, take yourself window shopping, 
or just look at objects around you with fresh eyes and see what draws your attention.

When you do this, you will find the perfect one and you'll find it quickly and easily. 
This is not a project with a capital P.

This is simple self love in action.  

Touchstones can be in the tangible, physical world…  

A piece of driftwood you're in love with at the beach, 
a photo of that woman you admire enough to emulate, 
the rock that shaman gave you when you felt a “yes!”

Or they can be in the intangible, subtle energy realm…  

The image of the strongly beautiful Guatemalan woman, swirling to the music as her colorful shawl swirls around her body as she moves.

Or the memory of how you felt, your back straight and your shoulders thrown back when you were 11 years old, that time when you stood up for yourself in front of the whole family even though you were so scared.

Be clear about what you're wanting your talisman or touchstone to help you with, what wisdom you want to be reminded of. 

Be specific and grant yourself a little time with this.

If it’s small enough, carry it with you for awhile.
You’ll know how long.

If it’s not, put it in a highly visible, maybe even unusual place in your home.You could take a photo of it with your phone, or if it's not tangible 
write a few lines about it on a small piece of paper and take a photo of that. 

Now it's with you all the time to feel.

I am working right now in my own life with presence and grace in chaos - 
in my head and in my house. 
When the static of the day feels big, I “forget” and eat at my desk. 
Yes I know… coaching my own self all the time, over here…!

My talisman for this is a small photo of my daughter at about age 4. 
She’s intently filling up her little wading pool, she's totally engrossed holding the hose.
Nothing else matters. She's not looking at the camera. 

This is a talisman for me, reminding me of the power of single-mindedness can be. 
Her concentration in this photo reminds me that all I really want to do is savor 
THIS. ONE. THING.

With calmness, with breath, and with trust that it's OK, better, healthy 
to do only one thing at a time.

That I get to decide what matters most in this moment, over and over again.

Deep breath, again.

I have another talisman, a small smooth rock that through many years gets moved around to various suitcases, purses, backpacks and always turns up again when I need reminding of its purpose – 
it's my balance rock and when I re-find it…

“Ahhhh…yes, thank you! What wants re-balancing in me, like RIGHT NOW?! 
More protein… less caffeine… more sleep… less talking… more connection?”

This is a really fun and powerful concoction of intention and intuition. 
Listen to your gut rather than your head, enjoy and follow your impulses.

I hope you enjoy playing with this in lightness and self affection, and that it helps you respond more easily to the whisper of this Sage Wisdom that’s always with you!

With Gratitude,
Marina

Marina Francis EPC, BCT, CRT is a multi certified mind body transformation coach, mentor and writer who's specialized in helping clients create happy, relaxing and nourishing relationships with food for 26 years.

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