For the past month, we have been doing the heavy lifting of spiritual gardening. We used the fire of Agni to burn through the winter weight of stagnation and the discipline of Saucha to clear the mental weeds and heavy rocks from our path. Now, the soil of the heart is dark, rich, and ready. But what comes next? We can work with Sankalpa—a sacred, solemn vow that reflects the blueprint of our highest selves.
What is a Sankalpa?
Unlike a typical resolution, which is often born from a feeling of not being enough, a Sankalpa is born from the realisation of your inherent wholeness. It is not a goal to be achieved; it is a truth to be remembered.
A Sankalpa is a solemn vow, but not one dictated by the ego. While a resolution is often born from a feeling of lack, a Sankalpa is born from a realisation of your inherent wholeness. It is a seed that already contains the blueprint of the flower it will become. An acorn doesn’t strive to be an oak tree; it simply unfolds its destiny.
How to Find Your Sankalpa
A Sankalpa is a sacred vow that reflects your heart’s desire. Use this worksheet to move from ego-driven goals to your soul’s blueprint. Finding your heart’s vow isn’t about logical thinking. It’s about listening. To find your seed this week, look for these three markers:
- The “I AM” Statement: A Sankalpa is always in the present tense. It is not “I will be,” but “I am.”
- The Feeling of Relief: If a thought feels like a “should” (e.g., I should work harder), that’s the ego. If the thought feels like a “relief” (e.g., I am already enough), that is your Sankalpa.
- The Essence: If words are hard to find, look for a single quality: Steady. Open. Radiant. Strong.
Step 1: Clearing the Noise
Reflect on the past few weeks of clearing the soil. What “weeds” or old stories did you pull up?
• Example: “I am not enough,” or “I must always be productive.”
Step 2: Listening to the Heart
Close your eyes and ask: If I were already my most “bloomed” self, how would I feel? What words resonate: Peaceful | Radiant | Strong | Grounded | Open | Steady | Wise | Compassionate | unhurried | present | free | joyful | patient | kind
Step 3: The “I AM” Statement
Turn your feeling into a present-tense statement. Avoid “I want” or “I will.”
• Ineffective: “I want to be less stressed.”
• Sankalpa: “I am at peace in the center of the storm.”
Use the journal promts below to help find your “I am” statement for class.
Integrating the Intention: Weekly Journaling
The Sankalpa is a seed that requires watering through daily awareness. It is easy to feel focused on the mat, but the true practice is keeping that seed protected when you step back into the noise of the world. Use these prompts to define the blueprint you are working with this week.
- Ego vs. Essence: Look at your current goals. Are they coming from a place of “I should be better” (Ego), or a place of “This is who I truly am” (Sankalpa)? How does the energy feel different between the two?
- The Steady Gaze: Where is your focus (Drishti) going lately? Are you focusing on the weeds of your life, or are you keeping your eyes on the space where you want to grow?
- The Blueprint: If you were to describe your Spring Self in three present-tense words (e.g., I am Radiant, I am Grounded, I am Kind), what would they be? This is the mantra and sankalpa for your next season.
Ready to plant the seed?
Are you ready to commit to your own growth and journey this spring? Join us this week as we steady our gaze, root into the earth, and plant our seeds. Let’s move with resolve and find the stillness required for our intentions to take root. A lovely way to welcome in a new season and new year.
After class – soak your seed paper in water for 30-60mins, place in a seed tray of compost, gently press into the compost but dont cover, cover with clingfilm and pop on a sunny window sill, keeping moist.
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