I recently discovered a new term to describe choosing a word of the year – an ‘umbrella’ word. The doyen of Soul Coaching, Denise Linn, brought this concept into my purview.
Instantly I had visions of Mary Poppins all ‘tickety boo’ and ‘spit spotting’, flying around with her magic umbrella. And before you ask… Yes. I can spell supercalifragilisticexpialidocious – no spell checking required. But that’s simply because a) I want to and b) I have sung that song way too many times to not know the cadence of its spell-ing!
And then I realised – choosing a word of the year isn’t to fit in with the latest trend – thankfully for this Elegant Rebel® – it’s about bringing magic and intention into your year.
My mindset coach says ‘It doesn’t take time, it takes intention’ to me quite often. My word of the year is that intention. It is the word that underpins all my choices for the year ahead. Like in everything, we have free will and we can obviously deviate as life happens. However, the intention of your annual word remains. Kind of like casting your own wee spell to keep you on track and focused.
Like many of us, I have undertaken the practice of choosing an annual word for a number of years now. For me though, this year is different. Hearing it referred to as an umbrella word, resonated deeply with me, stirring my inner mystic into action. The realisation of the power of creating through the intention of a single word and the magic this brings about is indescribable.
I had chosen my 2024 word prior to learning about the umbrella idea, however this concept has caused a shift towards greater embodiment of my word and reinforcing why I picked my specific word and why it is so pertinent.
You may or may not know that I have chosen ‘Flourish’ as my 2024 word. Some months ago, it appeared in my peripheral vision when I was meditating and is linked to the development of a new idea for my coaching business. And I knew then and there it was my word for 2024.
So what does this word Flourish mean? The Australian Concise Oxford Dictionary (Third Edition) time. The word has a few meanings as it can be used as both a verb and a noun – a duality word in fact, for those mystics playing at home!
The actual derivation of the word is Middle English from Old French florir via Latin florēre from flos floris – meaning flower. It can mean the decorative curviness of my handwriting – for those of you who have seen it, you know what I mean; or an ostentatious gesture; or a fanfare played by brass instruments; or from a verb point of view, it can mean to grow vigorously; thrive; be successful; be in one’s prime; be in good health. And finally, it can mean an instance of prosperity.
One word and so many choices! Flourish’s role as a verb is what resonates with me and why I chose it as my 2024 umbrella word.
Even before I knew about the umbrella word concept, it felt as though it was a word which would match the life force energy of 2024 – an 8 year, the Year of the Green Wood Dragon and a year to take action to achieve abundance. A year to gracefully provide myself the space to flourish!
For me it is also a natural step forward from 2023. My word was ‘release’ and oh boy have I been doing that! Releasing situations, mindsets, folks, and whatever is necessary so I can create space to stand in my empowerment, be elegantly rebellious and joyful, with grace and gratitude.
Full transparency, I have been working with a mindset coach to understand the best way to achieve this for me and to establish the foundation to move forward in creating my desired end results. Don’t get me wrong just because we moved into 2024 doesn’t mean I don’t need to continue releasing ‘stuff’ – very technical term that by the way. It’s an ongoing process to facilitate creating dreams, growth and empowerment from a place of desire as opposed to lack. My umbrella word is my way of setting my intention to achieve this.
I have also been working with a neurodivergent specialist to understand the best ways for me – and my brain – to implement my knowledge and build on my foundations so I can actually flourish. Normally I burn out before achieving, as I’ve tried to follow the flock and spent so much time flapping my wings to keep up, I fall out of the sky. I clearly didn’t have a magic umbrella!
Working with different but interweaving coaches is a huge part of my plan to be successful and increase the magic flowing around me. Other than my passion for learning, intention needs actions in my world. It’s all well and good to state my word and intention for 2024 is to flourish, but to achieve this I need assistance. Finding help to discover the best ways to implement learned experiences, knowledge and the magic in creating are key steps to thriving. Who knew I wasn’t an island after all!!
Once I realised the magic in using a word of the year, it’s uses are all but endless. So far I have included it in my annual Medicine Wheel Oracle Card reading; added it as the overall intention for my alignment board (think a vision board with a bit more mysticism); intentionally using it in articles or copy I write; clearly I am continuing to develop the flourish idea that kicked off the whole 2024 word; and have included flourish in my daily desired end result actions and choices.
Celebrating where I have flourished and been successful, in any part of my life, and how I can use this to grow and to help others grow is also a key intention for my umbrella word of 2024.
Do you sense, feel, envision the magic of using a word to set an annual intention – and stick to it? Have you already achieved this? If not, perhaps take the time to do this for yourself – no one else just you. My word popped in while I was meditating and then it kept randomly appearing at a fast rate. To the point that I hilariously felt I’d used it so much, others had ‘stolen’ it from me!
However you choose to take time out to breathe – whether that’s walking, baking, reading, singing, meditating or in the shower – ask your soul for your umbrella word. No second guessing. It may be a random, weird word for you but run with it. Set your 2024 umbrella word intention based on your meaning of the word discovered in the quietude and watch the magic unfold.
Also listen to your inner knowing and if you need assistance to reach your magic destination – ask for it. Consciously create your magical flow from the intention you have set and remember you do not have to do this alone. You have support around you – look, listen and ask.
So here we go 2024. My intention is set. All be it in an elegantly rebellious fashion and there is high potential for an added ostentatious gesture or two. But above all, I will use the magic of the umbrella word and flourish in 2024. How ‘bout you?
Peta-Ann is the Founder of Elegant Rebel®, providing support for other soul-full rebels in rediscovering their uniqueness and celebrating all that they are and can be. Elegant Rebels choose to follow their inner-knowing instead of societal norms and take heart-centred action filled with compassion, kindness and grace. She is also a Published Author; Holistic Coach for Writers; Proofreader, Writer; Colour Therapist; Holistic Counsellor; Happiness Coach; Professional Psychic; Reiki Master; Certified Angel Tarot Card Read and Soul Coaching® Oracle Reader.
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