What are Affirmations?

Affirm a Flower

Flower Images and Affirmations to Awaken Soul Consciousness

by Patricia Kaminski

What are Affirmations?

Affirmations are a specialized activity within the larger field of soul processes such as meditation, contemplation and prayer. They are elegant and evocative words which enable the soul to initiate positive goals of inner development. It is a tenet of all spiritual teachings, as well as business and professional training programs, that the ordering of thought and the harmonizing of feeling have a powerful impact on our ability to manifest change, both within ourselves and within the world.

The word affirmation suggests a process for becoming “firm,” or strong in one’s internal structure. Significantly, this word connotes two simultaneous directions — downward to the terra firma of the earth on which we stand, and upward to the vault of heaven, the

enveloping firmament of the universe. The firmness and support that the soul needs comes from spiritual realms and also the solid anchor of earth.

Flowers are indeed a language of both heaven and earth. Even the most hardened among us can recognize that flowers embody an exquisite language of the soul in all human cultures. They are used to express our inmost feelings in all forms of human celebration, commemoration and ritual — including birth, marriage, death and all other life passages.

The Soul Language of Flowers

Flowers are living archetypes of divine creation. The pathway toward understanding a flower is much more than the accumulation of “information.” To appreciate the spiritual dimension of Nature, one must be prepared to change one’s heart, and one’s method of perception.

Human souls who sojourn in the spiritual world cannot behold a flower as we do here on earth; rather, the soul must be able to inwardly realize the virtue or quality which radiates from the higher archetypal dimension of the flower. Here on earth, we take the living beauty of Nature for granted through our innate physical perception. The ability to appreciate the spiritual qualities of flowers involves moral development through inner seeing, hearing, and knowing.

I paint the World with the Soul’s Rainbow Light.

Affirmations as a Moral Path of Development

In our age, we are inundated with many “positive thought” programs which may appear to be similar, but can have markedly different purposes and results. The affirmations written in this series are of moral/spiritual intent. They are not materialistic means for health, wealth, or fame. To wish for a specific thing or condition in the physical world is ultimately fruitless if it is not in harmony with the valid needs of the soul. True fortune is that which brings wealth to the spiritual life, enabling the soul to acquire the priceless jewels of virtue and moral strength. Therefore, the right use of an affirmation is to precipitate inner changes that are in harmony with soul destiny. In this manner, the soul will attract what it needs in the material world for its welfare.

I am a Golden Chalice, able to receive and radiate the Healing Word.

Calendula

Furthermore, affirmations must work in such a way that they reflect our conscious choice and inner willingness to change.

Many forms of hypnosis and subliminal programming bypass awake willing and comprehension. These programs may achieve limited success in modifying outer behavior, but only mindful inner work which strengthens and deepens soul consciousness can bring enduring transformation. An old proverb teaches wisely:

Sow a thought, reap an action;

Sow an action, reap a habit;

Sow a habit, reap a character;

Sow a character, reap a destiny.

The Affirm a Flower series is designed to direct intention and attention toward positive manifestation and realization of one’s potential. This soul process does not avoid or bypass illness, error, suffering, or defeat. Rather it strengthens (makes firm) the structures of the soul for meeting these challenges.

Patience for process creates freedom in my soul.

Impatiens

Dissonance and Resonance: Soul Alchemy

Taking self-responsibility for inner change quickly brings the recognition that there are no panaceas which can instantly cure. True healing is an organic step-by-step process which gradually leads to inner mastery. At the first stage of engaging an affirmation, we typically need to open to the pain of our predicament.

For example, an affirmation may champion courage and clarity, yet inside we may feel confused and afraid. Rather than avoid the affirmation or suppress one’s conflicted feelings, the opportunity is there to live with the sting and tension of the contradiction. The “interval” between one’s spiritual potential and the present situation is enormously fruitful for transformation. As the soul registers and acknowledges this dissonance, it strives to find a harmonic concordance. Through this creative

process, the words of the affirmation work incrementally to become resonant and firm. As the plant grows and blossoms in its dance between light and dark, so also do the creative forces of the human soul emerge. Therefore, the affirmations are intended to lead the individual from an honest recognition of a state of mind or feeling, toward a process of soul alchemy. They suggest past, present and future potentials of consciousness. The soul is called to acknowledge the present pain or conflict and work toward resolution and integration until it radiates the awakened virtue.

The affirmations call upon the “I AM” awareness of the Self. This is not the lower personality or the ego, but the voice of the Higher Self which has divine awareness of the spiritual world. Regardless of one’s religious or spiritual affiliation, this awareness of the I AM is a sacred and eternal truth.

The garment of my Soul is threaded with memory.

Forget-Me-Not

Practical Techniques for Anchoring Affirmations

Marriage of Word and Image

Choose the Affirm a Flower cards with sensitive receptivity. Invite the words and flower images to speak to you at a deep level. As you intensify the process, allow the beauty of the flower in its form and colors to meld with the words, until an internal realm within your soul is illumined.

Meditate the words silently or speak them aloud in a manner that allows you to breathe your entire being and focus of attention into the words and accompanying flower image. Eventually this experience will become so potent that it ignites a living fire within the soul.

I will ignite my creative flame of Love for the World.

Soul Hygiene and Clarity

Avoid the temptation to engage many affirmations rapidly, for their power cannot genuinely benefit the soul in that manner. Affirmations are best utilized in a gradual, incremental way. Select one to three affirmation cards that are central to the developmental journey. You may wish to work with the affirmations for all the cards you choose at one time. Also consider building rhythmic intervals in which you attend to one flower each consecutive day, with every third or fourth day beginning a new sequence. Rather than cluttering or overwhelming the mind, it is best to use the affirmations in a spacious and graceful manner, so that the words move from the surface intellect to the expansive chambers of the heart-mind.

Dedicated Time

It is not necessary to repeat the affirmations constantly, in fact this can deplete their inherent strength. Choose one or more intervals in the day for bringing your full focus to the affirmation for several minutes. You can consider times which are most harmonious for deep imprinting or those which are most stressful and in need of fortification. The length of time for engaging an affirmation can vary. Be mindful of building a rhythm – weekly or monthly intervals are excellent ones to consider. You may also need to re-visit a core affirmation again and again over a series of months or years so that its inner reality anchors into deeper strata of the soul. Most importantly, make a steadfast intention to return to the affirmations on a regular basis, much as you would plant a seed and nurture it conscientiously.

With joy, I will my Well-Being into the wondrous world.

Cassiope

Dedicated Space

The cards in the Affirm a Flower set are designed to be portable, so that you can use them in many different ways. Carry the affirmations with you and keep them conveniently accessible. The pure light of the images and sacred potency of the words can provide steady blessing and protection in your daily life and travels. Also consider conscious placement of the cards in an area of your home where you can do consecrated soul work. A dedicated soul space for the cards will radiate and anchor the highest healing intentions you have set for your soul.

Indian Paintbrush

I

unite my Earthly Life with Heavenward Inspiration.

Amplifying the Affirmation

It can be very beneficial to explore the meaning of an affirmation through artistic means. Paint, visualize, do calligraphy or otherwise give personal expression to the color and form of the flower image and words. Keep a journal that records the nuances of feeling and the inner dialogue which may accompany the transformative process of saying the affirmation. Consider adding further words to the affirmation to anchor a specific healing situation. However, keep in mind that the entire structure of the affirmation should remain as pristine and clear as possible.

The Light of Spirit-Sun fills me.

Arnica

Integrating Affirmations with Flower Essence Therapy

Many practitioners report on the profound impact which the affirmations have in their therapeutic programs with clients. For example, just holding the flower essence, viewing the image of the flower and saying the indicated affirmation during a healing session can initiate emotional awakening, and facilitate further dialogue in the healing session.

Using flower essences and saying affirmations are two synergistic modalities with complementary points of origin. The affirmations begin in the conscious thought life, and gradually penetrate many levels of body-soul reality. The liquid vibrational patterns of the flower essences are directly absorbed into the body-soul and then work to illumine the thoughts and feelings.

Most choose to work with the affirmations in tandem with the flower essences, in order to benefit from the full synergy of healing potential. Many clients prefer to continue with the affirmations even after the essences have been discontinued.

In some instances, practitioners may need to modify the affirmation to make it accessible to the particular needs of a client. In cases with children or where there is mental impairment, the affirmations will need special adaptation.

The Affirm a Flower cards are also very helpful for the attunement process of the practitioner. They can generate a great deal of insight regarding the color, form and image of each flower and its positive healing potential and subtle qualities.

Alpine Aster

My Star-Strong Self rejoices in its Cosmic Home.

Chicory

I affirm a divine core of Light within my own soul.

Concluding Thoughts: Affirmations as Seed Words

However they are used, the Affirm a Flower cards are offered as a way of experiencing a deeper communion with the subtle realm of flowers. They are an attempt to convey the living script of the flowers within the limits of human language and image-making. Therefore, please consider the affirmations as only a starting point for your creative process. Let them be approached as seed-words to place in the soul-soil of your own heart. And may those seeds blossom in wonderful and unique ways!