Over twenty years ago, on a Tuesday morning, I created my first soul map with a group of women I barely knew in a Minnesota church gathering space. At the time, I was a young mom who was deeply unsure of herself and experiencing tremendous financial stress. This women’s group, despite feeling like it could be “churchy,” really stretched the boundaries of my soul and opened my eyes to a greater sense of intuition.
About three weeks into the class, one of the activities was to create this “map” of one’s heart. The portable tables were loaded with magazines (much easier to have on hand than now), glue sticks, scissors, and large pieces of paper. The rules were simple: for twenty minutes, while listening to music, we were to cut out anything that piqued our interest. We weren’t to overthink anything nor second guess what we cut out (as a recovering perfectionist — that rule was both hard and relieving at the same time). And then, for the next twenty minutes, we were to simply place what we cut out on our large pieces of paper with the same guidelines — no overthinking, no second-guessing, and no going back to find something that “fit” better. Then, we were to glue it into place.
And then — for another twenty minutes to sit with the image, to wonder about its meaning, and to be grateful to ourselves for allowing this image to be created.
It was so different than a vision board of what we wanted to happen in the coming months and years. This was deeper. It was the heart and, as I’ve learned over the years, the soul speaking.
It’s easy to drown out our soul’s voice. Sometimes, it’s our busy lifestyles, and other times, we don't trust our intuition and our truth. But this map, this map guided by intuition, has the potential to cut through the chatter and give a heart glimpse.
That first map I made didn’t make much sense at the time. But as the years have passed and I’ve looked back, the wisdom of time has revealed my soul's aches and dreams. Back then, I was in a dysfunctional marriage with severe financial stress. I was out of alignment and felt as if my dreams were squashed or it was too late. I was hiding, in a way, and this map was the first time in a long time that I realized how much I mattered on this earth and that within me, I could do courageous and brave things.
In some ways, I was able to free the unspeakable and the risky, and I was brave enough to put it on paper without having to explain the why behind everything. Often with vision boards there is this intense focus, almost rigidity, about what we want/need/hope will happen. The soul map has fluidity within it — a space for our dreams to collide with the universe and our heart and soul and mind to be able to actually see what matters to us (or what needs to change).
On that first map (above), there was a black-and-white picture of a girl looking into a window, standing in the cold. That was me. I was the watcher of life and in the watching, time kept passing me by and instead of doing there was a bitterness creeping into my heart.
In some ways, that image was the catalyst for my writing and even for starting my blog, Finding Joy. I didn’t know it then.
I just knew — no more waiting — even if I didn’t have the answers.
For the last twenty years, I've lived with the mindset that even a small step is a powerful step. In some ways, I realized that movement doesn’t allow bitterness to take root. So, while my life has been punctuated with stops and starts, I’ve made it a goal to do something every day that makes me happy, scares me, brings me joy, or moves me forward.
So fast forward to yesterday, and I made my map for 2025 (below).
I followed the same original rules and let it unfold — cutting, arranging, pasting, contemplating.
Some of it seems to make sense—like the fifty because I’m turning fifty this year (ackkk)—and some of it doesn’t yet—like the unlock Eden thumbprints matters a lifetime section. But my soul, my heart, understands. And it’s my job to move forward with it, just like I do with my word of the year, and to appreciate that once again, I gave my soul a moment to be heard.
It’s a beautiful practice, my friends.
I even included it in my book Get Your Spark Back because it’s such a powerful way to listen to your dreams and heart.
If you have an hour — try it. Try not to second-guess yourself; instead, allow yourself to give your soul’s voice a chance to be heard.
It’s wonderful.
And life-changing.
~Rachel
Love this! I too tend to want perfection due to my childhood. At 55, I’m discovering and branching out. Divorced after 19 years, then a difficult ending of a 4 year relationship, an almost empty nester, and with life changing health issues the last 4 years… long story.
I can relate to the girl looking in the window… but not anymore. I like your idea of this Soul map, the fluidity. Letting our souls speak.
Now I need to find some magazines…
Hugs to you and thank you for sharing 💜