Choosing Your Personal Practice: A Small Constellation of Names

Orienting Yourself: What Is a Small Constellation of Names?

Four Core Themes: A Simple Map for Beginners

Quick Self-Check: What Do You Need Right Now?

Before choosing Names, pause and notice what you actually need in this season of your life.

Activity (3–4 minutes):

1. Take a piece of paper or open a notes app.
2. Draw four small columns and label them:

• Healing
• Protection
• Transformation
• Compassion/Connection

1. Under each heading, write 2–3 short phrases describing your current needs. Examples:

• Healing: "sleep better", "less anxiety before exams"
• Protection: "say no to extra shifts", "less social media overwhelm"
• Transformation: "stop procrastinating", "change my major thoughtfully"
• Compassion/Connection: "be kinder to myself", "rebuild trust with a friend"

1. Now circle one phrase in each column that feels most urgent or alive.

When you are done, look at which columns feel "heaviest" or most marked up. This will guide which themes your constellation should emphasize.

Reflection questions (you can answer in your notes):

• Which column has the most circled needs?
• Which column feels surprisingly empty? Does that mean it is less important, or just harder to name?
• If you had to pick two themes to focus on for the next 2 weeks, which would they be?

Keep this page or note. You will use it in the next step to match needs with specific Names or Name-themes.

From Needs to Names: A Worked Example

Build Your Own Constellation (3–6 Names)

Now you will choose your own small constellation.

Step 1: List candidate Names or themes (3 minutes)

1. Look at your notes from the four columns (Healing, Protection, Transformation, Compassion/Connection).
2. For each circled need, write down 1–2 Names or Name-themes that seem to fit. If you do not have a formal list, invent working labels like:

• "Healing Name: steady breath"
• "Protection Name: clear no"
• "Transformation Name: new path"
• "Compassion Name: gentle voice"

Step 2: Narrow down to 3–6 (3 minutes)

Ask yourself for each candidate Name:

• Does this connect to a real situation in my life right now?
• When I read or say this Name, do I feel even a small sense of resonance (interest, calm, curiosity)?
• Is this within my current level (not too intense or advanced)?

Then:

1. Put a star next to the 3–6 Names that feel strongest.
2. Check: Do you have at least 3 of the 4 themes represented? If not, consider adding one Name from a missing theme.

Step 3: Write your constellation clearly (2 minutes)

In your notes, create a small table like this and fill it in:

• Name 1: [Name or label], Theme: [Healing/Protection/Transformation/Compassion], Main use: [one sentence]
• Name 2: ...
• Name 3: ...
• (up to Name 6)

You will use this list directly when you design your practice schedule in the next step.

Balancing Intuition with Tradition and Ethics

Design Your 1–2 Week Practice Schedule

Now you will turn your constellation into a simple schedule you can follow.

Aim: 10–20 minutes per session, 3–5 days per week, for 1–2 weeks.

Step 1: Choose your rhythm

Pick one:

• Option A: Short daily practice (5–10 minutes every day).
• Option B: Longer practice 3–4 times a week (10–20 minutes).

Circle or note your choice.

Step 2: Map Names to days

Use this template (copy it into your notes and fill it in):

Week 1 schedule (example structure):

• Day 1: [Name] – Theme: Healing – Focus: [e.g., calm before sleep]
• Day 2: [Name] – Theme: Protection – Focus: [e.g., clear boundaries at work]
• Day 3: [Name] – Theme: Transformation – Focus: [e.g., start assignment]
• Day 4: [Name] – Theme: Compassion – Focus: [e.g., self-kindness after mistakes]
• Day 5: Free choice: repeat any Name that felt helpful.
• Day 6–7: Rest or brief review of all Names (1–2 minutes each).

Adjust this to your actual week (e.g., Mon–Sun) and your chosen rhythm.

Step 3: Define a mini-ritual for each session

For each day, write a 3-step micro-practice. Example:

1. 3 slow breaths, noticing your body.
2. Read, chant, or silently hold the Name for 1–3 minutes.
3. One sentence of reflection in your notes: "When I held this Name today, I noticed..."

Create a micro-practice for each Name in your schedule. Keep it simple enough that you can do it even on a busy day.

Step 4: Commit realistically

In one sentence, write: "For the next [1 or 2] weeks, I commit to practicing with my constellation on [number] days per week." Make the number realistic, not idealized.

You now have a concrete plan you can start using immediately.

Check Your Understanding: Constellations and Balance

Answer this quick question to check your understanding of how to build a small constellation of Names.

Review Key Ideas

Use these flashcards to review the core concepts from this module.