Looking to set your intentions for the year? Hang them on a friendship tree and manifest them in a blaze.
During the COVID-19 safer-at-home orders, students felt the effects of isolation and loneliness. Remote learning hindered students’ abilities to connect with their classmates and create long-lasting friendships on campus.
For the last 10 years, the Office of Religious Life and Belonging at USC has given students the opportunity to write their intentions on small cards to nurture deep connections. The cards are hung onto the branches of a small tree, and a few days later, the cards are read aloud and thrown into ceremonial fire to display the goals of students. This semester, the tradition is especially important because it’s the first time that students were able to be on campus since the start of the pandemic.
“You might say that we’ve had a dry year,” said Rev. Jim Burklo, the associate dean of the Office of Religious and Spiritual Life. “Physically dry, in terms of weather. But also dry in terms of relationships and community. It’s a dead tree coming to life with the intentions of students to bring friendship into bloom.”
The main practice of the ritual is to materialize the desires of students. Manifesting is a spiritual technique used to bring about a personal goal by focusing on the desired outcome of a situation. The goals that students write on the cards represent the intentions they have to create bonds with their peers.
“There’s energy in these prayers, and it’s manifested in the flame,” Rev. Burklo said. “The intentions are read and placed in the fire with reverence. It’s powerful.”
Aside from spiritual benefits, writing one’s thoughts is a great way to reduce mental stress and anxiety. The act of carefully reflecting and journaling those thoughts helps students understand their physical, emotional and spiritual needs. Through vulnerability and communication, students can open up to one another during this event to foster close connections.
Trees, in many religions and spiritual beliefs, represent physical and spiritual nourishment, transformation and liberation. The Friendship Tree, which stands outside of the University Religious Center, is meant to represent a celebration of community, friendship and being able to have in-person learning.
“I’m hoping that pairing the tree and the idea of friendship helps us think about the simple ways we can put down our roots with each other,” said Cat Moore, the director of Belonging at USC.
Both Rev. Burklo and Moore said Trojans of all faiths, spiritualities and beliefs are welcome to set their intentions, affirmations and prayers for the semester.
“If you’re feeling awkwardness, anxiety or even low energy, for social relating – just know that that’s to be expected,” Moore said. “Just be gracious to yourself and to those around you.”