As I sit here in Bali, rain drumming on the rooftops, the lush green jungle swaying in the tropical downpour, my heart drifts to another vision. A white Christmas. Further down, I will tell you what got me started. I imagined the warmth of a glowing fireplace, the crisp cool air nipping at my cheeks, and the crunch of snow beneath my boots as Don and I hike around the famous King Ludwig Castle II in the Alps, on a magical winter hike.
It’s a world away from where I was sitting, and yet, I realize that this dream is more than just wishful thinking. It’s a living example of the journey we all face when it comes to creating the life we want. It begins with a dream, followed by a choice, and finally, by action.
The beauty of this process reminds me of the Page of Pentacles, the card I had drawn that morning, a symbol of potential, new beginnings, and the power of small seeds that eventually grow into something grand. And as I reflect on the steps it took for me to live the life I have today, I can’t help but see how this card holds the essence of a process I teach in the Living From Vision (LFV) course. Let me share about what I did to make my Christmas dream come true, and how you too can tap the power of your dreams, hope and visions of a bright tomorow.
Planting the Seeds of Your Dreams
The other day I got an email ..telling me to draw a card to see what was coming. I did draw the card…. and if you’ve ever seen the Page of Pentacles in a tarot reading, you’ll recognize the image of a youthful figure gazing at a large coin in their hands. Their expression is one of focus, wonder, and curiosity. The landscape around them is green, fertile, and ready for growth. This figure is a symbol of someone at the beginning of a journey, full of hope, ambition, and a willingness to learn.
The Page of Pentacles doesn’t come bearing ready-made wealth or completed goals. Instead, it brings seeds of opportunity. These seeds can become anything — financial success, a healthier body, a new skill, or even something as personal as the experience of a white Christmas.
But just like real seeds, they must be planted, watered, and nurtured with patience. It takes time. This is where many people lose heart. We live in a world where instant results are glorified, but creation doesn’t always work like that. Sometimes, the seeds of our dreams take months or even years to grow. But when we commit to them, the results are always worth it.
Dreaming of a White Christmas (And How it All Began)
Let me tell you a story — my own story this Christmas season.
Living in Bali during the rainy season is a sensory experience like no other. While the jungle is alive with birdsong, and the rain creates a symphony that soothes the soul, it was a bit too wet for my taste.
In a restaurant on the top of the mountain in Kintamani, sipping tea and eating cake, we hear the welknown song “I am dreaming of a White Christmas” by Bing Crosby fill the beautful restaurang. It is a song my father loved so much, especially when my parents lived far away from their home in Germany, now in the Himalyas, where I eventually was born.
I suddenly find myself yearning for the magic of Christmas — back in the snow, not just the holiday lights, the snowy Alps,k my family and magic. The feeling of coziness, warmth, and awe that comes with snow-covered landscapes and my family.
But it wasn’t enough to wish for it, if I didn’t just want to be nostalgic. Wishing alone doesn’t make it happen. It takes more.
So I decided to treat it as I would any other vision.
First, I allowed myself to dream without limits. I let the idea of a white Christmas fill my mind with vivid detail — the sound of snow crunching underfoot, the glow of soft lights on a Christmas tree, the taste of hot cocoa after a day of hiking through the forest.
Next, I made a choice. I told myself in my mind: “YES, this is what I want, this is happening. I will create this experience.”
But iI didn’t stop there. The choice to experience a white Christmas required action. I had to figure out how to make it work. I needed to plan for the finances, find the right destination, and ensure everything aligned with the timeline. It took effort. I had to create the financial resources, which, having lived by Living From Vision, I had created well in advance. -:) Step by step, our White Christmas trip came together in less than a few days.
As I sit here in Bali, writging you, I know that my coming Christmas will not just be a dream, it is becoming a reality because I followed the same process I teach in the Living From Vision course for years, not just one week:
- Dream vividly — See it, feel it, experience it inwardly before it ever shows up in the world.
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- Make a choice — The moment you decide, energy begins to move.
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- Take action — With each action step, you anchor your dream into reality.
- Be patient and trust — The seed may not sprout overnight, but it will gro
- Do that same again and again, till you master the process… until you live in your dream!
Lessons from the Page of Pentacles (and Life Itself)
The Page of Pentacles card I had drawn just days earlier, teaches patience, persistence, and trust. This card is a reminder that life is a process of planting seeds and waiting for them to grow. Some people give up too soon, thinking the seeds are “broken” because they haven’t sprouted in a week. But if you’ve ever gardened, you know that seeds lie in darkness for a while before breaking through the soil.
The same is true for our dreams.
Whether you’re starting a new career, learning a new skill, or planting the seeds of financial freedom, the Page of Pentacles asks you to stay grounded. Be practical, be patient, and keep moving forward. If you can do that, the fertile ground of life will surprise you with abundance.
Looking back, I can see that this approach has been true for so many parts of my life. The retreat center in Bali, the books I’ve written, and the courses I teach didn’t just “happen” to me. They began as seeds. I nurtured them, I stayed focused, and I trusted the process.
When I planted the seed of the Living From Vision course, it was like being the Page of Pentacles. I was stepping into something new, with no guarantees that it would grow into a lush, bountiful harvest. But today, I see how that one seed has produced a forest of opportunities for myself and thousands of others around the world.
The Long Arc of Creation
Here’s one more important lesson I’ve learned: one realized dream makes the next dream even easier.
When you achieve a big dream — like creating financial independence, building a retreat center, or experiencing a white Christmas — you shift your sense of what is possible. Suddenly, your mind begins to believe in your ability to create even bigger, more beautiful dreams. It’s as if the Universe says, “Now that you’ve done this, let me show you what else you can do.”
It’s a positive feedback loop. With each success, you build confidence. Your next dream becomes less about doubt and more about joyful anticipation. You stop worrying so much about “How long will it take?” and start thinking, “How wonderful will it feel when it arrives?”
This is the secret of the Living From Vision course. We don’t just focus on one dream. We teach you how to build your dreams, step by step, while creating a sense of inner certainty. We plant seeds in our inner world that sprout in our outer world.
Plant Your Seeds too, Nurture Your Dreams from the coming year!
If you’re reading this and you feel inspired, perhaps you’re holding a dream of your own.
Maybe you want a new career, a healthier body, or a magical experience like a white Christmas. No matter what it is, the process is always the same. Dream it. Choose it. Act on it. Trust the process.
If you’ve felt the desire to learn how to do this with greater ease and precision, then I invite you to consider joining the 365-Day Course or the Living From Vision course. Both courses are more than just a course. They are a way to learn how to plant seeds in the fertile soil of your inner world and nurture them into full-grown trees of success in your outer world.
Just like the Page of Pentacles, you don’t need to have it all figured out from the start. You only need to hold your dream in your heart, stay focused, and commit to the path ahead. The Living From Vision course will guide you step by step.
Take a moment right now. Close your eyes and dream. See your goal, feel it, and experience it as if it’s already happening. That’s the first step.
If you’d like guidance on the next steps — if you’d like to learn how to water that seed and watch it grow — then I invite you to join me in this powerful course. Click here to learn more.
Are you ready to plant your seeds of possibility this coming year?
With love, yours Ilona Selke
https://ilonaselke.com/CONTACT
Author, Creator of Living From Vision, and Your Partner in Dreaming, Choosing, and Acting
Find out more how you can do the LIVING FROM VISION 5 Week Course and the 365 Day Course
