Also spelled Sankalpa, it's a Sanskrit word meaning "resolve" or "intention," as in the intention to achieve the desired goal. A person practices Samkalpa when they vow to perform a particular practice for a specific length of time, at a specific time of day, in a specific place, etc. Although this initially referred to a spiritual practice, some people have extended this to any such vow that requires a regular practice, such as a vow to regularly exercise.
Readers, please enjoy this guest blog post by Sandra Kynes, author of several books, including The Herb Gardener's Essential Guide, Plant Magic, and the new Witches' Encyclopedia of Magical Plants, among many others.
Although a few old books...