“I want to write, but more than that, I want to bring out all kinds of things that lie buried in my heart” ...Anne Frank
I love to write, especially in my journals. I have been journaling for 20 years and have found it is therapy for my soul.
There are many ways to journal e.g. travel journaling, art journaling, ones for inspiration, poetry, bullet point journaling, for garden/nature, grief, gratitude, for dreams, family, food/fitness/health, pregnancy etc.
A writing journal is a record of our thoughts and feelings. It is therapeutic and somewhere private we can go to express our self to our self. It will most likely include many of the above-mentioned topics.
Journaling can help us to:
Ask questions and gain answers about our personal or business life
Write about our experiences
Detail our dreams and goals
Reveal and explore our inner-most feelings
Obtain clarity in regard to ideas and inspiration
Express what is on our mind and may be bothering us
Reduce anxiety by writing out our fears
Diminish negative emotions and enhance positive ones
Improve our communication skills
Ignite creativity
Improve our memory
Heal from loss and trauma and find our way through the grieving process
HOW TO JOURNAL
Grab a cuppa! Or create a ritual e.g. light a candle*, put on some inspiring music, arrange a crystal or two, set out your pens etc. This process will let your subconscious know that now is YOUR time, your time to journal.
Start small to reduce any pressure. Write what you can, even if only a sentence or two. By starting gently we are more likely to stick to a journaling practice.
If you feel blocked or do not know where to start, ask a question such as Dear Journal, what would you like me to know today?
Any type of journal will do. An expensive or fancy journal is not a requirement, an exercise book will suffice.
It is preferable to write in longhand and date each entry.
It can be enlightening to go back and re-read our writings and realise how far we have progressed. Some people have even gone on to write books from the words or inspiration in their journals.
Set a time or date with yourself to journal. Some like to morning page journal (as in Julia Cameron’s book The Artists Way). I journal when I can. What matters most is that we do it.
“In the journal I am at ease” … Anais Nin
SPIRITUAL/METAPHYSICAL JOURNALING
We all have a universal team we can call on and they love it when we journal as they can ‘talk’ to us through the pen. This is often referred to as automatic writing or channeling.
I like to start with asking my spirit guides/universe a question and then writing down whatever thoughts and feelings arise. As a sign of respect I always finish with a thank you.
Spiritual journaling allows us to:
Strengthen our intuition
Realise synchronistic happenings or ‘aha’ moments
Talk to our spirit guides, angels and other deities
Connect with our higher self
Express our gratitude
Grow self-love by communicating with our inner child
Receive and write our own affirmations
Record our dreams and work out their meaning
Record oracle card messages
Record our meditations
Record spiritual or inspirational quotes
Journal writing has helped me grow by understanding the happenings in my life. If you do not already journal … I invite you to try it.
“The starting point of discovering who you are, your gifts, your talents, your dreams, is being comfortable with yourself. Spend time alone. Write in a journal” … Robin Sharma
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Blessings,
Lyndall
(* Please extinguish candles after use)
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