Sometimes when my mind is whirling and my body is in knots or something is weighing on my heart there is nothing to do but take it to the journal page, explore it, express it and lay it down. The truth that lives in our bodies can be expressed when we connect heart, mind and hand in a creative moving meditation. And expressing it helps to move it out of the body. This was one of those times- I showed up, I made marks, I listened to my own internal dialogue, I allowed the piece to unfold in front of me as it wanted to. And I filmed it to share with you. Trigger warning, this page deals with, what for me, feels like Pre Truama Stress Disorder (I don’t know whether that’s a thing but my body says yes) so do take care of your sweet self.
I’ve been told it articulates what many of you are feeling.
What are you needing to take to the journal page?
Self Care - in these times exquisite self care is essential to our well being and continued functioning. Please take good care of yourself and your creative practice. At the moment I am finding this energy management practice helpful.
Stealth Denial- if you are wanting to know more about the work of Jonathon Rowson and Stealth Denial you might find this helpful and there is a lovely conversation between him and Krista Tippett over here on On Being. I LOVE the unedited conversations.
Art Journaling- I’ve included below some of my thoughts on the practice of art journaling below. This is reposted from a previous post. May your creative practice be nurturing balm for your soul.
Truly Madly Deeply
Galia XxArt journaling is a sacred vessel, a container which willingly and lovingly holds all I wish to give it. It is a vessel for my brightest and darkest thoughts, for what I wish to shout and what I am barely able to whisper.
Art journaling is a gift I give myself, time to quietly be, to play, explore, make marks, move colour and shapes, collect words, to hide and reveal. Here process reigns. I am free from outcome, from the opinion of others, from the need to make it a certain way, to make it pretty, from the need to please anyone but myself. I can play and play and play and in doing so I give myself permission, I allow it to be enough.
Art journaling is a playground where I can play with new materials, new techniques and new ideas. It gently nurtures these young babies allowing them to grow and expand, to develop and to blossom.
Art journaling is a moving meditation connecting heart and hand in a joyous dance which allows one to breathe, witness, to silence monkey mind, to listen and to follow the threads.
Art journaling is a safe haven, a sanctuary from making mistakes- in the journal there are no mistakes, only lessons and layers of the journey to unfold. It is the freedom to fully express, in a tangible way, all that needs to be said. It is ever forgiving.
Art journaling is a bridge, connecting my inner world, heart, soul and spirit with my outer worlds, hands, body and cognitive processes. It is a bridge between my dreamstate and my awake time, a path through my shadows and a way into myself.
Art journaling is a key to getting to know myself better, unlocking the stories inscribed on my bones.
Art journaling is contradiction, a place to empty out and to fill up, a place of light and shadow, a place of knowing and mystery.
Art journaling is a practice, and like any practice, the practice itself, the showing up, allows me to go deeper and becomes ever richer.
The outcome is not found on the page but within- expansiveness, freedom, self knowledge, connection, discovery, release, completion, growth. It is the joy of expression, creativity and new wisdom.
You can scream and rage between the pages, it will take it all, or you can fall softly into its gentle and eager embrace. It is a way home to yourself.
On the journal page I meet myself.
