The Creative Notebook

Satia, an online friend of mine, has written a great article about keeping a spiritual journal.  You can find it here:  How to Keep a Spiritual Journal .

It’s a must read.  Really.  I really like two of the main points she makes. 

1.  Keeping a spiritual journal is for people of all faiths.  Normally I associate a spiritual journal with Bible study.  But, I keep one myself and I am certainly not mainstream Christian.  It helps me understand where I came from and where I am going.  I can see how I’ve grown–or regressed-whatever the case may be.  I can write down and analyze my developing belief system, and I even write down things that don’t ring true for me and take notes on why those beliefs aren’t for me.  Sometimes I grow more spiritually by analyzing why something doesn’t work for me than I do by looking at what upsets me, gets my hackles up, you get the picture.  Shadow work.

2.  Expand your view of sacred texts.  Satia says, and it’s true, that we usually think of sacred texts as things like the Bible, Torah, Book of Mormon, etc.  Sacred messages come from anywhere.  Open your heart and your mind to those messages.  Look for them in everyday life.  Maybe a self-help book might fill that need for you.  It might be Chicken Soup’s newest book–or just a story from it that reaches you on a spiritual level.  Maybe a book on Wicca or Witchcraft, Goddess studies(even though there is no one sacred text for these religious paths).  Satia lists many more ways sacred texts can some into our lives.  Read her article.  You’ll gain a lot.

And please share any spiritual journaling insights you here in the comments section.  I’m working to develop my own spiritual journal style and would love some input.

 http://youtube.com/group/artjournal

 There’s a new group on youtube.com for art journals.  The originator takes her digital camera and records video as she pages through her journals.  It gives you a much more realistic idea of what art journals can look like than just scans or photos.  My favorite is the handmade journal.  It even has handmade paper.  I love the closure on it.  Very inspiring.  Of course I can’t even come close to drawing as well as she does. 

I hope the group grows and we can get glimpses inside more art journals.

“Far away there in the sunshine are my highest aspirations. I may not reach them, but I can look up and see their beauty, believe in them, and try to follow where they lead.”
—Louisa May Alcott

Shield your eyes with your hand.  Squint a little if you need to.  That always helps you see better for some reason.  Look far into the sun.  Back to when you were little and you did this all the time.  Maybe lying on your back in the grass, sun gazing and watching the clouds change shape. 

 Look!  There they are!  Your dreams!  Now grab a pen and paper and write them down before they get away again.  They’re slippery little fellows and everyday things like bills and work scare them away.  Write!