“Writing will become a vehicle for becoming more conscious, for becoming an open book. Journals have a way of reminding us that we are constantly changing, that there is no immutable, fixed self”. ~Ram Dass
When I was about 12 years old I began my first journal. It was a thin, paperback, 101 Dalmatians notebook full of drawings, scribbles, profiles, letters to friends and lyrics to my favourite grunge songs. This was the beginning of my journaling journey and how I discovered, as I grew, that these little private books could become the means of self expression I needed to uncover the true self, as well as where I fit in the world around me. These books were my version of the world through my own eyes.
This creative outlet grew as I grew and I wrote journals everyday. I wrote pregnancy journals for each of my babes and continued to write about motherhood and my little ones milestones until they were 5. I created a beautiful record for my children to look back on and a small insight to my first years of being a mama.
Then I discovered yoga and along with it, my yoga journal. I wrote about my asana, mediation and pranayama practice, but I also started to write about my connection to spirit and the mindfulness practices I use to connect to my inner self. These journals became full pretty quickly as I found joy in this created inner space to explore this new aspect of myself and the world around me.
When my best friend and her son past away I threw every journal I owned into a burning fire out of a huge need to let it all go and begin again. This was the moment when my journaling took a new form.
I no longer had the right words to explain my feelings and instead I had created space to express myself with water colour and inks. My journals have become little books of art. And from here I found a balance between creating written journals with art and along with it a practice to rediscover myself and create a self love plan.
Art Journaling is a creative process of self expression both with written and visual language to give us a greater understanding through expression.
The Journal becomes a visual expression and extension of the self. A space for emotion, thought, meditation, a container to discover, play and listen as you create. A perfect way to discover your past , present and future. A documentation of your own story. A way to improve mental clarity and to help you see the big picture and bring you to the present moment. A way to build new and better habits.
“Journals are your own personal history, Dont write for an audience or reader. It should be your honest experience, a record of your own journey through paths of consciousness, simple comments on what you are seeing about yourself and your world”. ~Ram Dass.
“Your Journals Are The Key To the Future. Make Them Your Most Radicle Works Of Art”