Everyday I write the book...

Find a sign or symbol to inspire your beginning-ing

Trees remind me of beginnings

Hey Friend,

A few days ago, I was mulling over a particular challenge in my life…and I felt stuck. Really stuck.

I thought about our September theme, Beginnings.

(Folks new to Journey with the Seasons: each month we explore a new theme. Each week, we explore our theme through a different kind of creative prompt.)

That day when I was stuck, I turned on the radio. When I listen to music, especially if I sing (off-key) along or dance like no one’s watching (cause I’m alone in my house, not at a club), it helps me to shift my energy, open to new possibilities.

‘Everyday
Everyday
Everyday I write the book…’

It was Elvis Costello, one of my all-time favorite artists, crooning over the airwaves. I hadn’t listened to him for a while. I got swept up in his voice, his lyrics.

Everyday I write the book is about a man chronicling his romantic relationship in chapters. But when I heard the lyrics, they inspired different associations:

Everyday I write the book. I write the book of my life. Challenges are part of our human experience. I have a choice in how I respond. Today can be a shift. A new beginning.

Okay–it might have been a long psychic departure from the pop song–but so what? The lyrics opened my imaginations, my spirit.

We can write our metaphorical books everyday–or maybe a journal entry, at least.

For today’s writing prompt, select a sign or symbol that inspires you to consider beginnings. See where your associations lead you. Open to the possible.

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Writing Practice: Set aside 5-7 minutes for this practice. Write in a journal or open a ‘Journey with The Season’ document where you can return each Sunday.

Prompt: I’ve gathered some symbols from the natural and spiritual world and from mythology that I associate with ‘beginning’–you may think of many others. ‘Beginning’ could be symbolized by:

• the Phoenix

• a Butterfly

• the New Moon

• The roman God Janu

• a Labyrinth

• an Acorn

• a Sunrise

• the Lotus Flower

Select a symbol that resonates with what ‘beginning’ means to you or choose your own. Write about why that symbols resonates with you–how it reminds you of beginning. Write about a time in your life when you experienced a new beginning or about a desire for a beginning that you hope for.

Some phrases to get you started. I’ll use a butterfly as an example:

A butterfly reminds me of…

A butterfly symbolizes beginning by…

I see myself as a butterfly because…

Like I butterfly, I wish to…

The butterfly in me wants…

I’d love to read about your beginning associations and expressions! Leave a comment here or try the messaging app.

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Deepening Practice: Select a phrase about beginnings from your writing and read it each morning as an affirmation, reminder or intention. Write it out in longhand. Speak it into a voice memo and listen to it when you need it. We can begin to become our own teachers.

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Wishing you a week full of imagination & possibility! With love, Gabrielle Ariella

The Sisterhood of the Trees

Friends in the Philly area! I’m excited that Ava Adames (second from right) and I are re-starting our monthly Moon Circles at Violets in Bloom in Elkins Park. A new beginning! Join us on the second Thursday of each month, 7-8pm, for an hour of sound healing, meditation and expressive writing on a seasonal theme. This Thursday, 9/12, we’ll offer a drop-in Open House (including writing time!).