Slow Down. Write A Portrait. Find (a little) Peace
Breathe. Witness. Write. Repeat
Dear Friend,
Is your mind going in a zillion directions? Take a moment and breathe with me. You don’t even have to read this post. Click the arrow, close your eyes and listen. Give your eyes a break, let your body rest.
Writing as a spiritual practice helps us to slow down, to see, to witness.
I’ve been thinking about the power of witnessing. A few days ago, a dear friend of mine lost his beloved animal companion, Sparky, who was sixteen years old. Sparky played a major role of love and healing in his family, who’ve dealt with some really hard things over the years.
The night that Sparky died, a few of us gathered. There wasn’t anything to say to soften the loss for my friend. But we spoke about who Sparky was, described his beautiful and playful soul, told stories about how he had an intuitive way of knowing when you were sad.
We spoke of his coat-black, brown, orange, grey–striped like a tiger. We spoke of how he would lick your legs under the dinner table. We spoke of the end of his life, how content he was to just rest in bed with my friend.
Our words held energy, emotion, life force. Our witnessing was a kind of offering for my friend.
When we slow down to see the world around us, we open to our creative life.
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: Find a window in your home where you have a view of the outdoors OR go outside, take a walk and stop when you find your view.
Notice the sky and its colors, the clouds, sunlight and shadows.
Notice trees, flowers, bushes, plants in cracks in the sidewalk, humans, insects, birds.
As your mind gets busy (as it will) try to return to witnessing your view. What surprises you? What amazes you? What would it be like if this were the first time you experienced this place?
Write a portrait of what you saw–describe colors, movement, shapes. Just for fun: return to the view at different times of the day and notice the changes. Write a portrait of them, too.
May I read your portrait? Send them my way! Share this prompt with a friend and exchange your portraits.
Spiritual Practice for the week ahead: When you feel frazzled, worried, overwhelmed…anytime you need to restore and reset your energy, take a few breaths, find a window or go outdoors. Pause, find your portrait. Return and write it. Notice how your energy shifts.
Summer Solstice Writing Circle is coming…!
Join us on 6/19 for an hour of creativity and inspiration designed to feed your spirit as we enter the summer season. Through poetry, meditation & writing prompts, we'll explore imagery found within nature and various archetypes related to the sun and summer season.
You can join us in a few ways:
If you’re already a paid subscriber, you’re in! I’ll email you the link a few days before the event.
If you’re not a paid subscriber, you can sign up and pay for the event here.
OR…to ring in my birthday and toast to our creative adventures, I’m rolling out a 21% off discount on subscriptions through June 30! As a paid subscriber, you’ll snag free entry to the Summer & Winter Solstice circles, along with accompanying journals, and surprise gifts throughout the year to ignite your imagination. And, of course, you’ll have my everlasting gratitude for your support!
Pssst…invite a friend who might appreciate some creative energy in their life!
May your words & witnessing bring you much magic in the week ahead! With love, Gabrielle Ariella