When You Don't Know Where to Begin...
Words are Energy. Start a conversation with Hafez, RuPaul, Mary Oliver + More
Dear Friend,
Yesterday I celebrated 54 trips around the sun and I’m grateful for each one of them.
I’ve written a lot about my experiences living with a chronic illness and also being a cancer survivor. My greatest takeaway from these experiences is that facing mortality is a natural and powerful way to embrace your life, to live more fully.
I feel the fullness of being alive when I think with awe–wow, I’m 54! When I notice the wrinkles on my face that weren’t there before or the way my sleep pattern has changed. I am aging, I think. What an incredible gift.
I’m very in love with the little town where I live, Elkins Park, Pennsylvania, just across the border of North Philadelphia. My husband and I chose to move here in 2007 because it’s the most racially, culturally and economically diverse of any suburb of Philadelphia. Plus, we could actually afford a house here!
There’s a rich celebration of nature and creativity in the neighborhood, so I was delighted but not surprised when a new art share box/take something, leave something sprang up. It’s little a little library–but for art as well as books.
I wanted to contribute something even though I’m not a crafter or visual artist so I made a set of inspiration cards. I’ve been making these collections for friends–and for myself.
Words=energy. I keep my favorite lines from poets and spiritual teachers and use them as mantras when I need a sense of grounding.
I also use these cards as a jumping off point sometimes when I sit to write. It’s being in conversation with the poem/teaching. A call and response.
Words are alive when they enter us, even if they were written thousands of years ago.
Words that inspire us can be a place to begin when the blank page feels hard. Pick one of my inspiration cards and write with it today!
And would you please send me the short teachings that make a difference to you? Much appreciated!
Have a friend who is creative, contemplative or curious? Invite them to join us!
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: Read through the quotes I used for this set of cards and select the one that draws you in most:
“Stay close to anything that makes you glad you are alive" ― Hafez
“I acknowledge my feeling and gratitude for life by praising the world and whoever made all these things.” ― Mary Oliver
“The whole point is to live life and be - to use all the colors in the crayon box.” ― RuPaul
“Happiness is not a goal...it's a by-product of a life well lived.” ― Eleanor Roosevelt
“Just to be is a blessing. Just to live is holy.” ― Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel
Say the words out loud. Write/type them out. Then write out what they stir up for you. Talk to the words or the writer like you would a friend. Low-key. This is a conversation. Tell the words how they make you feel, what they make you wonder…
I’d love to read any conversations you’d like to share–send them my way!
Spiritual Practice for the week ahead: Remember the energy of words. When you read, imagine it as a conversation. Keep a journal page with quotes, lines from your favorite books that inspire you. Turn to them for inspiration or for when you need a writing prompt!
If you’re a Journey With the Seasons paid subscriber–you’re IN! Link and journal coming your way June 19th.
For free subscribers, there are two ways to join for your convenience:
OR…you can become a paid subscriber to ‘Journey With the Seasons’ at a 21% off discount. As a paid subscriber, you’ll snag free entry to both my Summer & Winter Solstice circles, along with accompanying journals, and you’ll also receive surprise gifts throughout the year to ignite your imagination. And, of course, you’ll have my everlasting gratitude for your support!
Wishing you a week of energy and imagination awakening! With love, Gabrielle Ariella
A beautiful pic of a beautiful lady on a beautiful night! 🥰