Happy March 31st, friend–and happy Easter to all who are celebrating.
We’ll start a new theme for April next week (stay tuned!). Today I’m inviting you to play with a different kind of creative prompt: writing out a beautiful thing.
A friend turned me on to this journal, River Teeth, that features short (250 words or less) writings on beautiful things. Read a few and get inspired!
Be expansive when you consider what kinds of things are beautiful in your life: it could be a moment, a memory, part of the landscape around you, a work of art, a relationship.
I’m thinking about the landscape around me coming to life in vibrant colors this week:
This moment of spring reminds me of rebirth, hope and possibility:
The magnificent beauty that returns every spring:
There is so much pain and brokenness in the human world right now.
Could pausing to notice some of the beautiful things that are alive around us be a remedy for our spirits?
It’s worth a try, I think. When I write about beauty, there’s usually sadness, curiosity and some humor mixed in. Beauty has depth and tones and nuance.
Five or seven minutes of writing can help us discover beauty we have neglected to notice or may have forgotten about.
Pause. Write. Discover.
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: Make a list of five or ten beautiful things around you. Don’t think too hard–just write them down.
Read over your list. Notice which thing attracts your attention or curiosity most. Pick that one.
Describe the beautiful thing as if you’re explaining it to a dear friend. Share what it looks and feels like. Share about how this beautiful thing makes you feel. Write about how it makes your life richer or why you’re grateful for this particular thing.
I would love to read about your beautiful things. Feel free to comment below or use the messaging app.
Deepening Practice: Keep a list of beautiful things you notice through the week. Add a few each night before bed. Read over them when you need a little lift. Write about another one (or more!) beautiful thing(s).
I loved this podcast with Jude Currivan on The Big Breath of the Universe. Especially with the Solar Eclipse coming this week, I’ve been thinking more about the cosmos. This podcast shares a powerful perspective about ancient wisdom, astronomy and imagining a Universe created in love. If you listen, let me know what you think!
Wishing you a week full of curiosity, beauty & even a glimpse of the eclipse (with glasses, of course)! With love, Gabrielle Ariella
Hey friends! I’m so excited to teach this upcoming series for Ritualwell.
Writing a spiritual autobiography helps you to discover how teachers, touchstones, symbols and stories have led you to make meaning and understand the sacred in your personal story. Map out and narrate your most meaningful life experiences.
This series is open to everyone, of all faith traditions! I will share texts by Jewish writers as touch points but whether you have a particular faith tradition or not, this experience will be inclusive for you.