This week, the Goddess within wants to come out and express herself. She challenges you to feel your emotions and put them down on paper. That might sound scary initially, but we're taking baby steps here, one day at a time. As discussed before, in most of society, feminine traits are often overlooked, undervalued, and ultimately repressed in favor of the more profitable male characteristics. So your introspective half needs a creative outlet, even if you constantly find yourself in a male-dominated workplace or community. One of the easiest ways can also be quite relaxing: journaling.
The divine feminine doesn't feel the need to 'know' everything; that's a masculine desire. Instead, the feminine soul is the receiving or 'intuition' energy. So, while you read about the different types of journaling and journaling topics, I want you to remember: 1) nothing is supposed to be perfect. 2) express whatever you feel like. 3) you're not writing a book. Therefore, allow your intuition to stretch a bit. Try sitting down and writing without any preconceived notions or subjects in mind. This method of free-flowing ideas can be a rewarding and cathartic experience.
Why should you journal?
Mindfulness and Present Moment Awareness: Journaling can help evoke mindfulness and keep you present. By writing down your thoughts and experiences, you become more aware of your emotions, surroundings, and the present moment. It lets you slow down, reflect, and engage with your thoughts and feelings.
Emotional Catharsis: Journaling serves as a form of emotional release. It provides a safe space to express and explore your emotions, fears, anxieties, and joys. Writing down your thoughts and experiences can help you process and navigate difficult emotions, leading to relief and understanding.
Self-Reflection and Personal Growth: Journaling allows for self-reflection and introspection. You can gain insights into your behavior patterns, beliefs, and values by regularly writing in a journal. It helps you track your personal growth, set goals, and identify areas for improvement. Journaling provides a valuable opportunity for self-discovery and self-awareness.
Enhanced Confidence and Individuality: Journaling allows you to develop your unique voice and perspective. It encourages self-expression and helps you articulate your thoughts and ideas more effectively. This process can boost your confidence and strengthen your sense of individuality as you become more comfortable expressing your true self.
Stress Reduction and Well-being: Writing in a journal can be a therapeutic activity that reduces stress and promotes overall well-being. It provides a healthy outlet to release tension, worries, and negative thoughts. Journaling can also help you identify patterns of stress triggers and develop strategies to cope with them effectively.
Different Journaling Styles
Basic Journaling: Most are familiar with This type of journaling. Likely the first notebook you ever received was a basic journal with only pre-printed lines. This style is perfect for analytical thinkers: no fuss, no images, just pages and pages of space to write.
Art Journaling: These journals are for creatives. Thick-paged journals, often weighted for mixed media, make a perfect canvas. The small size of an art journal makes it easy to carry and use whenever inspiration strikes.
Smash Books/Junk Journaling: These journals combine basic and art journals that lean more towards art. There's plenty of room to write but also doodle and add ephemera from your day. Imagine a diary full of ticket stubs, found bird feathers, and candy wrappers.
Bullet Journals: This combination of art and basic journaling leans towards analytical. Comprised of rows of dots, it is the most versatile in how it can be arranged. You can use it to make simple lists with boxes to check completed items or use the dots to make intricate art. This type is the most commonly photographed journal on Instagram.
Wreck Journals: These journals are great for those type-A personalities with difficulty letting loose. You can often purchase these with prewritten prompts on each page. The goal of these journals is to destroy them (literally!) by painting, tearing, and doing anything you want to them.
Different Types of Journals
Affirmations/Quotes Journal: Affirmations are an amazing way to retrain your brain to see the positives around you. Click here for a detailed explanation and a fascinating list of divine feminine affirmations to get you started.
Altar Grimoires: Each altar in your home has a distinct function, and having a specific grimoire can enhance its purpose. For example, a bathroom grimoire would have recipes for self-care items and lunar cleansing rituals. For most kitchen witches, a kitchen grimoire is where their favorite recipes are stored and passed down through generations. In your grimoire, list where each recipe came from, how you made it, who enjoyed it, and the outcome.
Art Journaling: This type of journal is often a simple sketchbook. Feel free to use paint, watercolors, mixed media, markers, pens, etc. The media doesn't matter as much as getting that beautiful art out of your soul and onto paper.
Devotional Journal: A devotional journal is a journal that revolves around your spirituality and is not tied to an individual religion. Scriptures, prayers, etc., are often written inside.
Diary: "Dear Diary." Yeah, you know what this one is. Simple, traditional, and a great way to document certain periods in your life. Although due to its private nature, this is one type of journal that most keep hidden.
Dream Journal: There is an entire study into the meaning behind our dreams. Keep this journal beside your bed and write down your dreams when you wake up while they're fresh in your mind. Then, look online; is there any significance to what you dream? Do you have the same type of dream reoccurring? Do your dreams coincide with your stress levels or events in your life?
Food Journal: A food journal often goes hand-in-hand with a health goal-planning journal. This body of writing is a simple way of keeping track of what you ate for a predetermined time. A bullet journal might be extra useful since you can easily make a tracker (such as a water tracker) with boxes to check.
Free-flowing Thoughts: Some people don't stick to journaling in the traditional sense. Instead, they will open a journal and write down their thoughts and feelings as the inspiration strikes, and that's it. The paragraphs don't have to flow together. You don't need to do anything in chronological order. Instead, pick up the journal, write an idea down, and put the journal away.
Goal Planning Journal: This journal has many different purposes, but the general outline is the same: pick a goal, list the steps to achieving the plan, and document your experience and results. Most use this for weight loss or clean eating, but it can also document many other things, such as learning a new language or planning a vacation.
Gratitude Journal: If you scroll on Pinterest or Instagram, you're bound to cross paths with a gratitude journal page. They are among the most popular journal photos, second only to planners.
Lists: While this may not sound like a journal to you, list journals are useful in many ways. Firstly, a list of to-do's is handy, but have you thought about making a list as a stress reducer? Making a list is one of the most recommended techniques to control an upcoming panic attack. What do you see? What do you hear? Name an animal for each letter of the alphabet. The purpose is to shift your thought processes to a different target quickly. Try writing a list anytime you feel your mood get sour: things that make you happy, inspire you, favorite foods, your dream home.
Nature Journal: If you want to connect with nature, how about starting a nature journal? You can note plants that are local to your region and information about them. As you take walks or hikes, document where you went and the experience. Add a leaf or two that you find along your way.
Planners: Here's where the mega journal following lies. Any quick Google, Youtube, Instagram, or Pinterest search will show examples of beautifully curated planner books. The two major types of planners fall between the Bujo clan (bullet journals) and Happy Planners (smash books).
Reading Journal: Are you an avid reader? Have you kept a list of the books you've read? That's what a reading journal is. Most people use an e-journal such as Goodreads to keep up with each book they've read and how they would rate it. But don't be deterred if you aren't tech-savvy! You can write all this down in a paper journal as well.
Scrapbooks: These are journals with an emphasis on photo preservation and documenting memories. Think anniversary, graduation, the first tooth fairy, etc. These journals are treated more delicately because their purpose is to be passed down to younger generations. The most common scrapbook size is 12in x 12in and comes in various styles.
Shared Journals: These journals are shared, often between best friends, family, or lovers. Sometimes things will be written from one person to another, or photos and trinkets slip inside. (Think Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants). But it can also be a romantic thing passed between you and your partner, sharing what you love about each other and bonding over special memories.
Shadow Work Journal: If you've dabbled in the occult or self-help sections of the library, then you might've been introduced to the writings of Carl Jung and the importance of shadow work. In essence, we create a separate identity by ignoring or repressing traits about ourselves that we deem negative. Unfortunately, these repressed traits manifest as triggers and frustrations in our lives. By working towards accepting ourselves as a whole, we can reduce the impact others have on our emotions. A shadow work journal is a place where you can answer prompts and self-heal.
Travel Journal: I adore traveling, but a simple photo is never enough to capture my feelings. I have a journal that I use to explain each day of a trip. I write about the planning process of a journey, where we went, how long we stayed, interesting things we saw, what we ate, funny memories, etc.
Unsent Letters: If you struggle writing in a journal, write letters instead. You can write letters to a loved one who is deceased or to a future version of you. The options are endless. I've seen an adorable version where the owner purchased beautiful cards, wrote letters to themselves, and bound them at the end of the year.
Venting Journal: Sometimes life isn't as rosy as the internet likes to portray. We have hard days and hard feelings. Naturally, you don't want to seal all those feelings inside where they'll fester and grow. However, I also understand that negative images and feelings aren't exactly what you want others to see. Having a separate journal to vent your frustrations is an excellent idea if this is the case.
Vision/Snippets Journal: If you've ever made a vision/mood board, you know exactly what this is. A vision journal (sometimes called a Snippets Journal) is comprised of magazine clippings or printouts that showcase a goal you wish to pursue. You can make this a daily, weekly, monthly, or even yearly spread.
This week, I encourage you to explore your divine feminine through journaling. With its various styles and formats, writing is a relaxing and intuitive way to explore emotions and thoughts. I want to emphasize the versatility and personalization of journaling. No matter what type of person you are (analytical or creative), there is a type of journaling that would enhance your life. It is a rewarding and cathartic experience for individuals and can be an established part of your self-care routine. Try a couple of different styles and see what works for you. See you next week for another Goddess Work series!
Goddess Work Series Quick Links
Journaling to Heal Your Divine Feminine
Comments