Journaling - The Write Stuff For You?

So glad you are doing what is best for you.

@georgette12 I've also tried art journaling, like collage, or even just coloring or doodling without words when I don't/can't write because words are too much. Too revealing. You might try some adult coloring books. One I found helpful is on mandalas which helps me to focus on intricate patterns that can be filled in with gel pens, markers, colored pencils.
When all else fails I just cry to hopefully get the feelings out versus constantly in my head. This COVID situation is bringing lots of old stuff for me too.
One last recommendation is a book someone just sent me My Friend Fear by Meera Lee Patel.

Years ago I attended Edgar Cayce's Temple Beautiful program in Arizona. 10 days of using Cayce principles in non medical healing modalities. Offered to people with chronic and debilitating conditions. Art therapy, music therapy, and color therapy were part of it. We started with a blank canvas and used crayons or paint or pencils to just apply to the canvas. Interesting...cause we didn't really draw pictures...what we did was to observe the colors we used and images etc.

Oh...another thing we did was interesting...this was done outside on the lawn...there were boxes of colored scarves...different textures...bright, bold, light, dark ... we all chose by instinct a scarf or 2 that we felt drawn to...again...colors...which reflect feelings...interesting to see what we did with the scarves also...some folks danced, or wrapped themselves in the scarves etc. Not using words, or pictures that are already made for you to color, dis seem to bring up subconscious stuff.

Hi @georgette12,

Are you able to apply some of these techniques at home now?

@georgette12 Sometimes putting things down on paper takes away their energy. I have found that to work for me. It frees up my mind to place in more positive things. Sometimes I reread old entries, but not very often. In my journals, the end of the book itself often contains poetry or essays I have written, dated, so I don't want to simply destroy my journals.

Remember, tears can be healing. I liked reading about your time spent at that program in Arizona. It must have been very insightful for you and others. A non-threatening way to see within you, and release some stress, yes?

@marjou mentioned art journaling, which I have also tried. At one time I was part of a recovery group that did "write and share" as their format. Given a topic, we wrote, some shared their writings, and it was a way to feel connected to others experiencing similar feelings or issues. Even now, using a word, or saying as a jump-off point to writing, can bring some fascinating results. Perhaps trying any of these ideas may be helpful. Would you think of trying one of these?
Ginger

@georgette12 What a wonderful opportunity! Sounds like a enlightening program. Try and use the color therapy as an art journal. Let me know if you try this technique for it sounds interesting. Thanks for sharing.

@georgette12 Love this idea and will try this color therapy.

@gingerw , I definitely think that writing feelings down often releases the energy that has built up inside us. And definitely think tears are healing. My issue is that I don't want to let myself cry...in relation to those feelings and memories of past events. Cause I'm already holding myself together by a thread. But using color and art and non verbal modalities would be something I think I could try without fear of intense emotion. I think it's so interesting to hear all these ideas.

In my early 30's, a friend gave me a journal. I liked the idea since I did lot's of art. I began to write out my feelings which were plenty. Then I added drawing and collage and designed as I went along. I still do this now and then, and am almost 73. Due to some head injuries over the years, my memory is only so-so. I find going back and reading from the journals an enjoyable event especially when I feel as if I didn't do much. I did lot's. It's helpful to have the chronicle. Of course, as an artist/teacher, I also have paintings and ceramics of mine and others. I decided about 10 years ago to start distributing my stuff. What to do with all these journals? I'd like to share the content with my daughter and granddaughters after I leave this incarnation, so I tore out my stormy pages of anger at myself and spouse. Kept just the good stuff, poems and art and some chronicles.