Intro: You're listening to The Prana + Patchouli Podcast with me, Amy Davies. I'm a restorative yoga teacher and every week I'll be sharing practice tips, spiritual tools, breathwork and guided meditations to reduce stress and raise your vibration. If you haven't already, be sure to hit subscribe, so you never miss an episode.
Hey! So today I want to talk about something that I don’t think we’ve covered on the podcast before and that’s journalling.
I’d love to know… do you have a journalling practice?
This is one of the greatest ways to connect with your inner wisdom and spirit, besides meditation. I used to have a strange relationship with this, where it felt like just another thing in the wellness world to do. But recently, I’ve started every morning with a journalling practice and I’ve slowly fallen in love with it as a tool for self-discovery and growth.
Back then, I only opened my journal when I needed to vent, or figure something out, because it helped me get my thoughts out of my head and onto the page. As an Aquarius, and with my defined mind in Human Design, I can be very much in my head! But what I love about journalling is that there’s this outpouring, balanced with the same introspective nature as yoga, and we need both to thrive.
Now I love to write down my goals and gratitude list, set my intentions, clarify my thoughts and dreams, coach myself through something I’m feeling stuck on, channel spiritual guidance, or just brain dump everything that’s taking up mental bandwidth.
It’s like talking to a really loving friend who listens intently to everything you’re saying.
Or, a mindfulness practice that helps you find space between your thoughts, crystal clarity, moments of creativity, and a richer experience of life.
So often, we think we’ll find the answers that we’re seeking “out there”, but they’re “in here”.
One of my favourite things about journalling is that it helps you to see patterns and put pieces together. This is because the hippocampus in the brain (which plays a major role in learning and memory) interacts with the entorhinal cortex (which is like the gateway of information in and out) and says “let’s draw some wisdom from all those old memories and integrate them with new ideas”. That’s where wisdom comes from.
But also, from a spiritual perspective, sometimes words come through that don’t seem to be your own, and even your writing is different, like you’re channelling something higher. That’s because you are. This allows you to connect to your Higher Self, your spirit or your guides, and feel soothed and supported.
So, whether you resonate more with science or spirit (which really say the same thing), your journal can be a true source of wisdom, peace, faith and inspiration for you.
My yoga students often ask me for guidance on journalling and it can feel intimidating when you’re staring at a blank page, and you don’t know what to write, so I want to share some of the suggestions I’ve given them in the hopes that you’ll find a way of journalling that supports and nourishes you.
The way I usually get started is to simply write the first thought that comes to mind, even if it’s something as silly as “I’m craving an apple with almond butter” or “I need to wash my hair”.
Once you’ve written something, it’s much easier for words to flow.
Usually, I’m seeking clarity or guidance, so I start there. You can also ask a question or write a prayer at the top of your page, such as:
Thank you, Universe, for revealing to me, any guidance I need to receive today.
You can even be more specific:
Thank you, Universe, for revealing to me, any guidance I need to receive about _______. (Fill in the blank with your specific situation here).
Or, if you have a busy mind, empty all of your thoughts onto the page, and allow them to naturally guide you in the direction you really want or need to go. You’ll see these golden threads start to emerge as you write.
This technique can lead you literally anywhere! I’m always surprised and delighted by the journeys I take in my journal!
Then, I write until I feel complete, but you can also set a timer for 5, 10, 15 minutes, or more.
This is called free-writing, and I find it’s most powerful after meditation. That’s because in meditation you’re connecting to a higher energetic source. You might think of it as your intuition, your inner wisdom or the Universe, whatever resonates most with you.
When we meditate, we slow down our breathing, quiet our minds and become more receptive to spiritual guidance.
Trust the messages you receive. You’ll likely find that they’re exactly what you need to hear so don’t edit yourself!
It’s like a stream-of-consciousness that ignites your creativity and eases anxiety.
Make the most of that clear, connected, intuitive space after meditation by having your journal and a pen next to you when you sit on your meditation pillow.
Another easy way to make your journalling practice a habit, is to write down your gratitude list, design your ideal day, set your intentions or map out your soul goals. These are also potent tools for manifesting!
A study done by Dr. Gail Matthews, a psychology professor at Dominican University of California, shows the true power of writing down your goals. She found that you become 42% more likely to achieve your goals and dreams, simply by writing them down on a daily basis.
I’m all for something that increases my odds of success by 42%!
This also helps to raise your vibration and joy, which amplifies your attractive power from a Law of Attraction perspective.
And so, if you’ve been struggling to get going with journalling, maybe it’s something you’ve dabbled in, but you haven’t really fallen in love or found your personal practice yet, then I really hope this episode gives you some ideas that you can try out, see how they feel in your body and soul, and go from there.
That’s all for now, but next week I’ll be guiding you through a journalling meditation with some prompts to inspire you, so if you’d like more support, be sure to tune in!
Until then, use this manta to remind yourself of the intelligence within you:
“I turn inward for my answers”.
See you next week! And from my heart to yours, Namaste.
Outro: I really hope you loved this episode of The Prana + Patchouli Podcast. If you want more support and inspiration for your practice, then be sure to join our community of seekers, feelers and dreamers, by signing up for my weekly emails at pranapatchouli.com. You’ll also get my free mini retreat to help you stress less and restore peace right away. I’ll be back next week with a brand new episode, so until then, from my heart to yours, Namaste.
