My journey to Ireland this spring was cancelled. It was not until a couple of weeks into our stay-at-home status, that I realized I was on an inner journey, just as rich and meaningful as I had hoped to have visiting my beloved stone circles. While I was home alone, I was not alone in having an experience of inner exploration. After zooming and teleconferencing and webinar chat room sharing, I realized that I needed to be journaling this journey just as I would a trip to Ireland. So many observations, insights and ahas!

I always journal when traveling or when attending a retreat or spiritual growth workshop. The process helps be gather and articulate my thoughts. I seldom read what I have written, but I recall it so much better for having put pen to paper (or fingers to computer). Occasionally, I go back to review and look for patterns, blocks or insights. But usually, the writing itself is the tool. It opens me to a deeper understanding and it penetrates into a place beyond mind.

I learned the value and got hooked on the process of journaling from Julia Cameron at Omega many years ago. Her “morning notes” became a spiritual practice that started my day with energy and focus. Now that I have become an author, I utilize my morning notes to jump start my writing. My trip journal excerpts often end up directly in my novels.

Some people keep precise documentations of facts like times and places and call this journaling. When I was a kid, I remember my Aunt Luella announcing out of the blue that “15 years ago today we had a huge snowstorm”. This was before the internet and seemed incredulous. I asked my mother how my aunt could possibly know that. My mother explained that my aunt kept a daily journal. I then understood where she had found the information; I just didn’t get why it mattered. I was more interested in stories and descriptions of life than in what the weather was on a day before I was even born. I later realized that while journals might chronicle facts, they also store memories or record personal feelings, hopes or dreams. 

The journaling I promote and find beneficial is that which expresses my innermost feelings, stream of consciousness or even guided messages. In other words, journaling as spiritual practice. It also can be a practice that brings forth healing.

Christina Baldwin, author of Life’s Companion says it well:

"Writing bridges the inner and outer worlds and connects the paths of action and reflection...writing is sorting. ... searching for ways to reclaim a sense of place, a sense of empowerment, a sense of healthy relationship between our lives and times. We look for whatever can help us make sense of the moment.   We write."

I invite you to write about your experiences and offer you a chance to share your thoughts on spiritual transformation here on this blog.