Journal Prompt: Oracle Cards

Because I lead journaling workshops, I'm always on the lookout for new and interesting writing prompts. A current trend that has captured my attention is the use of oracle cards for journaling. It's a very creative way to inspire writing. 

Oracle cards are starting to appear everywhere. I've seen them in social media photos, YouTube videos and bookstores. People are using them in a variety of ways and I find it all intriguing. In my search for a deck of my own, I encountered many options. But I finally settled on a deck called Earth Magic by Steven D. Farmer. The artwork is beautiful and speaks to my current love of gardening and being outside. 

I've done quite a bit of research to learn how people are using their cards. Meditation and journaling have been the methods most attractive to me. As someone from a family dealing with Alzheimer's, I'm very interested in any advances in brain research. Some recent studies have shown that daily mediation (along with exercise or yoga) can be beneficial for those at risk for Alzheimer's disease.  So this month I've added a short morning meditation to my routine and incorporated this into my weekly journal entry. I believe creative journaling to be a form of mediation. It's one of the reasons I encourage it. 

My morning routine consists of lighting a candle, drawing an oracle card and reflecting on it's message. It's a great way to still the mind and focus. I try to do this for 20 minutes if possible. I also record the oracle card word or message of the day in my journal. When I do my weekly wrap up it's nice to look back on each day and the area of focus. 

What are some creative ways you prompt yourself to focus and write? I'd love to know if others are using oracle cards or some other form of daily devotion. 

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Take Note: Upcoming Summer Paper Adventures

Summer is around the corner. Want some ideas for things to do? Here's a list of some adventures for my fellow paper lovers: 

• Enroll in a Letter Writers Alliance Initiative Response. As an LWA member, I have enrolled in the "Out of the Box" Initiative Response. I'll be on a mission all summer to complete three assigned tasks in order to be rewarded a new patch for my growing collection. Ever the Girl Scout, I'm a sucker for the patch reward system. I'll be sure to share updates. Stay tuned. 
• Attend a Midori Traveler's Notebook MeetUp. Find your tribe! These types of creative journaling meet ups and gatherings are popping up all over the place. Look for one in your area. Many are listed as Facebook events or on Meetup.com. I'll be attending this one happening in Tampa, FL. 
• Beat the heat with a Fountain Pen Show. Pen shows are a great way to learn more about fountain pens and meet other writing enthusiasts. There are several shows happening over the summer including the big one in Washington, DC. If you are in the south Florida area in mid July, I'll be teaching a Mail Art class at The Miami Pen Show. Check it out and come say hi. 
• #GetOutside with Letter Boxing. Heading to a local, state or national park this summer? Letter Boxing can make your adventure all the more fun. For more information on Letter Boxing check out the video I made earlier this year. 

Stay cool, have fun and continue to create. 

Setting Intentions With A Vision Board

How do you set your life intentions? Once upon a time I made lists with my goals, plans and intentions for each year. Each list item included a check box and a very specific idea of how they should come to fruition. 

It was a very controlled system. I was good at making things happen. But here's the catch. Even when I carried out the plans perfectly and accomplished the goal, I didn't always feel satisfied. In fact, it was actually the plans that didn't go smoothly and the goals requiring outside help in achieving that gave me the greatest sense of fulfillment. How baffling for a Gantt chart loving control freak like me.

So I changed a few things and started opening myself up to things like mindfulness, synchronicity, and intuition to get me where I needed to be. I use vision boards now and I'm not afraid to change them every few months. I still make To Do lists and take action, but things aren't as rigid as they used to be. There is room for error. Unchecked boxes are no longer failures, but signs pointing me in new directions. I'm learning that it's about the journey, not the destination. It is much more satisfying.