Naming the mysteries within
Welcoming August and upcoming contemplative writing circles
Welcome to August, dear friends.
The past month of my life was a masterclass in being overwhelmed and in the soul’s need for slowness. In between full work schedules, dental pain, car trouble and hard learned lessons about emotional health, today I’m coming up for air.
Maybe it’s the full moon. Maybe it’s the cleansing, sacred bath I took this morning. Maybe it’s the simple joy of turning to a fresh page in my calendar. In any case, I’m feeling clear-eyed and grateful for the practices and earth-rhythms that are teaching my body the pace of true rest.
I’ve said for some time now that A More Beautiful Way is about an orientation to the world, one in which we see through the lenses of slowness, nature and attentiveness to the Sacred in our everyday lives. This orientation is sustained by practices—practices of noticing, of letting go, of listening deeply and of leading with curiosity.
One of the habits that makes these practices possible is journaling.
I recently woke up one morning with a head and heart full of distress about a decision I needed to make. None of my go-to rituals or distractions were helping as I sunk deeper and deeper into an anxious thought spiral. So I grabbed my journal, walked to my outdoor picnic table and devoted myself to stream-of-consciousness writing until a sense of resolve came.
Stream-of-consciousness writing is the practice of writing down any and everything that comes to mind. You don’t edit a stream-of-consciousness thread. You don’t even have to read it again. You write down things you’d never say out loud. You put on the page things you may not truly think or feel, but need to explore for the sake of knowing the contours of your own soul and mind.
It’s a cleansing practice, as you empty yourself of stories, fears, anguishes, and hopes. It’s a safe place where you can be radically honest with yourself. And should you choose to invite the Spirit in, it’s room to be bare and known before God.
Journaling is a mystical practice in that we gain access to the mysteries swirling within us, and we learn to give those mysteries a name.
Journaling slows down our anxious minds by virtue of the literal time it takes for the ink to flow from the pen to the page.
I’m hosting a series of contemplative writing circles for people who want to cultivate the slow living practice of journaling. These circles, held virtually, are for people living with anxiety and swirling minds. These circles are for people who want room to explore their faith and spirituality through the written word. These circles are for folks who want to pause and process emotions, transitions, or fears.
These contemplative writing circles are perfect for people who lead full lives and need a moment to listen for the still small voice within.
These circles will include intention setting, a conscious breathwork practice, journaling prompts, and time for sharing reflections. The goal is for you to walk away with greater clarity, self-awareness, and connection to your body and your self. You will also walk away with an experience that can serve as a template for your writing and journaling practice.
The first circle will be held on August 30th via Zoom. You can learn more and register here. There are only 12 spots per circle, so don’t wait too long to grab your seat. If you aren’t available on August 30th, I will also be hosting writing circles on October 30th and November 27th.
My motto’s for this month is, “August is for reclaiming slowness, again.” After the hustle and bustle of July, I’m reminded of how counter cultural slow living really is. Which means we need practices to sustain it.
If you’re looking for space to practice slowness with me, I hope you’ll join me on August 30th.
May you have a lovely start to your month. May you experience a revelatory full moon. And may you know and delight in Sacred time as we celebrate these last weeks of summer.
Until next week,
Bethaney