Writing & Journal Exercises

Am I Just A Lighthouse

I remember in high school writing a poem accompanied by my hand drawn image of a Lighthouse.  It spoke of being a solitary bearer of light, showing the way to sailors, attempting to protect them from hitting rocks and shallow waters.

Though, writing in a lighthouse is not particularly ideal, long term, it would be a neat two-week experience.  I say this because of the 911 feel a lighthouse carries with it.  Fodder for the writing perhaps, but writing requires a stillness and peace.  Also, seeing the beautiful ocean waves below, so enticing - it would be hard to stay up there and write all day.

Comparably, writing on a mountain would be lovely.  Specifically in one of those gigantic windowed homes made of gorgeous rich wood, overlooking a vast landscape below.  Now that would be magnificent.

Exercise:  Imagine The Ideal - Imagine an ideal pleasant writing spot for yourself, where you feel comfortable, have privacy, and can establish a supportive routine.   [a variation of Life's Companion by Christina Baldwin pg. 9]

Life

Something a little more mundane:

I'm sitting on a large comfy chair with my feet up.  A notebook is on my lap and I am writing.  There is a fire roaring in the fireplace to my left and the high-definition tv is on to my front-right.  I sit and write in my living room about the evening. 

The evening hosted the lively companionship of friends.  A lavish dinner was prepared and shared with everyone and then we talked about our travels and ideas, projects.

Earlier that afternoon, hours before this social gathering, I hosted this week's writing circle.  Eight of us attended and wrote for two hours with some time in between for sharing.

Exercise:  Imagine The Ideal - Imagine an ideal pleasant writing spot for yourself, where you feel comfortable, have privacy, and can establish a supportive routine.   [a variation of Life's Companion by Christina Baldwin pg. 9]

Beautifully Golden

I need to breathe.  This as I am, writing self, tired and restless.  I don't always want to express on paper or this, this electronic medium that is now-you-see-it-now-you don't in truth.  Delete of a button.  Systems crash.  No back-up - all gone. 

I don't always want to express.  I like to think.  I like to write.  In my head.  It comes out so eloquently, long prose, deeply intelligent - beginning, middle and end.  Comprehensible and meaningful.  How do I remove the distaste of presenting these thoughts out there, out there, out of my control - to be misinterpreted, misunderstood, misused, misappropriated.   I miss the point.

I am myself, integrated within the whole - the writing self today.  Yet, I remain silent.  Silence is beautifully golden.

Exercise:  Journey Writer:  Describe your writing self.  How do you see the part of you who is writing today?  [a variation from Life's Companion by Christina Baldwin pg. 9]

Brimming Stone

A table made out of a slab of quartz crystal is positioned on a vast bedding of tumbled amethyst rocks.  The chair I sit on is made of lapis lazuli.   There is a huge window in front of me, and a skylight that allows the full sun or full moonlight to shine in.  There is a wall made into a perpetual waterfall and it too is filled with gemstones. 

I have papers made of all kinds, but there is garden of papyrus outside that I can I see.  I make my own paper from it.  The ink is made from pure plant dyes, again from plants found in my garden.  I spend many sacred moments writing in this special place.

When I need to draw in some inspiration, I take a moment to play my harp.  It stands in the corner awaiting my hands to strum its strings.

And when rest from writing is needed momentarily, I lay down on a floating mat, raised above the ground.  It gives me a subtle and gentle rocking movement - safe and secure.  The water is scented with essential oils of my liking and I can heat or cool the water's temperature as I prefer.   

Exercise:  Imagine The Ideal - Imagine an ideal pleasant writing spot for yourself, where you feel comfortable, have privacy, and can establish a supportive routine.   [a variation of Life's Companion by Christina Baldwin pg. 9]

Searching And Revealing

Pinkish cream, freckled hands on keyboard, recording thoughts and researching.  Spring-freed birds sing in the background, dancing from tree to tree.  I am a calm center writing today.  My eyes are blue, inquisitive, searching and revealing.  White little note papers are my friends, scribbled writings colour them and scatter on my desk.  A light wind enters from the sliding balcony door.  It is cool and comforting - the sun warms and sweetens the moment.

Exercise:  Journey Writer:  Describe your writing self.  How do you see the part of you who is writing today?  [a variation from Life's Companion by Christina Baldwin pg. 9]

The Thirsty Garden

A pink hue glows off you, writing self, as you tip tap away at your white keyboard.  One day you will have a new MacBook or something similar but for now you use what you have as industriously as time and energy allows.   

A garden spontaneously erupts all around you, thirsty for your words.  You draw on the well and drop a drip or two into the beautiful funnel.  Too little, you think, why so few words?  Too many will drown them, you reply.  How much is enough?  How much is too much?  When is enough, enough and when is it feeding time?

Exercise:  Journey Writer:  Describe your writing self.  How do you see the part of you who is writing today?  [a variation from Life's Companion by Christina Baldwin pg. 9]

Travel As Writer

This ideal writing spot comes to me in the form of a journey.  I'd love to travel to the homes and favourite places of great writers, and stay a night or two and simply write and write.  Those writers that have past, and are living on without their corporal bodies.   I feel that these places would carry with  them an extra weight having been seen with the penetrating eyes of the writer and the beautiful love of the poet's soul.

Exercise:  Imagine The Ideal - Imagine an ideal pleasant writing spot for yourself, where you feel comfortable, have privacy, and can establish a supportive routine.   [a variation of Life's Companion by Christina Baldwin pg. 9]

Journeying

Its late.  1:30 AM or so and I'm wide awake.  My writing self is alert and feels the need to travel to the south of France, NOW!  The blue, the crisp light blue mediterranean lapping against the rocks and shore - seagulls calling.  Colourfully dressed people everywhere.  My writing self looks like a traveller without being tangible.  I suppose it makes sense as this is dreamtime and rest is close on the heels of this sharing.  I will let my writing self journey.

Exercise:  Journey Writer:  Describe your writing self.  How do you see the part of you who is writing today?  [a variation from Life's Companion by Christina Baldwin pg. 9]

Half & Half

The left side of me looks normal and human, sitting at my desk typing with a cream soft long sleeved shirt on (that has a hood).  My eye is blue and the corner of my mouth intermittedly smiles and frowns.  The right side of me looks like a king, glowing golden with a bright shining crown on his head.  I see a wing behind me.  This is what my writing self looks like today.

Exercise:  Journey Writer:  Describe your writing self.  How do you see the part of you who is writing today?  [a variation from Life's Companion by Christina Baldwin pg. 9]